Limelight Networks, Inc.

Aerocast.com, Inc.

General Instrument Corporation

Limelight, Inc.

Aerocast, Inc.

Motorola Mobility LLC

Nathan F Raciborski

Michael M Gordon

Mark R Thompson

Jacob S Roersma

Bryan D Black

Wylie Swanson

Albert P Tobey

Nils H McCarthy

Brad B Harvell

Jon B Corley

Michael D Maddux

Colin Rasor

Mohan I Kokal

Bradley B Harvell

Jason Eggleston

Lee A Stafford

Gary S Baldus

A method or system for transferring information during the domain name service (DNS) lookup to more effectively utilizing the content delivery network (CDN) is disclosed. Information gathered from DNS request is used to identify information on how to serve the content with a chosen IP address returned from the DNS lookup. The DNS server selects from a number of possible IP addresses after analyzing information from the DNS request and popularity of associated content. The different IP addresses will result in different edge servers providing content. An IP address could be provided for popular content in a way that will tend to populate more content caches from the pool of edge servers in one embodiment.

Scaled domain name service

According to the invention, a content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content objects from a content provider to a recipient is disclosed. The CDN includes a dynamic pricing engine and a second web location. The dynamic pricing engine is coupled to a first web location. The first web location, which is associated with a content provider, allows the recipient to order a content object. The delivery quote is solicited by the first web location for delivering a content object one or more times. The second web location delivers the content object to a recipient system of the recipient. The second web location is associated with the dynamic pricing engine. The dynamic pricing engine automatically produces the delivery quote, which is affected by at least one of the content object or a web location of the recipient system.

Dynamic bandwidth allocation

Systems and methods for gathering distributed information to improve routing that uses Anycast for assigning deliveries between a number of geographically-distant points of presence (POPs) are disclosed. The POPs share the same Internet protocol (IP) address. According to Anycast resolution, the Internet aids in assigning a content request initially to a POP. Delivery statistics are gathered from deliveries a the number of POPs and possibly other sources. Where it is determined that Anycast found the wrong POP, the content request is reassigned to another POP.

Enhanced anycast for edge server selection

A method of servicing content requests in a CDN may include receiving a request for content from a first client device, identifying content associated with the content request, identifying a second client device that stores the content, identifying a CDN storage location that also stores the content, determining whether the second client device is authorized to source the content to the first client device, and selecting a source for the content. The source for the content may be selected from the storage location associated with the CDN and the second client device. The source for the content may be selected based on one or more CDN policies. The method may also include initiating a transfer of the at least a portion of the content from the second client device to the first client device if the second client device is selected as the source for the content.

Origin request with peer fulfillment

According to the invention, a delivery network for assisting delivery of content objects over an Internet is disclosed. The delivery network includes a network outlet, an interface and a routing function. The network outlet is coupled to a plurality of full-route networks, where each of the plurality of full-route networks is capable of delivering content objects to a plurality of terminal networks. The plurality of terminal networks include a terminal network, where the plurality of terminal networks are coupled to a plurality of end user computers. The interface receives content objects for delivery to the plurality of end user computers. The routing function routes content objects in at least two modes, where a first mode routes content objects based upon a first route path from the network outlet to the terminal network, and a second mode routes at least some content objects using a second route path from the network outlet to the terminal network. The first route path is chosen based upon delivery efficiency. Switching from the first mode to the second mode is triggered when at least of a portion of the first route path reaches a predetermined level of use. The first and second route paths are different, and the second route path is less efficient than the first route path.

Routing under heavy loading

A method of distributing partial content objects may include receiving a request for a content object with a content identifier. The method may further include sending the content identifier from an edge server to a distribution server that is configured to determine that the content object is a candidate for partial object distribution, determine a first portion of the content object, and cause the first portion of the content object to be sent to the edge server. The method may additionally include caching, at the edge server, a second portion of the content object, where the first portion of the content object may include the second portion of the content object and a remaining portion of the content object, and where the second portion of the content object is smaller than the first portion of the content object.

Partial object distribution in content delivery network

According to the invention, a content download system for downloading a content file and additional content using a window is disclosed. The content download system includes a content site, a content provider and a third party. The content site presents the window that displays the download progress of the content file, presents the additional content while the content file is downloaded, and allows selection of the additional content. The content provider serves as an origin server for the content file. The third party receives information on the content file and provides the additional content.

Rich content download

A method for transferring content across a content delivery network (CDN) may include receiving a notification of a request. The request may include a client identifier and a content identifier. The method may also include accessing one or more global policies applicable to the request. The method may additionally include determining, using the one or more global policies, that a client is eligible to receive content associated with the content identifier from another client; identifying, using the one or more global policies and the content identifier, one or more authorized transfers of at least a portion of the content; identifying one or more eligible clients that are associated with the one or more authorized transfers; and sending a set of client identifiers that are associated with the one or more eligible clients.

A domain name service (DNS) resolver returns Internet protocol (IP) addresses. A connection with an Internet application or device receives domain name resolution requests that originate outside of the Internet. A direct DNS resolver identifies IP addresses without referring to the Internet or using other DNS resolvers. An address store includes a predetermined list of domain names and corresponding IP addresses specified from a point remote to the DNS resolver. The DNS resolver processes the domain name resolutions for the predetermined list of domain names differently than domain name resolutions for other domain names not on the predetermined list of domain names. At least part of the predetermined list is pushed to a destination upon receiving a resolution request for a domain name in the predetermined list of domain names, the request being of a type other than an authoritative resolution request to be performed by the direct DNS resolver.

Domain name service resolver

Systems and methods for gathering distributed information from a number of data agents for a messaging queue, which is coupled to a number of processing subscribers is disclosed. The data agents provide their gathered information to an interface defined by an API. The gathered data may be reformatted or further processed before adding the gathered information to the messaging queue. A number of processing subscribers listen to a content stream produced by the messaging queue to receive data they have subscribed to. Once the processing subscriber receives the content stream, the processing subscriber applies algorithms to the content stream to perform one or more other functions. For instance, the processing subscriber can feed back processed data into the messaging queue and/or perform an action based, at least in part, upon the content stream. Information in various degrees of processing and aggregation can be passed through any number of cycles in a processing ring to allow for a clearinghouse of information to flow in real time or near real time.

Real-time message queuing for a processing ring

A content distribution system for transporting audio or video licenses between content players that use digital rights management (DRM) is disclosed. The content distribution system includes at least a second license repository and an authentication engine. The second license repository receives second information describing a second plurality of content licenses. A first license repository stores a first plurality of content licenses. The first plurality of content licenses enable use of a plurality of content objects with a first content player within confines of DRM. The second license repository is geographically distant from the first license repository. The authentication engine authorizes the second plurality of content licenses of the second license repository. The second plurality of content licenses enable use of the plurality of content objects with the second content player within the confines of DRM.

Electronic copyright license repository

Techniques for the distribution of content objects in a content delivery network (CDN) are disclosed. A CDN distribution server detects a content object's availability and determines whether the content object is a candidate for distribution. The distribution server detects the availability of the content object in response to a provider making new or updated content available at a content site or a location within the CDN. The distribution server obtains identifying information for a candidate content object and determines a select portion of the content object to be distributed within the CDN. The select portion can be a predetermined number of bytes located at a predetermined position in the content object, the size and location of which may be determined according to content-specific mapping data. The distribution server pushes the select portion of the content object to one or more groups of CDN edge servers absent an end-user request.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Nathan F Raciborski