Patent ID: 8214450

Claim:
A method for bidding electronic delivery of a content object with a content distribution network (CDN), wherein the particular content object is provided by a content provider, the method comprising steps: receiving a delivery request from the content provider, the delivery request for electronically delivering a particular content object over at least one network, wherein the delivery request includes: a location parameter indicative of an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with an intended receiver, and information characterizing delivery of the particular content object; analyzing the delivery request according to a financial cost model for the CDN, wherein: the financial cost model is affected by the IP address, and the analyzing includes: determining a routing path for the Internet, and analyzing the routing path against the financial cost model; automatically determining a financial delivery quote, based on the financial cost model, for electronically delivering the particular content object one or more times over the at least one network according to the delivery request, wherein the financial delivery quote is affected by: the location parameter of the intended receiver, and the particular content object; and sending the financial delivery quote over the at least one network to the content provider; wherein: at least one delivery analyzer computer performs at least one of the analyzing or automatically determining steps, and the delivery request or the financial delivery quote specifies a latency parameter for delivering the particular content object.