Scheduling of software package transmissions on a multimedia broadcast multicast service channel

1. A method comprising:

scheduling, by a computing device, transmission of software packages on a broadcast/multicast downlink channel, wherein the schedule also includes media transmissions on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, wherein the software package transmissions are scheduled for one or more of a plurality of time periods when the media transmissions are using less than or equal to a threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and wherein the threshold capacity level is less than an entire capacity of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel;

determining a particular software package related to a wireless computing device, wherein the particular software package is scheduled to begin transmission on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel during a particular time period of the plurality of time periods in which the particular software package can be completely transmitted without exceeding the capacity of the channel; and

transmitting, to the wireless computing device, at least an identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and an indication of the particular time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel during the particular time period, the particular software package, and a transport object identifier of the particular software package.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the transmission of the particular software package was not properly received by the wireless computing device; and

transmitting an instruction to the wireless computing device to download the particular software package via a network mechanism other than the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmission of high-priority software packages are scheduled before transmission of low-priority software packages on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is zero.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is non-zero, wherein one or more of the software packages are related to content of a particular media transmission, and wherein the one or more software packages are scheduled for transmission during the particular media transmission.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the schedule is transmitted to the wireless computing device as part of a device management update.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein wireless computing devices use less power to receive software packages over the broadcast/multicast downlink channel than other types of wireless channels, and wherein the particular software package is scheduled to be transmitted on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel to reduce power consumption by the wireless computing device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a content server device, and transport session identifier for transmission of the particular software package.

10. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

scheduling transmission of software packages on a broadcast/multicast downlink channel, wherein the schedule also includes media transmissions on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, wherein the software package transmissions are scheduled for one or more of a plurality of time periods when the media transmissions are using less than or equal to a threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and wherein the threshold capacity level is less than an entire capacity of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel;

determining a particular software package related to a wireless computing device, wherein the particular software package is scheduled to begin transmission on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel during a particular time period of the plurality of time periods in which the particular software package can be completely transmitted without exceeding the capacity of the channel; and

transmitting, to the wireless computing device, at least an identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and an indication of the particular time period.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting, on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel during the particular time period, the particular software package, and a transport object identifier of the particular software package.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that the transmission of the particular software package was not properly received by the wireless computing device; and

transmitting an instruction to the wireless computing device to download the particular software package via a network mechanism other than the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein transmission of high-priority software packages are scheduled before transmission of low-priority software packages on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is zero.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is non-zero, wherein one or more of the software packages are related to content of a particular media transmission, and wherein the one or more software packages are scheduled for transmission during the particular media transmission.

16. A computing device comprising:

at least one processor;

memory; and

program instructions, stored in the memory, that upon execution by the at least one processor cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

scheduling transmission of software packages on a broadcast/multicast downlink channel, wherein the schedule also includes media transmissions on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, wherein the software package transmissions are scheduled for one or more of a plurality of time periods when the media transmissions are using less than or equal to a threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and wherein the threshold capacity level is less than an entire capacity of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel;

determining a particular software package related to a wireless computing device, wherein the particular software package is scheduled to begin transmission on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel during a particular time period of the plurality of time periods in which the particular software package can be completely transmitted without exceeding the capacity of the channel; and

transmitting, to the wireless computing device, at least an identifier of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel, and an indication of the particular time period.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting, on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel the particular time period, the particular software package, and a transport object identifier of the particular software package.

18. The computing device of claim 16 , further comprising:

determining that the transmission of the particular software package was not properly received by the wireless computing device; and

transmitting an instruction to the wireless computing device to download the particular software package via a network mechanism other than the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.

19. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein transmission of high-priority software packages are scheduled before transmission of low-priority software packages on the broadcast/multicast downlink channel.

20. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the threshold capacity level of the broadcast/multicast downlink channel is non-zero, wherein one or more of the software packages are related to content of a particular media transmission, and wherein the one or more software packages are scheduled for transmission during the particular media transmission.