A computer-implemented method for facilitating random access to a piece of content in a content centric network, comprising: determining, by a content producing device, a root manifest, wherein a manifest indicates a set of content objects representing portions of the piece of content in the content centric network, wherein a respective content object is a data object or another manifest, and is associated with a name that is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier, HSVLI, which comprises contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level to uniquely identify the respective content object; and generating an index associated with the root manifest, wherein the index allows the set of content objects indicated in the root manifest to be searched and accessed directly, the index including a list of entries that covers the complete contents of the root manifest, where each entry indicates a measurement unit that indicates the manner in which the index is organized and the unit of measure to be used to search and access the piece of content, a name of the closest matching manifest which is the manifest that is closest to the corresponding unit of measure, and a hash value which represents a hash of the manifest associated with the name of the closest match manifest, the hash value configured to verify integrity by comparisons with hash values of other subsequently obtained manifests, thereby facilitating a content consumer to seek to a desired location in the piece of content associated with the root manifest by, based on the index, retrieving a content object based on a manifest that closely matches a target seek location that corresponds to a desired location indicated by a content consumer. determining, by a content producing device, a root manifest, wherein a manifest indicates a set of content objects representing portions of the piece of content in the content centric network, wherein a respective content object is a data object or another manifest, and is associated with a name that is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier, HSVLI, which comprises contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level to uniquely identify the respective content object; and generating an index associated with the root manifest, wherein the index allows the set of content objects indicated in the root manifest to be searched and accessed directly, the index including a list of entries that covers the complete contents of the root manifest, where each entry indicates a measurement unit that indicates the manner in which the index is organized and the unit of measure to be used to search and access the piece of content, a name of the closest matching manifest which is the manifest that is closest to the corresponding unit of measure, and a hash value which represents a hash of the manifest associated with the name of the closest match manifest, the hash value configured to verify integrity by comparisons with hash values of other subsequently obtained manifests, thereby facilitating a content consumer to seek to a desired location in the piece of content associated with the root manifest by, based on the index, retrieving a content object based on a manifest that closely matches a target seek location that corresponds to a desired location indicated by a content consumer.