Systems and methods for distributing content in a vehicle-based wireless network

Abstract

Techniques for distributing content to mobile computing devices, such as in the context of a vehicle-based wireless network, are described. In some examples, a content provider uses a cellular network to initially transmit a content item to a multi-network communication device in a first vehicle. The first vehicle device then uses a local Wi-Fi network to further transmit randomly selected portions of the content item to devices on nearby vehicles, which may also further propagate the content item portions to other vehicles. Vehicle devices may also specifically request content portions by broadcasting requests to neighboring vehicle devices via local Wi-Fi communication and/or communicating with the content provider via the cellular network. Upon the occurrence of a condition, such as a passage of time, the content provider may also initiate communication with devices in the network in order to assure complete distribution of the content item.