Patent ID: 8559426

Claim:
A system comprising: a management center; a plurality of nodes configured to: relay a continuous stream of data from a content provider to a first client in response to an initial request for the continuous stream of data, replicate the continuous stream of data, and transmit the replicated stream of data to at least one other client; wherein the management center comprises a mapping engine that is configured to map trace routes between the management center, at least one of the nodes, and at least the first client so as to determine one or more optimal routes from the management center to the first client via the at least one of the nodes, and configured to direct a node relaying the continuous stream of data from the content provider to the first client to replicate the continuous stream of data from the content provider, in response to subsequent requests for the continuous stream of data, while the node is relaying the continuous stream of data from the content provider to the first client, and transmit the replicated stream of data to the at least one other client in response to the subsequent requests for the continuous stream of data; and wherein the management center is configured to downgrade lower priority clients from a higher quality of service network link to a less optimal network link when a higher priority client requests use of the higher quality of service network link.