Abstract: A content delivery architecture comprises an intermediate domain via which content is transferable from content providers in at least one content provider domain to consumers in at least one consumer domain. A delivery layer is included having a content store in the intermediate domain for storing content from content providers in the at least one content provider domain for delivery to a consumer. A discovery layer has a content metadata store in the intermediate domain for storing metadata associated with content available from the content store and from content providers in the at least one content provider domain. A support and service layer administers the delivery of content from the content store, and from content providers in the at least one content provider domain, to a consumer using metadata stored in the content metadata store.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for facilitating distribution of content from content sources to content distributors. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving meta-data associated with a content item available from the content source and propagating a notification regarding availability of the content item from the content source, where the notification comprises at least a portion of the associated meta-data. The meta-data is received from a content source from which the content item is available. The notification message for the content item, including at least a portion of the meta-data is propagated toward a content distributor, thereby enabling the content distributor to obtain a copy of the content item for use in serving requests for the content item originating from end users served by the content distributor.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for establishing a communication session between a client and a server. The method comprises the steps of receiving at said server a request for network resources for establishing the client-server communication session, said request at least comprising an identification of the client, collecting at the server information on available network resources for the client-server communication session, and establishing the communication session with the client taking into account the information on available network resources.