Content transfer functionality beyond or within cellular networks

1. A wireless communication unit comprising:

at least one receiver configured to receive data content when connected to a wireless network node or configured to receive the data content when located outside of cellular coverage of the wireless network node and connected to a first wireless remote communication unit having the data content;

at least one memory operably coupled to the at least one receiver and configured to store the received data content;

at least one transmitter operably coupled to the at least one memory; and

a processor operably coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one transmitter;

wherein, when no longer connected to the wireless network node and not connected to the first wireless remote communication unit, the processor is configured to access the data content from the at least one memory and the transmitter is configured to broadcast a message to at least one second wireless remote communication unit indicating that the wireless communication unit has downloaded the data content, the at least one receiver receives a request for the data content from the at least one second wireless remote communication unit, and the transmitter transmits the accessed data content to the at least one second wireless remote communication unit in response thereto using peer-to-peer communications.

2. The wireless communication unit of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to access the data content from the at least one memory and the transmitter is configured to transmit the accessed data content to a plurality of second wireless remote communication units in a batch mode.

3. The wireless communication unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmitter is configured to transmit the data content for a limited period of time.

4. A mobile wireless communication unit for communicating with a wireless network node and one or more wireless remote communication units, the mobile wireless communication unit comprising:

at least one receiver configured to receive data content from at least one wireless remote communication unit when located outside of cellular coverage and not connected to the wireless network node and configured to receive the data content from a plurality of other wireless remote communication units in a batch mode;

at least one memory operably coupled to the at least one receiver and configured to store the received data content;

at least one transmitter operably coupled to the at least one memory; and

a processor operably coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one transmitter and configured to store the received data content in the at least one memory according to an identifier associated with the other wireless remote communication units;

wherein, when connected to the wireless network node or a further wireless remote communication unit, the processor is configured to access the data content from the at least one memory and the transmitter is configured to transmit the accessed data content to the wireless network node or the further wireless remote communication unit.

5. The mobile wireless communication unit of claim 4 , wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast or transmit a message to a plurality of wireless remote communication units indicating that the mobile wireless communication unit requests the data content.

6. The mobile wireless communication unit of claim 4 , wherein the data content is delay tolerant.

7. The mobile wireless communication unit of claim 4 , wherein the data content is received using a first technology and transmitted to other wireless remote communication units using a second different technology.

8. The mobile wireless communication unit of claim 7 , wherein the technologies are one from:

(i) the first technology is a 3rd generation partnership project technology and the second different technology is a short range wireless technology;

(ii) the first technology is a short range wireless technology and the second different technology is a 3rd generation partnership project technology.

9. The mobile wireless communication unit of claim 4 , wherein the processor is arranged to configure the wireless remote communication unit as a peer-to-peer communication unit to support transfer of data packets to or from wireless remote communication units.

10. The mobile wireless communication unit of claim 4 , wherein the processor and transmitter are configured to transmit a message to at least one other wireless remote communication unit indicating one of the following:

(i) the mobile wireless communication unit has data content available to be sent to the at least one other wireless remote communication unit in a peer-to-peer manner;

(ii) the mobile wireless communication unit wishes to receive data content from the at least one wireless remote communication unit in a peer-to-peer manner.

11. A method for sharing delay tolerant content between wireless communication units, the method comprising, at a wireless communication unit:

receiving data content when connected to a wireless network node or receiving the data content when located outside of cellular coverage of the wireless network node and connected to a first wireless remote communication unit having the data content;

storing the received data content in at least one memory; and

when the wireless communication unit is no longer connected to the wireless network node and not connected to the first wireless remote communication unit,

broadcasting a message to at least one second wireless remote communication unit indicating that the wireless communication unit has downloaded the data content;

receiving a request for the data content from the at least one second wireless remote communication unit;

accessing the data content from the at least one memory; and

transmitting the accessed data content to at least one second wireless remote communication unit in response thereto using peer-to-peer communications.

12. A method for sharing delay tolerant content between devices, the method comprising, at a mobile wireless communication unit:

receiving data content from at least one wireless remote communication unit when located outside of cellular coverage and not connected to a wireless network node and receiving the data content from a plurality of other wireless remote communication units in a batch mode;

storing the received data content in the at least one memory according to an identifier associated with the other wireless remote communication units;

and when the mobile wireless communication unit is subsequently connected to the wireless network node, either direct or via one or more wireless remote communication units;

accessing the data content from the at least one memory; and

transmitting the accessed data content to the wireless network node or the further wireless remote communication unit.

13. A wireless communication system that comprises multiple wireless communication units, wherein at least one wireless communication unit communicates with a wireless network node and one or more wireless remote communication units, wherein the at least one wireless communication unit comprises:

at least one receiver configured to receive the data content when connected to the wireless network node or receive data content when located outside of cellular coverage of the wireless network node and connected to a first wireless remote communication unit having the data content;

at least one memory operably coupled to the at least one receiver and configured to store the received data content;

at least one transmitter operably coupled to the at least one memory; and

a processor operably coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one transmitter;

wherein, when no longer connected to the wireless network node and not connected to the first wireless remote communication unit, the processor is configured to access the data content from the at least one memory and the transmitter is configured to broadcast a message to at least one second wireless remote communication units indicating that the wireless communication unit has downloaded the data content, the at least one receiver receives a request for the data content from the at least one second wireless remote communication unit, and the transmitter transmits the accessed data content to the at least one second wireless remote communication unit in response thereto using peer-to-peer communications.

14. A wireless communication system that comprises multiple wireless communication units, wherein at least one mobile wireless communication unit communicates with a wireless network node and one or more wireless remote communication units, wherein the at least one mobile wireless communication unit comprises:

at least one receiver configured to receive data content from at least one wireless remote communication unit when located outside of cellular coverage and not connected to the wireless network node and configured to receive the data content from a plurality of other wireless remote communication units in a batch mode;

at least one memory operably coupled to the at least one receiver and configured to store the received data content;

at least one transmitter operably coupled to the at least one memory; and

a processor operably coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one transmitter and configured to store the received data content in the at least one memory according to an identifier associated with the other wireless remote communication units;

wherein, when connected to the wireless network node or a further wireless remote communication unit, the processor is configured to access the data content from the at least one memory and the transmitter is configured to transmit the accessed data content to the wireless network node or the further wireless remote communication unit.