Systems and methods for providing content delivery over a backhaul link in a communication system

1. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving first content into a base transceiver station (BTS) from a backhaul link between the BTS and a base station controller (BSC) remote from the BTS;

transmitting the first content from the BTS to a first device served by the BTS;

receiving a second packet communication from a second device served by the BTS wherein the second packet communication includes a second content request;

processing the second packet communication to determine a second content identifier included in the second content request wherein the second content identifier is associated with second content;

processing the second content identifier to determine if the second content is the same as the first content;

in response to determining that the second content is the same as the first content, generating and transferring a control instruction from the BSC to the BTS instructing the BTS to begin buffering the first content;

buffering the first content at the BTS, and transmitting the buffered first content to the second device; and

in response to determining that the second content is not the same as the first content, transferring the second packet communication to a communication network to obtain the second content.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a first packet communication from the first device wherein the first packet communication includes a first content request; and

processing the first packet communication using deep packet inspection to determine a first content identifier included in the first content request wherein the first content identifier is associated with the first content;

wherein processing the second packet communication to determine the second content identifier included in the second content request comprises performing deep packet inspection of the second packet communication.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first content has a first sequence and wherein the BTS begins to buffer the first content at a first intermediate point in the first sequence.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising, in the BSC, transferring the second content request to obtain the second content, receiving the second content, and transferring the second content to the BTS.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second content has a second sequence and wherein the method further comprises, in the BTS, receiving the second content, transferring the second content to the second device from the beginning of the second sequence to a second intermediate point in the second sequence that corresponds to the first intermediate point in the first sequence, and transferring the buffered first content to the second device upon reaching the second intermediate point in the second sequence.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising, in the BTS, transmitting another control instruction to the BSC upon reaching the second intermediate point in the second sequence, and in the BSC, receiving the other control instruction and stopping the transfer of the second content to the BTS in response to the other control instruction.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first content comprises packet video content.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the first content comprises packet video content.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the backhaul link comprises a T-1 link, an Ethernet link, or a wireless microwave link.

10. A communication system comprising:

a base station controller (BSC); and

a base transceiver station (BTS) remote from and coupled to the BSC by a backhaul link comprising a T-1 link, an Ethernet link, or a wireless microwave link and configured to:

receive first content on the backhaul link from the BSC;

transmit the first content to a first device served by the BTS; and

receive a second packet communication from a second device served by the BTS, wherein the second packet communication includes a second content request;

the BSC configured to:

process the second packet communication to determine a second content identifier included in the second content request, wherein the second content identifier is associated with second content;

process the second content identifier to determine if the second content is the same as the first content; and

in response to determining that the second content is the same as the first content, generate and transfer a control instruction to the BTS instructing the BTS to begin buffering the first content;

the BTS further configured to:

in response to receiving the control instruction from the BSC, buffer the first content and transmit the buffered first content to the second device; and

transfer the second packet communication to a communication network to obtain the second content if the control instruction is not received.

11. The communication system of claim 10 wherein the BSC is further configured to:

receive a first packet communication from the BTS, wherein the first packet communication includes a first content request, and

process the first packet communication using deep packet inspection to determine a first content identifier included in the first content request wherein the first content identifier is associated with the first content;

wherein, to process the second packet communication to determine the second content identifier included in the second content request, the BSC is configured to perform deep packet inspection of the second packet communication.

12. The communication system of claim 10 wherein the first content has a first sequence and wherein the BTS begins to buffer the first content at a first intermediate point in the first sequence.

13. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the BSC is further configured to transfer the second content request to obtain the second content, receive the second content, and transfer the second content to the BTS.

14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the second content has a second sequence, and wherein the BTS is further configured to receive the second content, transfer the second content to the second device from the beginning of the second sequence to a second intermediate point in the second sequence that corresponds to the first intermediate point in the first sequence, and transfer the buffered first content to the second device upon reaching the second intermediate point in the second sequence.

15. The communication system of claim 14 wherein the BTS is further configured to transmit another control instruction to the BSC upon reaching the second intermediate point in the second sequence, and wherein the BSC is further configured to receive the other control instruction and stop the transfer of the second content to the BTS in response to the other control instruction.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a base transceiver station (BTS), direct the BTS to:

receive first content on a backhaul link from a base station controller (BSC) remote from the BTS;

transmit the first content to a first device;

receive a second packet communication from a second device, wherein the second packet communication includes a second content request;

process the second packet communication to determine a second content identifier included in the second content request, wherein the second content identifier is associated with second content;

process the second content identifier to determine if the second content is the same as the first content;

in response to determining that the second content is the same as the first content, generate and transfer a control instruction from the BSC instructing the BTS to begin buffering the first content;

buffer the first content and transmit the buffered first content to the second device; and

in response to determining that the second content is not the same as the first content, transfer the second packet communication to a communication network to obtain the second content.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the backhaul link comprises a T-1 link, an Ethernet link, or a wireless microwave link.