System and method for storing content on a content delivery network

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for grouping a plurality of content files in content delivery network (CDN) for easier storage and access. In one embodiment, the CDN may store related files in one or more container files within the CDN to reduce the number of stored files. In addition, a manifest provided to the requesting device relating to the content may be altered to point to the container files rather than the separate content files within the container. The manifest may also provide information to the requesting to extract and process the content files within the container file in the proper order for playing on the requesting device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for storing content in a content delivery network (CDN), the method comprising:
 receiving at the CDN:
 a plurality of content files and a corresponding manifest, the plurality of content files comprising a portion of a content stream, wherein the manifest identifies each of the plurality of content files; 
   based on a criterion:
 determining that the plurality of content files are associated with the content stream; 
   storing:
 the plurality of content files in a container file on a storage element of the CDN; and 
   altering:
 the manifest associated with the content stream to comprise a storage location of the container file on the storage element of the CDN. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the criterion comprises one or more content providers from which given content files are received at the CDN. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the criterion comprises one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) associated with given content segments received at the CDN. 
     
     
         4 . A content distribution network comprising:
 a plurality of content storage elements; and   a content delivery network (CDN) component configured to:
 receiving:
 a plurality of content files and a corresponding manifest, the plurality of content files comprising a portion of a content stream, wherein the manifest identifies each of the plurality of content files; 
 
 based on a criterion:
 determining that the plurality of content files are associated with the content stream; and 
 
 storing:
 the plurality of content files in a container file on a storage element of the CDN; and 
 
 altering:
 the manifest associated with the content stream to comprise a storage location of the container file on the storage element of the CDN. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . The content distribution network as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the criterion comprises one or more content providers from which given content files are received at the CDN. 
     
     
         6 . The content distribution network as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the criterion comprises one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) associated with given content segments received at the CDN. 
     
     
         7 . A system for operating a content distribution network (CDN), the system comprising:
 a server comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a computer-readable medium associated with the processor and including instructions stored thereon and executable by the processor to: 
 receiving:
 a plurality of content files and a corresponding manifest, the plurality of content files comprising a portion of a content stream, wherein manifest identifies each of the plurality of content files; 
 
 based on a criterion:
 determining that the plurality of content files are associated with the content stream; 
 
 storing:
 the plurality of content files in a container file on a storage element of the CDN; and 
 
 altering:
 the manifest associated with the content stream to comprise a storage location of the container file on the storage element of the CDN. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the criterion comprises one or more content providers from which given content files are received at the CDN. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the criterion comprises one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) associated with given content segments received at the CDN.