Abstract: A system and a method for accelerating delivery of a webpage by using a preloader file during a delay in fetching the web file are disclosed. When an end user makes a request through a client computer for a webpage, a Content Delivery Network (CDN) server sends the client a preloader file. The preloader file contains requests for resources that are likely to be part of the web file. The client downloads the resources, and the resources are saved in a browser cache. The preloader file also directs the client to request the webpage again. While the client is downloading the resources, the CDN server requests the web file from an origin server. The origin server composes the webpage and delivers the webpage to the CDN server. When the client makes a second request for the web file, the CDN server delivers the web file to the client. When the client renders the web file to display the webpage, the client can retrieve the resources from the browser cache.

Abstract: Techniques for third party verification using override IP addresses is described, including detecting a request header from an endpoint, the request header being associated with a request for a media file, initiating a download of the media file to the endpoint, evaluating the request header to identify an address associated with the endpoint, generating a notification comprising the address, the notification being configured to indicate the address overrides a source address identified by a field in a packet associated with the request header, and sending the notification to report data associated with the media file, wherein the address overrides the source address to identify a source of the request.

Abstract: Content delivery networks (CDNs) deliver content objects for others is disclosed. End user computers are directed to an edge server for delivery of a requested content object by a universal resource indicator (URI). When an edge server does not have a copy of the content object from the URI, information is successively passed to ancestor servers within a hierarchy until the content object is found. There can be different hierarchies designated for different URIs or times at which requests are received. Once the content object is located in the hierarchical chain, the content object is passed back down the chain to the edge server for delivery.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a playback experience for one or more videos is disclosed. Actions are specified in control documents for the one or more videos. The actions specify start time and duration for each action, optional introductory or confirmation messages or interface controls, optional gestures, and/or intents that are triggered by the actions. The various control documents are compiled into a single control document that includes a link to the one or more videos and the actions various. Multiple parties can control the playback experience with multiple control documents to provide a multi-layered control experience.

Abstract: A method of accelerating dynamic content between Points of Presence (POPs) and front-loading latency bottlenecks in a Content Delivery Network (CDN) may include receiving, at a first POP, a content request from a user device, where content responsive to the content request includes a first content portion that is not stored in the first POP. The method may also include determining that the first content portion is available through a second POP. The method may additionally include transmitting the first content portion through a persistent connection mesh from the second POP to the first POP, wherein the persistent connection mesh is maintained between the first POP and the second POP prior to the request for content being received by the first POP. The method may further include delivering the content responsive to the content request to the user device.

Abstract: A method and system for acceleration of access to a web page using next page optimization, caching and pre-fetching techniques. The method comprises receiving a web page responsive to a request by a user; analyzing the received web page for possible acceleration improvements of the web page access; generating a modified web page of the received web page using at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; providing the modified web page to the user, wherein the user experiences an accelerated access to the modified web page resulting from execution of the at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; and storing the modified web page for use responsive to future user requests.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A machine-implementable method for uniquely watermarking a content object according to end user identity includes transcoding an original content object to a format that is compatible with end user systems, and storing the transcoded content object where it is accessible by one or more points of presence (POPs) of a content delivery network. One of the POPs receives identifying information associated with a specific one of the end user systems. A digital watermark engine adds uncorrected digital watermark information correlating to the end user system, to the content object, to form a uniquely watermarked content object. The uncorrected digital watermark information is correctable by error correction capability of the specific end user system to deliver a version of the content object that is indistinguishable by a human from the original content object. The method further includes transmitting the uniquely watermarked content object to the specific end user system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for streaming content over the Internet via a CDN to an end user system. Requests from end user systems for streaming content objects being handled by the CDN are tracked to identify, for each request the tracked requests, a first content object being requested. For each request of the tracked requests, a category of the requested first content object is identified. The identified category is stored. Aggregated data indicating an amount of requests being for content objects with a specific category is generated. A prediction is made that a second content object will be requested in the future based on the aggregated data and a category of the second content object. Access to the second content object is improved such that the second content object is set to be provided faster in response to a request for the second content object than would otherwise occur.

Abstract: A method for handling content requests received in a CDN using an intermediate server may include maintaining a virtual file server that provides virtualized access to content in multiple POPs throughout the CDN, receiving a content request sent to the CDN, making a local request to the virtual file server for the content, where the specialized virtual file server may determine that the content is stored in a second POP that is remotely located from the first POP, and the specialized virtual file server may retrieve the content from the second POP and provide the content to the intermediate server as though it were stored locally in the first POP. The method may also include receiving the content from the specialized virtual file server, where the specialized virtual file server makes the requested content appear to be a locally-stored file to an operating system of the intermediate server.

Abstract: A method of managing resources dedicated to a content object in a content delivery network includes transcoding and storing the content object in one or more of a plurality of delivery formats, and associating a transcoding profile with the content object, the transcoding profile including records of the content object with respect to delivery of the content object to end users across the plurality of delivery formats. The method also includes periodically executing a process that determines, utilizing the transcoding profile, an elapsed time since a most recent delivery of the content object in a particular delivery format to one of the end users, and deletes a copy of the content object in the particular delivery format when the elapsed time exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A content delivery network (CDN) performs time varying traffic allocation. The network includes: one or more edge servers that store content corresponding to a domain name that is associated with a content provider, and are configured to deliver the content to end users in response to requests received at the edge servers from the end users; analytics information characterizing the CDN; and a traffic engine that periodically evaluates a service function as having a serve value or a shunt value for the domain name, based at least in part on the analytics information. The traffic engine transmits one or more IP addresses of the edge servers to an interface to a domain name service (DNS) while the service function has the serve value for the domain name; and transmits alternate domain name information of a different network to the interface while the service function has the shunt value.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A machine-implementable method for managing cloud-based transcoding resources available to a content delivery network includes maintaining a queue of video transcoding jobs that may be executed by internal transcoders of the content delivery network or by external transcoders of a plurality of cloud-based resources, utilizing a server of the content delivery network. The method further includes determining, at first and second times, corresponding first and second transcoder supply deviations, and a trend indicator; and determining whether to activate, deactivate, or make no change to the number of transcoders that are currently activated for transcoding, based at least on the second transcoder supply deviation and the trend indicator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for content delivery control in a cooperative delivery system are disclosed. A rules repository stores control parameters. A content delivery network is configured to receive a request for a content object from an end-user system; receive from the rules repository a control parameter where the control parameter provides information about delivery and/or caching the content object; insert a string into a uniform resource identifier (URI) or response header for the content object; and transmit the response to or through a terminal network. The terminal network receives the response; identifies the string; identifies the control parameter; and processes delivery or storage of the content object based on the control parameter.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying the performance of a transport layer protocol in response to a request for content are disclosed. A connection can be established between a content distribution server and an end user computer according to preconfigured parameters. When a request for content is received over the connection, the content distribution server can determine one or more parameters relating to the performance of the connection using information from the request. The content distribution server can modify the connection at the transport layer according to the one or more parameters. Thereafter, the transport layer can manage delivery of the requested content to the end user computer in accordance with the modified parameters. In various embodiments, the content distribution server includes a modified TCP protocol stack which adjusts timing, pacing, and buffer allocation associated with a connection in response to requests from an application-layer data source.

Abstract: A system and method for accelerating web page delivery is disclosed in one embodiment. Web content requests are made to an edge server of a first point of presence (POP) of a content delivery network (CDN). The web content has embedded resource links. The first POP can rewrite the embedded resource links to route requests for the embedded resource links to any POP in the CDN or even the origin server. In some embodiments, the first POP can decide if the first POP and/or another POP referenced in a rewritten embedded resource link should cache and/or accelerate the resource referenced in the embedded resource link.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include distributing new resources closer to end-users which are making increased demands by spinning-up additional virtualized instances (as part of a cloud provisioning) within servers that are physically near to the network equipment (i.e., web servers, switches, routers, load balancers) that are receiving the requests.