Patent ID: 8019869

Claim:
In a network comprising a set of servers forming a content-delivery system, a computer-implemented method for distributing files among the servers in the set of servers, the method comprising: selecting a file stored on a first server from the set of servers; associating a first replication value with the selected file; and determining, at least in part on the basis of the first replication value, that the selected file is to be replicated at a second server selected from the set of servers, comprising defining a file set on the second server; associating a second replication value with the file set; comparing the first replication value with the second replication value; and on the basis of the comparison, determining whether the selected file is to replace the file set; wherein associating the first replication value comprises determining the first replication value at least in part on the basis of a file usage pattern associated with the selected file, and determining the first replication value further comprises building a statistical model representative of an extent to which transmission of the selected file consumes transmission capacity.