Abstract: A system for managing distributed digital assets and related metadata in a network, including several interconnected nodes, each of the interconnected nodes providing accessibility to the distributed digital assets via user controlled stores and caching subsystems such that the management of the assets and related metadata is based on predetermined criteria. Each node includes a caching subsystem, a metadata store, a controller, a user-controlled asset component, and a networking subsystem for communication between each of the nodes. The interconnected nodes provide support for platform operation of client applications.

Abstract: A method for tracking digital assets stored on digital asset storage media including detecting availability of a reference asset storage medium containing digital assets at a first time; determining a reference medium identifier and digital asset identifiers; storing renditions of the digital assets in a cached storage area; and storing an association between the reference asset storage medium the reference medium identifier, the digital asset identifiers and the renditions of the digital assets in a database in a persistent storage area. The method further includes, at a second later time, detecting the availability of a candidate asset storage medium, determining a candidate medium identifier that uniquely identifies the candidate asset storage medium, and comparing the candidate medium identifier to the reference medium identifier to determine whether the candidate asset storage medium is the same as the reference asset storage medium.

Abstract: A method for tracking digital assets stored on digital asset storage media including detecting availability of a reference asset storage medium containing digital assets at a first time; determining a reference medium identifier and digital asset identifiers; storing renditions of the digital assets in a cached storage area; and storing an association between the reference asset storage medium the reference medium identifier, the digital asset identifiers and the renditions of the digital assets in a database in a persistent storage area. The method further includes, at a second later time, detecting the availability of a candidate asset storage medium, determining a candidate medium identifier that uniquely identifies the candidate asset storage medium, and comparing the candidate medium identifier to the reference medium identifier to determine whether the candidate asset storage medium is the same as the reference asset storage medium.

Abstract: A system for managing distributed digital assets and related metadata in a network, including several interconnected nodes, each of the interconnected nodes providing accessibility to the distributed digital assets via user controlled stores and caching subsystems such that the management of the assets and related metadata is based on predetermined criteria. Each node includes a caching subsystem, a metadata store, a controller, a user-controlled asset component, and a networking subsystem for communication between each of the nodes. The interconnected nodes provide support for platform operation of client applications.