Media download method and system based on connection speed

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

offer a progressive download, but not a non-progressive full download, of a video file to a video receiver via a network connection when a connection speed of a network connection satisfies a first threshold value of 768 kilobits per second; and

offer the non-progressive full download, but not the progressive download, of the video file to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is less than a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is based on a bit rate at which the video file is encoded, wherein the video file is encoded at a rate of at least 900 kilobits per second.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the connection speed is based on a speed tier to which a user of the video receiver subscribed.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the progressive download of the video file to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is greater than or equal to the first threshold value.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the connection speed of the network connection by determining a speed tier to which a user of the video receiver has subscribed, wherein the speed tier is associated with the network connection.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the connection speed is determined by performing a real-time analysis of the connection speed of the network connection.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the second threshold value is equal to the first threshold value.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to switch dynamically between a progressive download mode and a non-progressive full download mode in response to a real-time measure of the connection speed of the network connection.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the connection speed of the network connection is dependent on a location of a user.

9. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions executable by the processor to:

offer a progressive download, but not a non-progressive full download, of a video file to a video receiver via a network connection when a connection speed of the network connection is greater than or equal to a first threshold value of 768 kilobits per second; and

offer the non-progressive full download, but not the progressive download, of the video file to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed of the network connection is less than a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is based on a bit rate at which the video file is encoded, wherein the video file is encoded at a rate of at least 900 kilobits per second.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the connection speed of the network connection is based at least in part on a speed tier to which a user of the video receiver subscribed.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is operable to dynamically switch from offering the progressive download to offering the non-progressive full download based on a real-time measure of the connection speed.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is to perform the non-progressive full download of the video file to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed of the network connection is less than the second threshold value.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a component to determine the connection speed of the network connection based on a speed tier of the network connection.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is associated with an internet protocol television service.

15. A system comprising:

a processor to download a progressive download, and inhibit downloading a non-progressive full download, of a video file to a video receiver via a network connection when a connection speed of the network connection to the video receiver satisfies a first threshold value of 768 kilobits per second.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is to download the non-progressive full download, and inhibit downloading the progressive download, of the video file to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is less than a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is based on a bit rate at which the video file is encoded, wherein the video file is encoded at a rate of at least 900 kilobits per second.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor determines the connection speed of the network connection to the video receiver via a real-time connection speed analyzer.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the connection speed is based at least in part on a speed tier statically assigned to a subscriber of a communication service corresponding to the network connection.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is part of a home gateway in communication with the video receiver.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor determines the connection speed of the network connection to the video receiver based on a speed tier of the network connection.