Patent ID: 7937379

Claim:
A method, performed by one or more processors, for fragmenting a data file pertaining to a media content for distribution to a plurality of devices coupled to a network, the method comprising: dividing a first portion of the data file into a plurality of segments, wherein the data file includes a sequence of data blocks that are ordered for playback of the media content; making a determination as to the popularity of the data file; based, at least in part, on the determination, assigning the plurality of segments of the data file to a first band or a second band, wherein the first band is used for more popular data files than the second band; distributing each of the plurality of segments for storage in two or more devices of the plurality of devices such that none of the plurality of devices stores the entire data file, wherein each of the plurality of devices is enabled to request playback of the media content, and wherein the number of devices of the two or more devices that store each of the plurality of segments depends on the plurality of segments being assigned to the first band or the second band; seeding each of the plurality of devices with a header object; and enabling a first device of the plurality of devices to (i) instantly playback the media content using the seeded header object in response to a request, and (ii) once playback is initiated, continuously play back the media content by configuring the first device to concurrently retrieve two or more segments of the plurality of segments over the network from at least one other device of the plurality of devices, wherein the data blocks forming each of the plurality of segments are non-consecutive with respect to the ordered sequence.