Abstract: Facilitating a decision of a content player is disclosed. In some cases, performance information associated with a content player is received. The information is received from a client. A determination is made that an update should be sent to the client. The update is sent to the client. In other cases, information is received from an external entity. Based at least in part on the received information, an instruction is sent to a content player.

Abstract: Directing a content player to a content source is disclosed. A message from a content management system including information associated with a client that is currently requesting content is received. Based at least in part on the information included in the message, a set of content sources is determined. Instructions indicating the set of content sources for the client are sent to the content management system.

Abstract: Facilitating a decision of a content player is disclosed. In some cases, performance information associated with a content player is received. The information is received from a client. A determination is made that an update should be sent to the client. The update is sent to the client. In other cases, information is received from an external entity. Based at least in part on the received information, an instruction is sent to a content player.

Abstract: Delivering information over a distribution network using a distribution manager is disclosed. A first source peer is designated at the distribution manager to function as a first content source for a first destination peer. A second source peer is designated at the distribution manager to function as a second content source for a second destination peer. The designation at the distribution manager of the second source peer to function as a second content source for the second destination peer is dependent on an anticipated effect of the designation at the distribution manager of the first content source for the first destination peer.

Abstract: Directing a content player to a content source is disclosed. A message from a content management system including information associated with a client that is currently requesting content is received. Based at least in part on the information included in the message, a set of content sources is determined. Instructions indicating the set of content sources for the client are sent to the content management system.

Abstract: Controlling delivery of a video asset to a client is disclosed. A request for a manifest file is received. Manifest file components are retrieved. A dynamic manifest file is assembled from a set of manifest file components.

Abstract: Monitoring performance data associated with a content player is disclosed. Information relating to the state of a content player is obtained on a time driven basis. At least a portion of the obtained information is reported, via a communications interface, to a content distribution monitoring server.

Abstract: Controlling dynamic reporting of content distribution performance information from a client is disclosed. The content distribution performance information associated with the delivery of content is generated. The content distribution performance information is reported to a content distribution monitor at a first reporting level. In response to a triggering event, the first reporting level is changed to a second reporting level. Additional content distribution performance information is reported according to the second reporting level.

Abstract: Some content players use manifest files to obtain and play video content. The manifest files include metadata information for obtaining video chunks that together constitute a full video, and can be used by content players to obtain the chunks, stitch them together, and render the video as a stream. Described herein are techniques for dynamically generating manifest files. A request for a manifest file is received, such as from a video player. Manifest file contents are retrieved, such as from an original manifest file. A manifest file to be used by a video player to fetch video chunks is then dynamically generated and returned.

Abstract: Allocating resources in a content delivery environment is disclosed. An initial demand from initial clients for content is serviced by assigning those initial clients a first content source. A determination is made that additional demand from additional clients is either present or anticipated for the first content source. The initial demand and the additional demand together have a potential to overload the first content source. An interaction with a first initial client is adjusted to allow the additional demand to be at least partially serviced without overloading the content source.

Abstract: Delivering information over a distribution network using a distribution manager is disclosed. A first assignment of one or more sources peers in the distribution network is sent to a destination peer in the distribution network. At least one of a change in a network condition and a policy change is detected. It is determined that at least one modification should be made to the first assignment. A second assignment of one or more source peers in the distribution network is sent to the destination peer.

Abstract: Distributing information over a network is disclosed. Nodes are grouped into regions. Preferred nodes are designated. A source of content to be delivered to a preferred node using a preferred algorithm is indicated to at least one preferred node. At least one common node is assigned the preferred node as a relay of information.

Abstract: Managing synchronized data requests is disclosed. Examples of synchronized data requests include viewer-induced synchronization, failure-induced synchronization, and player-induced synchronization. Information indicative of the potential occurrence of a detrimental amount of synchronized requests in a content delivery infrastructure is received. One or more remediation actions is automatically caused to occur.

Abstract: Detecting a problem in a content distribution is disclosed. Performance information associated with a first content player is received form a first client. Performance information associated with a second content player is received from a second client. The information received from the first client and the second client is aggregated. A determination is made, from the aggregated information, that a problem is indicated. Alternate techniques for detecting a problem in a content distribution are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improving a content player engagement is described. An engagement of a first content player with respect to a first content item being downloaded by the first client is measured. Performance information associated with the first content player is received. A quantitative relationship between the engagement and the performance information is determined. A setting associated with a download of the first content item by a second client is adjusted.

Abstract: Displaying video on a video display device is disclosed. A first video stream from a first video streaming source is displayed on the display device. A second video stream from a second video streaming source is processed on the display device without displaying the second video stream. Displaying the first video stream is ceased and instead the second video stream is displayed. Supporting operations on a video stream is also disclosed. At least one video chunk is received at a first granularity. A determination is made that an operation is to be performed at a different granularity. At least one video chunk is requested at the different granularity.

Abstract: Facilitating the distribution of content is disclosed. A request for content is received from a requesting peer. A peer type compatibility criteria is applied to an allocation process that allocates at least one sending peer to deliver the content to the requesting peer. The peer type compatibility criteria ensures that a lightweight peer is paired with a regular peer.

Abstract: Delivering a video stream is disclosed. A request for the video stream is received. A past portion of the video stream is delivered to a client. The past portion has a marker time that precedes a current time by an interval that corresponds to a buffer length in a client buffer. Receiving a video stream is also disclosed. A request for the video stream is transmitted. A past portion of the video stream is received. The received past portion has a marker time that precedes a current time by an interval that corresponds to a buffer length in a client buffer.

Abstract: Improving a content player is disclosed. A monitoring module is configured to obtain status information associated with a content player. The monitoring module is loaded. Status information associated with the content player is obtained. A report of at least a portion of the obtained status information is made to a monitoring service.

Abstract: Delivering content in a content delivery network is disclosed. A request to retrieve digital content is received from a first client. A second client known to have the digital content and known to be capable of serving the content at the time of the request is selected. The second client is chosen from a plurality of clients in one or more service provider networks. The service provider networks have granted permission to the content delivery network to use the second client's uplink bandwidth. The second client is instructed to serve the digital content to the first client in a data transfer. Information associated with the data transfer event is recorded for use in financial settlement between the content delivery network with the network service provider whose uplink bandwidth was utilized by the second client.