Patent ID: 8548918

Claim:
A method comprising: in a computing device programmed to automate content distribution, receiving proposed distribution data defining a proposed distribution of new content; wherein the proposed distribution data includes an initial distribution list identifying a first plurality of recipient client devices and metadata describing the new content; accessing, by the computing device, distribution history data comprising a plurality of records, each record corresponding to a previous distribution of content and including metadata describing the previously-distributed content, at least some of the records identifying a path of a plurality of successive recipient client devices that previously received the previous distribution of content; generating, by the computing device, an optimal distribution path for the new content including a distribution list identifying an initial plurality of recipient client devices to which the new content should be initially distributed and a subsequent plurality of recipient client devices to which at least one of the initial plurality of recipient devices should subsequently distribute the new content, based on the proposed distribution data and the at least some of the records; receiving, by the computing device, distribution progress data for at least one ongoing distribution; updating, by the computing device, the distribution history data based on the distribution progress data; generating, by the computing device, a new optimal distribution path based on updated distribution history data; and distributing, by the computing device, subsequent content according to the new optimal distribution path.