Network Adaptive Content Download

Abstract

Techniques for managing content downloads to a computing device. The techniques include an agent on the computing device determining for each network of a plurality of networks available to the computing device, costs of downloading content and an exemption list. The exemption list includes content downloads that are exempted from costs charged by a particular network. The agent determines possible content downloads for the computing device. The agent also assesses potential costs associated with the possible content downloads based upon the costs and exemption lists determined for the plurality of networks. Based upon the assessment, the agent selects one of the networks for downloading at least part of the possible content downloads.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 determining possible accesses to an application initiated by a computing device for background accessing;   by the computing device, assessing a value associated with the possible accesses to the application based at least on first criteria and a first exemption list for a first network and second criteria and a second exemption list for a second network, the first exemption list and the second exemption list indicating that the possible accesses to the application are exempted from a value charged by the first network and the second network, respectively;   based at least upon the assessing, selecting by the computing device one of the first network or the second network for background accessing of the application;   executing the background accessing based upon the selection;   determining, during the background accessing, that the selected network becomes unavailable for performing the background accessing;   in response to the determining that the selected network becomes unavailable, assessing by the computing device a value associated with application content still to be accessed over one or more available networks; and   ceasing the background accessing based at least on the value associated with the one or more available networks exceeding a threshold.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second criteria are stored numerical values based on a calculation of cost. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein the assessing is further based on network capacity of the first network and the second network, throughput of the first network and the second network, utilization of the first network and the second network, amount of the possible accesses to the application, a geographical location of the computing device and quotas of data allowed by the first network and the second network for the computing device. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising tagging the possible accesses to the application that appear on the first exemption list or the second exemption list, wherein the tagging is performed based upon a configuration file received from a network operator. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving from a network operator for the selected network information that the selected network is experiencing peak load; and   pausing the background accessing of the application over the selected network until the network operator provides information that the selected network is no longer experiencing peak load.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein one of the first network or the second network has a default network status or a preferred network status and the assessing is further based on which of the networks has the default network status or the preferred network status. 
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising downloading all of the possible accessing of the application if a value of doing so is at or below a certain threshold of a user's bandwidth quota for the selected network. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising downloading the part of the possible content downloads being associated with a specific download type. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising delaying downloading of the possible accesses of the application and requesting approval for downloading the possible accesses. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein categories of accesses of the application that are included in the first exemption list and the second exemption list comprise accesses of the application related to interactive games, top rated applications, top selling applications at application stores and previously acquired applications. 
     
     
         33 . One or more computer storage media configured with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors within a computing device, configure the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
 determining possible access to an application initiated by a computing device for background accessing;   assessing potential value associated with the possible accesses to the application based at least on first criteria and a first exemption list for a first network and second criteria and a second exemption list for a second network, the first exemption list and the second exemption list indicating application accesses that are exempted from value charged by the first network and the second network, respectively;   based upon the assessing, selecting one of the first network or the second network for background accessing the application;   executing the background accessing based upon the selection;   determining, during the background accessing, that the selected network becomes unavailable for performing the background accessing;   in response to the determining that the selected network becomes unavailable, assessing by the computing device a value associated with application content still to be access over one or more available networks; and   ceasing the background accessing based on the value associated with the one or more available networks exceeding a threshold.   
     
     
         34 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein the at least a part of the possible accessing includes any of the possible accesses that appear on the exemption list for the selected one of the first network or second network,
 wherein the first and second criteria are stored numerical values based on a calculation of cost.   
     
     
         35 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein the acts further comprise tagging possible accesses that appear on the first exemption list or the second exemption list, wherein the tagging is performed based upon a configuration file received from a network operator. 
     
     
         36 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein the assessing is further based on network capacity of the first network and the second network, throughput of the first network and the second network, utilization of the first network and the second network, an amount of access to the application, a geographical location of the computing device and quotas of data allowed by the first network and the second network for the computing device. 
     
     
         37 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein the acts further comprise:
 receiving from a network operator for the selected network information that the selected network is experiencing peak load; and   pausing the background accessing of the application over the selected network until the network operator provides information that the selected network is no longer experiencing peak load.   
     
     
         38 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein one of the first network or the second network has a default network status or a preferred network status and the assessing is further based on which of the networks has the default network status or the preferred network status. 
     
     
         39 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein the acts further comprise:
 accessing all of the possible accesses to the application if a criteria of doing so is at or below a second threshold of a user's bandwidth quota for the selected network.   
     
     
         40 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein the acts further comprise:
 delaying background accessing of the application and requesting approval for further accessing any of the possible accesses to the application.   
     
     
         41 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 33 , wherein categories of accesses that are included in the first exemption list and the second exemption list comprise accesses of the application related to interactive games, top rated applications, top selling applications at application stores and previously acquired applications. 
     
     
         42 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a plurality of instructions configured to cause the one or more processors, when executed, to:
 determine possible accesses to an application by a computing device for background accessing; 
 assess potential value associated with the possible accesses based at least on first criteria and a first exemption list for a first network and second criteria and a second exemption list for a second network, the first exemption list and the second exemption list indicating application accesses that are exempted from a charge by the first network and the second network, respectively; 
 based upon the assessing, select one of the first network or the second network for background accessing of the application; 
 execute the background accessing based upon the selection; 
 determine, during the background accessing, that the selected network becomes unavailable for performing the background accessing; 
 in response to the determining that the selected network becomes unavailable, assess by the computing device a value associated with application content still to be accessed over one or more available networks; and 
 cease the background accessing based on the value associated with the one or more available networks exceeding a threshold.