Patent ID: 8935315
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: D01D,D01F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A content distribution system supporting the hierarchical storage and distribution of streaming media content, said content distribution system comprising: a) a location database storing location identifiers for named content segments, said location database being generated and maintained by a mediation server wherein defined series of named content segments represent respective streaming media content files and wherein the location identifiers identify remote peer computers with persistent storage locations of respective ones of stored named content segments, said location identifiers comprising data for remote retrieval of the named content segments from the remote peer computers, the named content segments being redundantly stored among the remote peer computers; and b) a control server, coupled to said location database and a communications network, said control server determining a distribution plan for said named content segments within a distributed storage network, wherein said distributed storage network includes a seeding server and a plurality of network computers interconnected by said communications network, wherein said seeding server and said network computers include segment caches for persisting pluralities of named content segments, and wherein named content segments are progressively transferred between said segment caches through said communications network in accordance with said distribution plan, said control server recording to said location database location identifiers for named content segments as transferred, said distribution plan maximizing the availability of the stored named content segments that are redundantly stored among the remote peer computers.