Patent ID: 8266246

Claim:
A method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on a media player, comprising: producing a link to a customization file, wherein the link is resolvable across the Internet to the customization file, and the link is configured for embedding in a third-party web accessible location; receiving information originating from a designer of the playback experience, wherein the information is received after the link is produced and distributed; modifying the customization file according to the information, wherein the customization file defines a plurality of content files for stitching together at the media player to create the playback experience; receiving usage information from a plurality of media players for a plurality of customization files, wherein the plurality of customization files includes the customization file; determining a point of presence (POP) subset of a geographically-distributed plurality of POPs as a function of the usage information; sending the customization file to a delivery network, wherein: the delivery network has the geographically-distributed plurality of POPs that each are capable of delivering the customization file upon the customization file being requested with the link by the media player, and the sending the customization file loads the customization file on the POP subset to exclude some of the plurality of POPs unless subsequently requested at the excluded some of the plurality of POPs; indicating to the delivery network a time-to-live after which requests for the customization file should be fulfilled by requesting the customization file from an origin server; periodically determining a customization file subset of the plurality of customization files, which have changed since the plurality of customization files have previously been send to the plurality of POPs; and sending the customization file subset to at least the POP subset.