Method and system for providing intelligent network content delivery

• US 20030149581A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Imran Chaudhri, Ken Lee, Kent Lockhart, Shan Jiang, Vishal Suri
• Original Assignee: Imran Chaudhri, Ken Lee, Kent Lockhart, Shan Jiang, Vishal Suri
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Jiang, Shan, Lockhart, Kent, Suri, Vishal, Lee, Ken
• Application Number:
  US10/220,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149581A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing improved acceleration of web content and/or related services are disclosed. In specific embodiments, the invention provides services and business arrangements that allow delivery of web content more quickly and effectively using a variety of innovative techniques including: managing content provided to different content distribution networks; providing an easier interface for publishers to sign up for acceleration services and implement acceleration policies; and providing easier billings to publishers and selection of acceleration services.

Claims

1. A method for providing content distribution services to a publisher, comprising:

securing arrangements with two or more independent content distribution networks, each having multiple independent distribution sources;

for a request for a publisher'"'"'s content, measuring performance for at least two sources, said at least two sources not necessarily managed by the same content distribution network;

selecting a distribution source for said publisher'"'"'s content; and

redirecting a content request user to said distribution source.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving payment requests from multiple selected content distribution network;

paying said multiple content distribution networks; and

providing a single bill to a publisher for content distribution services.

3. A method for providing content distribution services to a publisher, comprising:

securing arrangements with two or more independent content distribution networks, each having multiple independent distribution sources;

for a request for a publisher'"'"'s content, selecting a distribution source for said publisher'"'"'s content from at least two sources, said at least two sources not necessarily managed by the same content distribution network; and

redirecting a content request user to said distribution source.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising:

receiving payment requests from multiple selected content distribution network;

paying said multiple content distribution networks; and

providing a single bill to a publisher for content distribution services.

5. A method allowing publishers greater flexibility in utilizing CDN services comprising:

acting as a single source to publishers for managing acceleration policies, content distribution, and contract and payment arrangements; and

acting as the interface to one or more various independent CDN service providers.

6. A method of providing content distribution services to a publisher and charging for content distribution services comprising:

arranging with two or more independent content distribution networks to provide content distribution services to a retargetter infrastructure computer system;

for a request for said publisher'"'"'s content, selecting a content distribution source for said publisher'"'"'s content from sources including said two or more independent content distribution networks;

at said retargetter infrastructure computer system, redirecting a content request to a selected content distribution source; and

at said retargetter infrastructure computer system, tracking usage of content distribution sources to provide a single bill to said publisher for content distribution services from multiple selected content distribution networks.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

at said retargetter infrastructure computer system, fetching publisher content and providing fetched publisher content to a selected content distribution source.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

including said retargetter infrastructure computer system as one of possibly selected sources for content distribution.

9. A method of providing content distribution services in a network to a publisher of digitally encoded content comprising:

establishing arrangements with two or more independent content distribution networks to provide distribution services to an intermediate system;

for a request for a publisher'"'"'s content, using a computer to select a distribution source for said request;

at said intermediate system, fetching publisher content;

providing publisher content to said selected distribution source over a network;

redirecting a content request over a network to said selected distribution source; and

tracking and storing usage of selected distribution sources at said intermediate system in order to bill publishers for content distribution services.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said publisher is one of two or more independent publishers to which services are provided.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein said selected distribution source can be one of said independent content distribution networks or an intermediate device.

19. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

receiving payment requests from multiple content distribution networks for providing distribution services to one or more retargetters;

paying said payment requests for distributing content from retargetters; and

billing publishers for content distribution services provided through or managed by said retargetters.

27. A fixed media containing logical instructions that when loaded into an appropriately configured digital apparatus causes the apparatus to operate in accordance with the method of claim 9.

12. A method of providing content distribution services to a publisher over a communication channel from a retargetter system, comprising:

establishing service agreements between said retargetter system and two or more independent content distribution networks;

for a request for a publisher'"'"'s content received over a network, selecting a distribution source for said publisher'"'"'s content from said independent content distribution networks or from said retargetter;

providing publisher content to said selected distribution source over a communication channel; and

redirecting a content request over a network to said distribution source; and

tracking and storing usage of selected distribution sources at said intermediate system in order to bill publishers for content distribution services.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein:

said two or more independent content distribution networks interact with said retargetter system as though said retargetter system were a single publisher to which said independent content distribution networks were providing services.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein:

said publisher interacts with said retargetter system as though said retargetter system were a single content distribution network providing services to said publisher.

15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

from said retargetter system, updating said distribution sources with updated publisher'"'"'s content.

16. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

at said retargetter system, allowing a publisher to reserve content distribution in advance for special events or promotions.

17. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

at said retargetter system automatically rerouting publisher content and requests to another content distribution network if a selected content distribution network becomes unavailable.

18. The method according to claim 12 wherein said retargetter system comprises one or more retargetter nodes.

20. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

receiving payment requests from multiple content distribution networks for providing distribution services to one or more retargetters;

paying said payment requests for distributing content from retargetters; and

billing publishers for content distribution services provided through or managed by said retargetters.

21. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

using an accounting computer system to track and pay payment requests from multiple content distribution networks for providing distribution services to one or more retargetters;

using said computer system to track and bill publishers for content distribution services provided through or managed by said retargetters.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising:

for a particular publisher, using said accounting computer system to track acceleration services provided by different independent content distribution networks and differing charges of said different independent content distribution networks;

using said accounting computer system to provide an aggregate billing to a publisher based on differing charges of said different independent content distribution networks.

23. The method according to claim 21 further comprising:

for a particular publisher, using said accounting computer system to track acceleration services provided by retargetters to provide a bill to a publisher based on retargetter services provided and without regard for different charges of said different independent content distribution networks.

70. The method according to claim 80 wherein said measuring performance is selected from the group consisting of:

receiving a measurement of a response time from a viewer location to said at least two sources;

estimating a response time based on statistical performance parameters of said at least two sources; and

estimating a response time base on a response time from a domain name server.

80. The method according to claim 9 or 12 further comprising:

for a request for a publisher'"'"'s content, measuring performance from at least two sources, said at least two sources not necessarily managed by the same content distribution network.

81. The method according to claim 9 or 12 wherein said measuring performance comprises:

requesting a test file located at a publisher site from two or more different cache sources;

selecting a cache source that is first to return said test file.

82. The method according to claim 9 or 12 further comprising:

receiving payment requests from multiple selected content distribution network;

paying said multiple content distribution networks; and

providing a single bill to a publisher from content distribution services.

83. The method according to claim 9 or 12 further comprising:

receiving payment requests from multiple content distribution networks for providing distribution services to one or more retargetters;

paying said payment requests for distributing content from retargetters; and

billing publishers for content distribution services provided through or managed by said retargetters.

84. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

using an accounting computer system to track and pay payment requests from multiple content distribution networks for providing distribution services to one or more retargetters;

using said computer system to track and bill publishers for content distribution services provided through or managed by said retargetters.

85. The method according to claim 21 further comprising:

for a particular publisher, using said accounting computer system to track acceleration services provided by different independent content distribution networks and differing charges of said different independent content distribution networks;

using said accounting computer system to provide an aggregate billing to a publisher based on differing charges of said different independent content distribution networks.

86. The method according to claim 21 further comprising:

for a particular publisher, using said accounting computer system to track acceleration services provided by retargetters to provide a bill to a publisher based on retargetter services provided and without regard for different charges of said different independent content distribution networks.

24. A method of calculating charges for content distribution services comprising:

using one or more retargetter nodes as intermediate delivery nodes to deliver publisher content to viewers, wherein delivered publisher content contains translated resource locators indicating selected content distribution networks for embedded content;

forwarding data regarding selected content distribution networks from said one or more retargetter nodes to an aggregator system;

forwarding data regarding serviced publisher content to said aggregator system;

at said aggregator system, determining appropriate aggregate charges for content distribution services to a publisher, where said appropriate charges include charges for utilization of services of various independent content distribution networks;

at said aggregator system, determining appropriate aggregate payments for content distribution services to a content distribution network, where said appropriate payments include payments for services provided to various independent publishers.

25. A data processing system for managing a services configuration for content distribution services comprising:

(a) computer processor means for processing data;

(b) storage means for storing data on a storage medium;

(c) first means for recording information about CDN usage of different CDN networks by one or more retargetters;

(d) second means for processing data regarding usage of acceleration services by one or more publishers and for determining charges to said publishers; and

(e) third means for processing data regarding aggregate CDN usage for an appropriate period to determine payments owed to CDNs.

26. A data processing system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said first means further comprises:

(a) means for receiving CDN usage data from a plurality of retargetters and storing on the storage medium;

(b) means for receiving publisher acceleration service data and storing on the storage medium;

(c) means for storing on the storage medium CDN pricing policies for a plurality of CDN services; and

(d) means for creating locations on the storage medium for storing data regarding;

(i) usage of a particular CDN'"'"'s acceleration services and costs for said usage;

(ii) servicing of request for publisher content and acceleration provided.

28. A method of content delivery over a network comprising:

establishing a two-tiered content distribution system, comprising;

first tier computer communication modules for providing distributed content to viewers from two or more independent publishers said first tier able to dynamically translate resource locators;

second tier computer communication modules for providing embedded distributed content to said viewers, said embedded distributed content accessed by said viewers via resource locators dynamically translated by said first tier. said first tier modules in communication with an accounting computer system for tracking and aggregating accounting charges for content delivery acceleration provided by said first tier and said second tier.

29. The method according to claim 28 further wherein said second tier receives embedded publisher content from said first tier systems and said first tier systems request embedded content from original publishers to provide to said second tier systems.

30. The method according to claim 28 further wherein said second tier comprises one or more independent content distribution networks, each said independent content distribution network providing services to said first tier modules as though said modules comprised a single publisher site and each said independent content distribution network billing said first tier for services as though said first tier comprised a single publisher site.

31. The method according to claim 28 further wherein said second tier comprises one or more independent content distribution networks, which may operate according to different resource locator mapping techniques and wherein said first tier modules dynamically translate resource locators to a format appropriate to a particular selected content distibution network before transmitting to a viewer.

32. The method according to claim 28 further wherein a module in said first tier may at times translate resource locators so that said module can at times act as a proxy second tier module for some viewers.

33. The method according to claim 28 further wherein said viewers communicate with said first tier modules and said second tier modules over a public, open protocol communications media.

34. The method according to claim 28 further wherein said viewers comprise general purpose browser modules for accessing a variety of network content in a standard network protocol.

35. The method according to claim 28 further wherein said second tier modules comprise independent content distribution networks that provide services to a variety of publishers on a public communications network.

36. A method allowing publishers to manage accelerated content delivery comprising:

providing a policy application to implement acceleration policies at a computing site not managed by a publisher;

providing an interface allowing a publisher, using a standard remote interface, to initiate or modify acceleration policies for the publisher'"'"'s content; and

implementing acceleration policies for a publisher'"'"'s content.

37. A method of providing content distribution services in a network to a publisher of digitally encoded content comprising:

establishing arrangements with two or more independent content distribution networks to provide distribution services;

for a request for a publisher'"'"'s content, using a computer to select a distribution source for said request;

providing publisher content to said selected distribution source; and

redirecting a content request to said selected distribution source.

38. The method according to claim 37 wherein said publisher is one of two or more independent publishers to which services are provided.

39. The method according to claim 37 wherein said redirecting is accomplished by dynamically translating resource locators in a page prior to transmission to a viewer.

40. The method according to claim 37 wherein said selected distribution source can be one of said independent content distribution networks or an intermediate device.

41. The method according to claim 37 wherein:

publisher content is provided to a selected distribution source from an intermediate source upon request from a selected distribution source.

42. The method according to claim 37 further comprising:

translating publisher acceleration policies to a selected distribution source, wherein different distribution sources may have different policy interfaces.

43. The method according to claim 37 further comprising:

if a content distribution network becomes unavailable, automatically rerouting publisher content and requests to another content distribution network.

44. The method according to claim 37 wherein said selecting comprises:

providing a viewer computer a list of candidate distribution sources; and

accepting from a viewer computer an indicator of a selected distribution source.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein said selecting further comprises:

providing a viewer computer executable code allowing said viewer computer to measure response times to one or more distribution sources.

46. The method according to claim 37 wherein providing publisher content to said selected distribution source is accomplished by an intermediate retargetter system.

47. The method according to claim 39 wherein said translating is performed by an intermediate retargetter system.

48. A method of providing content distribution services to a publisher over a communication channel from a retargetter system, comprising:

establishing service agreements between said retargetter system and two or more independent content distribution networks;

for a request for a publisher'"'"'s content received over a network, selecting a distribution source for said publisher'"'"'s content from said independent content distribution networks or from said retargetter;

providing publisher content to said selected distribution source over a communication channel; and

redirecting a content request over a network to said distribution source.

49. The method according to claim 48 wherein:

said two or more independent content distribution networks interact with said retargetter system as though said retargetter system were a single publisher to which said independent content distribution networks were providing services.

50. The method according to claim 48 wherein:

said publisher interacts with said retargetter system as though said retargetter system were a single content distribution network providing services to said publisher.

51. The method according to claim 48 further comprising:

from said retargetter system, updating said distribution sources with updated publisher'"'"'s content.

52. The method according to claim 48 further comprising:

from said retargetter system, translating publisher acceleration policies to said distribution sources, wherein different distribution sources may have different policy interfaces.

53. The method according to claim 48 further comprising:

at said retargetter system, allowing a publisher to reserve content distribution in advance for special events or promotions.

54. The method according to claim 48 further comprising:

at said retargetter system automatically rerouting publisher content and requests to another content distribution network if a selected content distribution network becomes unavailable.

55. The method according to claim 48 wherein said retargetter system comprises one or more retargetter nodes.

56. A method of providing content to a viewer comprising:

performing an initial redirection to a retargetter system, said retargetter system thereafter being the source to a viewer of content containing resource locators;

performing second redirections at said retargetter system to one or more cache sources, said cache sources thereby becoming the source to a viewer of embedded content.

57. The method according to claim 56 wherein said second redirections can indicate sources in two or more independently managed content distribution networks.

58. The method according to claim 56 wherein said second redirections can indicate sources in two or more independently managed content distribution networks and wherein said second redirections can be formatted to comply with different redirection schemes of said two or more independently managed content distribution networks.

59. The method according to claim 56 wherein said initial redirection is performed at a publisher website in response to an initial viewer request to access publisher content.

60. The method according to claim 56 wherein said initial redirection is selected from the group consisting of:

resetting a domain name for said publisher to said retargetter node; and

performing a frame redirection at said publisher site to said retargetter system.

61. The method according to claim 56 wherein said second redirection is accomplished by dynamically modifying embedded content locators in said content to indicate said cache sources.

62. The method according to claim 61 wherein said dynamically modifying locators can be modified for particular cache sources in accordance with either directory-based content distribution file mapping or DNS-based content distribution file mapping, as appropriate for a particular cache source.

63. The method according to claim 56 further comprising:

at said retargetter system, providing candidate cache sources to a client and instructions for said client to measure response times to said cache sources; and

at said retargetter system, receiving data indications from a viewer indicating results of response time measurements.

64. The method according to claim 63 wherein said results indicate a cache source selected at a viewer system.

65. The method according to claim 63 wherein said candidate cache sources comprise at least two independently managed cache sources.

66. The method according to claim 63 wherein said candidate cache sources comprise at least two independently managed cache sources having at least two different file mapping protocols.

67. The method according to claim 63 wherein said candidate cache sources comprise at least one independently managed cache source and said retargetter system acting as a cache source.

68. The method according to claim 63 wherein said instructions comprise an indication to execute measurement code present on said viewer.

69. The method according to claim 63 wherein said instructions comprise executable code for measuring response times at said viewer.

71. The method according to claim 56 further comprising:

at said retargetter system, providing candidate cache sources to a viewer and instructions for said viewer to report performance data regarding said cache sources;

at said retargetter system, receiving performance data from a viewer of a selected cache source;

at said retargetter, using said performance data as a criteria for selecting a cache source.

72. The method according to claim 56 further comprising:

modifying contained resource locators indicating HTML files or other files that may contain resource locators to indicate said retargetter as the delivery source of said pages;

modifying resource locators indicating embedded content indicating content that cannot contain further resource locators to indicate said selected cache source as the delivery source of said embedded content and said retargetter as the publisher of said content.

73. The method according to claim 56 further comprising:

caching a page with modified resource locators indicating a selected cache source;

when receiving a second request for said page, said second request further indicating the same selected cache source, returning a cached page.

74. A method of content delivery over a network comprising:

receiving a viewer request to access content;

redirecting said viewer request to a retargetter;

receiving performance data from one or more distribution sources;

determining a distribution source from which distributed content will be served;

in real time, modifying one or more content locators referenced by said content to indicate said distribution source; and

serving said content to said viewer.

75. The method according to claim 74 further comprising:

at said retargetter, receiving acceleration policy indications from a publisher and implementing said acceleration policy indications.

76. The method according to claim 74 further comprising:

providing executable code allowing a viewer to measure performance from one or more distribution sources; and

receiving performance measurements from said viewer.

77. The method according to claim 74 wherein said content is formatted in a protocol with standard universal resource locators (URLs).

78. The method according to claim 74 further comprising including an executable portion in content delivered to a viewer, said executable portion capable of modifying a location identifier displayed at a viewer.

79. A method of content delivery over a network comprising:

at a publisher network location, receiving a viewer request to access content;

redirecting said viewer request to a retargetter;

determining a distribution source from which distributed content will be served;

at said retargetter, retrieving publisher pages containing resource locators;

at said retargetter, providing a viewer said publisher pages, with resource locators translated to indicate embedded content from a determined distribution source; and

at said retargetter, responding to requests from said determined distribution source for embedded content by retrieving said embedded content and transmitting it to said determined distribution source.

87. A method of providing content distribution services to a publisher, comprising:

establishing service agreements with at least two independent content distribution networks to provide network content distribution services to one or more retargetters;

for a viewer request for publisher content, using a computer to select a distribution source from said at least two independent content distribution networks;

using a computer to redirect said viewer request to a selected distribution source; and

delivering requested publisher content to said selected distribution source.

89. A fixed media containing logical instructions that when loaded into an appropriately configured digital apparatus causes the apparatus to operate in accordance with the method of claim 87.

88. The method according to claim 88 further comprising:

at a retargetter computing system, receiving acceleration policies from a publisher; and

translating publisher acceleration policies using a computer system to a selected distribution source.

90. A method of content delivery over a network comprising:

establishing a two-tiered content distribution system, comprising;

first tier computer communication modules for providing distributed content to viewers from two or more independent publishers said first tier able to dynamically translate resource locators;

second tier computer communication modules for providing embedded distributed content to said viewers, said embedded distributed content accessed by said viewers via resource locators dynamically translated by said first tier.

91. The method according to claim 90 further wherein said second tier receives embedded publisher content from said first tier systems and said first tier systems request embedded content from original publishers to provide to said second tier systems.

92. The method according to claim 90 further wherein said second tier comprises one or more independent content distribution networks, each said independent content distribution network providing services to said first tier modules as though said modules comprised a single publisher site.

93. The method according to claim 90 further wherein said second tier comprises one or more independent content distribution networks, which may operate according to different resource locator mapping techniques and wherein said first tier modules dynamically translate resource locators to a format appropriate to a particular selected content distibution network before transmitting to a viewer.

94. The method according to claim 90 further wherein a module in said first tier may at times translate resource locators so that said module can at times act as a proxy second tier module for some viewers.

95. The method according to claim 90 further wherein said viewers communicate with said first tier modules and said second tier modules over a public, open protocol communications media.

96. The method according to claim 90 further wherein said viewers comprise general purpose browser modules for accessing a variety of network content in a standard network protocol.

97. The method according to claim 90 further wherein said second tier modules comprise independent content distribution networks that provide services to a variety of publishers on a public communications network.

98. A method allowing digital content publishers to easily initiate content distribution services to viewers comprising:

at a publisher site, a publisher providing a single redirection of a high level content location to an intermediate system;

at said intermediate node;

providing a viewer with instructions to capture performance data for two or more content distribution networks;

selecting a content distribution network for embedded content;

fetching publisher content containing resource locators of embedded content;

dynamically translating resource locators of embedded content in said publisher content to indicate a selected content distribution network;

providing content with translated resource locators to said viewer;

responding to requests for content from a selected content distribution network by fetching content from a publisher site when necessary and serving said content to a content distribution network.

100. The method according to claim 98 or 99 further comprising:

once a publisher desires a more permanent acceleration arrangement for a publisher site, accepting a redirection via a publisher sub-domain allocation to an intermediate service.

101. The method according to claim 98 or 99 further comprising:

at said intermediate node, performing content distribution in accordance with one or more acceleration policies, wherein said acceleration policies can comprise one or more of;

default acceleration policies requiring no data from a publisher;

static acceleration policies received from a publisher;

interactively generated acceleration policies created using an acceleration policy application.

102. The method according to claim 98 or 99 further comprising:

providing a policy application to implement acceleration policies at a computing site not managed by a publisher;

providing an interface allowing a publisher, using a standard remote interface, to initiate or modify acceleration policies for the publisher'"'"'s content; and

translating acceleration policies for a publisher'"'"'s content to a selected content distribution network.

99. A method allowing digital content publishers to easily initiate content distribution services to viewers comprising:

at a publisher site, a publisher providing a single redirection of a high level content location to an intermediate node;

at said intermediate node;

coordinating selection of a content distribution network for embedded content;

communicating selecting of a selected distribution network with a viewer;

fetching necessary publisher content from a publisher website;

serving necessary publisher content to said viewer and said selected content distribution network;

providing any necessary redirection in said publisher content to direct said viewer to said selected content distribution network.

103. A system for allowing publishers to accelerate content delivery comprising:

a policy application and interface able to receive acceleration policies from a publisher and to implement said acceleration policies;

one or more retargetters able to receive redirected requests from a viewer and in response determine a distribution source for a particular request;

logic processing able to modify locators in a content file to indicate said distribution source;

an interface capable to provide content to one or more distribution sources as needed.

104. A system according to claim 103 further comprising:

at least one retargetter with efficient connections to a publisher and major internet backbones and able to deliver publisher data to a viewer in a minimum number of backbone steps.

105. A method to for redirecting viewer content requests comprising:

receiving, from a viewer system, performance measures for one or more cache content providers;

selecting one or more cache providers for serving said viewer content requests;

receiving a viewer request to access content;

redirecting said viewer request to a retargetter;

receiving performance measures from one or more distribution sources;

determining a distribution source from which additional content will be served;

in real time, modifying one or more content locators referenced by said content to indicate said distribution source; and

serving said content to said viewer.

106. The method according to claim 105 further comprising:

wherein said receiving said performance measures from one or more distribution sources includes receiving a performance measure from at least one retargetter acting as a forwarding switch from said publisher; and

determining said at least one retargetter as a distribution source when indicated by said performance measures.

107. A method for providing content distribution for a plurality of publishers comprising:

receiving content and acceleration policies from said plurality of publishers;

receiving viewer browser requests from a plurality of viewers;

providing publisher content to a plurality of distribution sources in two or more content distribution networks; and

dynamically redirecting viewer browser requests to a plurality of distribution sources in two or more content distribution networks.

108. The method according to claim 107 further comprising:

receiving publisher acceleration policies from a plurality of publishers; and

forwarding said acceleration policies to two or more content distribution networks or other communication networks.

109. A method to accelerate delivery of data over a network comprising:

providing executable code allowing a viewer to measure performance from one or more distribution sources;

receiving a viewer request to access content;

receiving performance measurements for one or more distribution sources from said viewer viewer;

determining a distribution source from which additional content will be served;

in real time, modifying one or more locators referenced by said content to indicate said distribution source; and

serving said content to said viewer.

110. The method according to claim 109 further comprising:

providing a viewer with identifications of one or more distribution sources.

111. The method according to claim 109 wherein said locator is a universal resource locator.

112. The method according to claim 109 wherein said locator is a DNS entry.

113. The method according to claim 109 wherein said locator is selected from the group consisting of:

a universal resource locator, and

a DNS entry.

114. A method making redirection less noticeable by a viewer comprising:

including an executable portion in redirected content, said executable portion capable of modifying a location identifier displayed to a viewer.

115. A method allowing publishers to manage accelerated content delivery comprising:

providing a policy application to implement acceleration policies at a computing site not managed by a publisher;

providing an interface allowing a publisher, using a standard remote interface, to initiate or modify acceleration policies for the publisher'"'"'s content; and

implementing acceleration policies for a publisher'"'"'s content.