Mediated multi-source peer content delivery network architecture

Abstract

A multi-source peer content distribution system transfers content files from multiple, distributed peer computers to any requesting computer. The content distribution network coordinates file transfers through a mediation system including a content catalog and a host broker system. The content catalog contains an identification of each content file, the segmented subunits of each file, and the peer caches to which the subunits have been distributed. The host broker system receives content file requests issued over a network from requesting computers. In response, manifest files identifying the request corresponding content subunits and distributed cache locations are returned. The requesting computers can then retrieve and assemble the corresponding content subunits from the peer computers to obtain the requested content file.

1 . A content distribution system supporting the transfer of a content file present on a plurality of peer computers to a recipient computer, said content distribution network comprising: 
 a) a content catalog containing an identification of a content file and a plurality of location identifiers, wherein each location identifier includes an identification of a peer computer and of a named subunit of said content file; and    b) a control processor, coupled to said content catalog and coupleable through a network connection to a recipient computer, wherein said control processor, responsive to a request identifying said content file provided by said recipient computer, provides a content file manifest to said recipient computer, said content file manifest including said plurality of location identifiers;    whereby said recipient computer can retrieve and assemble corresponding named subunits of said content file from said peer computers to obtain said content file.    
     
     
         2 . The content distribution system of  claim 1  further comprising a performance database, coupled to said control processor, containing performance information for said peer computers, wherein said control processor provides said content file manifest with an ordered listing of said plurality of location identifiers, and wherein said control processor determines said ordered listing based on said performance information.  
     
     
         3 . The content distribution system of  claim 2  wherein said content file manifest provides multiple location identifiers for said named subunits and wherein said ordered listing provides a preference order for the retrieval of said named subunits by said recipient computer.  
     
     
         4 . The content distribution system of  claim 3  wherein said control processor is further coupleable to said recipient computer to receive update performance information, wherein said control processor provides for the storage of said update performance information in said performance database.  
     
     
         5 . The content distribution system of  claim 4  wherein said update performance information includes activity information with respect to said recipient computer and a predetermined one of said peer computers.  
     
     
         6 . A content distribution system comprising: 
 a) a peer computer network including a plurality of segment data caches that provide for the distributed storage of named content segments, wherein said plurality of segment data caches have associated cache location identifiers, said peer computer network being responsive to named segment requests including named segment identifiers to provide corresponding named content segments;    b) a content broker computer system including a content catalog that provides for the storage of a named content identifier in association with a plurality of named content segment identifiers further associated with a plurality of cache location identifiers, said content broker computer system being responsive to a broker request including said named content identifier to provide said plurality of cache location identifiers selectively ordered with respect to said plurality of named content segment identifiers; and    c) a request computer system coupleable through a communications network to said content broker computer system to provide said broker request and to said peer computer network to provide segment requests for said plurality of named content segments respectively associated with selected cache location identifiers determined based on the selective ordering of said plurality of cache location identifiers with respect to said plurality of named content segment identifiers.    
     
     
         7 . The content distribution system of  claim 6  wherein said request computer system is operative to provide segment requests to said peer computer network to progressively obtain said named content segments corresponding to said named content identifier.  
     
     
         8 . The content distribution system of  claim 7  wherein said content broker provides said request computer system with a manifest presenting preference orders of cache location identifiers for respective ones of said plurality of named content segments.  
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a content distribution network to support the retrieval of a streaming content file, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) distributing a plurality of named content segments, collectively representing a predetermined streaming content file, among a plurality of peer caches, wherein a portion of said named content segments are multiply distributed among said plurality of peer caches; and    b) responding to a request for said predetermined streaming content file by providing a retrieval list identifying said plurality of named content segments, said list including an identification of the distribution of said plurality of named content segments;    whereby said plurality of named content segments can be retrieved from among said plurality of peer caches to obtain said streaming content file.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of generating said retrieval list with a plurality of location lists, wherein each said location list identifies, with respect to a predetermined named content segment, a subset of said plurality of peer caches to which said predetermined named content segment was distributed.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said step of generating provides for an ordering of the identification of said subsets of said plurality of peer caches.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of collecting performance information with respect to said plurality of peer caches and wherein said step of generating provides for said ordering based on said performance information.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of cataloging the locations of said plurality of named content segments as distributed among said peer caches.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of segmenting said predetermined streaming content file into said plurality of named content segments.  
     
     
         15 . A content distribution system supporting the delivery of streaming media content files over a communications network to a recipient computer system, said content distribution system comprising: 
 a) a catalog of predetermined content files, said catalog including a listing of content file segments, wherein predetermined pluralities of said content file segments correspond to said predetermined content files;    b) a predictive content distribution system operative to distribute copies, including multiple copies, of said content file segments to a plurality of peer computer systems, said predictive content distribution system being coupled to said catalog to associate peer system identifiers with said content file segments to reflect the distribution of said content file segments to said peer computer systems;    c) a peer computer management system coupleable to said plurality of peer computer systems and operative to monitor the availability of said content file segments as distributed to said plurality of peer computer systems; and    d) a request broker system coupleable through said communications network to receive a content file request from a recipient computer system, said request broker system providing, based on the availability of said content file segments as determined by said peer computer management system, a manifest of content file segment identifiers and associated peer system identifiers;    whereby said recipient computer system can utilize said manifest to obtain the content file segments corresponding to the content file identified by said content file request.    
     
     
         16 . The content distribution system of  claim 16  wherein said peer computer management system dynamically monitors said plurality of peer computer systems.  
     
     
         17 . The content distribution system of  claim 17  wherein said request broker system dynamically generates said manifest in response to said content file request.  
     
     
         18 . The content distribution system of  claim 18  wherein said peer computer management system maintains activity and capability information with respect to said plurality of peer computer systems and wherein request broker system is responsive to said activity and capability information in generating said manifest.  
     
     
         19 . A method of obtaining streaming media content files over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) issuing, over a communications network, a content request for a predetermined content file to a host computer system;    b) receiving a manifest from said host computer system, said manifest including a list of content segments corresponding to said predetermined content file, said list including a peer cache location identifier for each said content segment; and    c) requesting, over said communications network, a first plurality of said content segments from a second plurality of peer caches identified by said peer cache location identifiers corresponding to said first plurality.