Patent ID: 6094680
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for managing resources that are available at different network sites on a public network, the network sites including a local site and at least one remote site, the local site providing locally accessible resources and the remote site providing remotely accessible resources wherein one or more users gain access to the public network through the local site to access the locally accessible resources at the local site or to access the remotely accessible resources at the remote site, the method comprising the following steps:defining a cost/availability balance for the local site which establishes a balance between how many resources should be made available at the local site for a cost associated with making those resources available at the local site, wherein the cost/availability balance includes a consideration of local costs for locally-stored resources, and a consideration of remote costs for remotely-stored resources, and further wherein the local costs and remote costs are different;monitoring user demand for the resources at the local site and the resources at the remote site;assessing transaction costs associated with accessing the resources at the local and remote sites;evaluating the user demand and the transaction costs to supply the resources requested by the user against the cost/availability balance for the local site; andchanging which resources are provided at the local site to maintain the cost/availability balance defined for the local site.