System and method for distributing web content on a network
First Claim
1. A method for distributing file content via one or more cache providers, comprising:
- a) purchasing one or more commodity contracts, wherein each commodity contract specifies a right to use a stated amount of cache resources belonging to a contracted cache provider during a specified time interval for servicing download requests;
b) making file content accessible to at least one contracted cache provider wherefrom it will be available to users for downloading; and
c) taking action which causes one or more devices to redirect download requests that were initially directed to a content provider, such that the requests will be redirected to said at least one contracted cache provider.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Content on the World Wide Web is made available for downloading by distributing it to cache providers. The content provider is a distinct entity from the cache providers and enters into contractual arrangements in order to benefit from the services provided by the cache providers. The contractual arrangements specify certain rights in cache resources that are bought and sold as commodities, exemplarily through a broker or exchange. An exemplary such right is the right to a stated amount of bandwidth, in a stated time interval, for servicing download requests. Responsive to such contractual arrangements, a redirective element such as a DNS server is programmed to redirect, to one or more cache providers, download requests initially addressed to the content provider.
261 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for distributing file content via one or more cache providers, comprising:
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a) purchasing one or more commodity contracts, wherein each commodity contract specifies a right to use a stated amount of cache resources belonging to a contracted cache provider during a specified time interval for servicing download requests;
b) making file content accessible to at least one contracted cache provider wherefrom it will be available to users for downloading; and
c) taking action which causes one or more devices to redirect download requests that were initially directed to a content provider, such that the requests will be redirected to said at least one contracted cache provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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a) selling one or more commodity contracts, wherein each commodity contract specifies an amount of cache resources to be made available during a specified time interval for servicing download requests directed to a content provider'"'"'s file content;
b) as a result of redirection, receiving one or more download requests that were initially directed to one or more content providers; and
servicing one or more of the redirected download requests in accordance with one or more of the commodity contracts. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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17. A method, comprising:
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a) purchasing at least one commodity contract from each of one or more cache providers, wherein each commodity contract specifies a right to use a stated amount of cache resources belonging to a contracted cache provider during a specified time interval for servicing download requests; and
b) reselling at least one said commodity contract for ultimate acquisition by a content provider.
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Specification