Abstract: Congestion information is determined based on a file segment transferred to one of user terminals. The congestion information is available to a server or controller communicatively linked with a plurality of user terminals. The congestion information is shared with other user terminals that share a bottleneck link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing the progressive download of media content using techniques that preferentially identify and use periods of surplus network capacity to maintain the content delivery. A buffer of a receiving system is maintained and pre-filled with enough content to bridge playback intervals where a network is unable to deliver content as fast as it is played out. When no surplus network capacity is available, a user requesting content may be given the option to continue the delivery in the background so that the content may be played at a later time. The user may then resume their playback experience once the content has been completely delivered using surplus network capacity as it becomes available. A first portion of a content file may be pre-delivered to the receiving system so that users may consume the first portion content while the buffer is pre-filled.

Abstract: Pre-delivery or “pre-positioning” of advertising content to client computing devices for later playback thereon when users of the client computing devices are consuming non-advertising content. The pre-delivery may be accomplished using transport technology that avoids further burdening the network, such as delivering in real-time using available surplus network capacity. Users may have a limited number of times to watch non-advertising content on a client computing device before a pre-positioned advertisement is played on their client computing device. The advertising content may be viewed instantly without delay since it has been pre-positioned to the client computing devices. Advertising viewing statistics and reports are also generated and distributed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining or “predicting” which media content files are popular or will be popular, and based on that determination, pre-delivering or “pre-positioning” media content files to user devices automatically and without intervention from users so that the media content will be already stored on users' devices when they later select the media content for viewing. The determination of a media content file's popularity may be based on one or more combinations of content statistics (e.g., view count, viewing rate, etc.). The decision to pre-position a media content file may also be based on user profile information (e.g., viewing history). The pre-positioning may be accomplished using transport technology that avoids further burdening the network, such as delivering in real-time using available surplus network capacity.