Abstract: The invention includes a method for delivering randomly accessible audio and video media. An application at a client computer requests a media file, and specifies a seek time into the media file, where the seek time is measured from the beginning of the media file. An application at the server computer selects a location in the media file close to the requested seek time, and sends a portion of the media file, starting at the selected location, to the client computer.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for delivering rich media content, including audio and/or video content, to a user in a client-server network by using the most advantageous source and protocol of the available sources and protocols. A rich media application at a client computer receives a global media policy file that contains one or more media policy file entries, and each media policy file entry identifies one server computer and a protocol associated with the one server computer. The rich media application sends one or more connection requests to the servers identified in the global media policy using the protocol associated with each server. A data connection for delivering rich media content is established with the first server computer to respond to the connection request.