Expediting content retrieval using peer-to-peer networks

1. A computer-implemented method for managing the receiving of digital content, the method comprising:

identifying an in-progress download of content by a computer system from a content system in response to a size of the content being greater than a set size and the content being downloaded from the content system via a non-secure connection;

joining, by the computer system during the download of the content from the content system, a peer-to-peer network in which the content is being shared by at least one peer in the peer-to-peer network;

determining, by the computer system, whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network instead of the content system for receiving the content;

responsive to a determination to rely on the peer-to-peer network, terminating, by the computer system, the in-progress download from the content system; and

receiving, by the computer system, at least a portion of the content through the peer-to-peer network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network comprises:

responsive to joining the peer-to-peer network, simultaneously downloading data blocks of the content from the content system and from the peer-to-peer network; and

determining, based on the simultaneous downloading, whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network for receiving the content.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

responsive to a difference between an amount of the content received from the peer-to-peer network and an amount of the content received from the content system since joining the peer-to-peer network being greater than a threshold, determining not rely on the peer-to-peer network.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

responsive to determining not to rely on the peer-to-peer network, terminating downloading of data blocks from the peer-to-peer network.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving a data block from to peer-to-peer network before receiving the data block from the content system, determining to rely on the peer-to-peer network for receiving the content.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

responsive to downloading of data blocks of the content from the peer-to-peer network being faster than downloading of data blocks of the content from the content system, determining to rely on the peer-to-peer network for receiving the content.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to determining to rely on the peer-to-peer network and not receiving a data block of the content from the peer-to-peer networking within a threshold period, requesting the data block from the content system.

8. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions which cause one or more processors to performs steps comprising:

identifying an in-progress download of content by a computer system from a content system in response to a size of the content being greater than a set size and the content being downloaded from the content system via a non-secure connection;

joining, by the computer system during the download of the content from the content system, a peer-to-peer network in which the content is being shared by at least one peer in the peer-to-peer network;

determining, by the computer system, whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network instead of the content system for receiving the content;

responsive to a determination to rely on the peer-to-peer network, terminating, by the computer system, the in-progress download from the content system; and

receiving, by the computer system, at least a portion of the content through the peer-to-peer network.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein determining whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network comprises:

responsive to joining the peer-to-peer network, simultaneously downloading data blocks of the content from the content system and from the peer-to-peer network; and

determining, based on the simultaneous downloading, whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network for receiving the content.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to performs steps comprising:

responsive to a difference between an amount of the content received from the peer-to-peer network and an amount of the content received from the content system since joining the peer-to-peer network being greater than a threshold, determining not rely on the peer-to-peer network.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to performs steps comprising:

responsive to determining not to rely on the peer-to-peer network, terminating downloading of data blocks from the peer-to-peer network.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to performs steps comprising:

responsive to receiving a data block from to peer-to-peer network before receiving the data block from the content system, determining to rely on the peer-to-peer network for receiving the content.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to performs steps comprising:

responsive to downloading of data blocks of the content from the peer-to-peer network being faster than downloading of data blocks of the content from the content system, determining to rely on the peer-to-peer network for receiving the content.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the management module is further configured to:

responsive to determining to rely on the peer-to-peer network and not receiving a data block of the content from the peer-to-peer networking within a threshold period, request the data block from the content system.

15. A computer system for managing the receiving of digital content, the system comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to perform steps comprising:

identifying an in-progress download of content by the computer system from a content system in response to a size of the content being greater than a set size and the content being downloaded from the content system via a non-secure connection;

joining, during the download of the content from the content system, a peer-to-peer network in which the content is being shared by at least one peer in the peer-to-peer network;

determining whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network instead of the content system for receiving the content;

responsive to a determination to rely on the peer-to-peer network, terminating the in-progress download from the content system; and

receiving at least a portion of the content through the peer-to-peer network.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein determining whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network comprises:

responsive to joining the peer-to-peer network, simultaneously downloading data blocks of the content from the content system and from the peer-to-peer network; and

determining, based on the simultaneous downloading, whether to rely on the peer-to-peer network for receiving the content.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to performs steps comprising:

responsive to a difference between an amount of the content received from the peer-to-peer network and an amount of the content received from the content system since joining the peer-to-peer network being greater than a threshold, determining not rely on the peer-to-peer network.