Patent ID: 8122145

Claim:
A system comprising: a plurality of clients, wherein each client comprises a device configured to repeatedly poll a server; and the server configured to assign a client within the plurality of clients to a group within a plurality of groups, and assign the client a transfer window associated with the group for a transfer of content including an upload or download of content to the server or from the server, the transfer window being a period of time within which the assigned client is permitted to upload or download content to the server or from the server in response to the polling of the server by the client within the transfer window, the transfer window being one of a plurality of defined transfer windows that include at least one other transfer window that is not assigned to the client, wherein the server is configured to assign the client to the group and transfer window based upon a size of the content, a transfer speed, and a probability of transferring the content without experiencing an interruption in the transfer, and wherein the server comprises a device and is configured to direct the client to upload or download the content in accordance with the group to which the client is assigned by indicating to the client that a current time is within the transfer window for the client in response to the polling by the client being within the transfer window.