Abstract: A method of generating a web page modifies uniform resource locators (URLs) of embedded resources in a web page. The modified URLs include data prepended to information from the original URLs. The prepended data may be a hostname or an network address that is resolvable to a shared network of servers.

Abstract: A first URL in a first document is modified to produce a first modified URL, that includes a first modified hostname resolvable to a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of repeater servers. A second URL in a second document is modified to produce a second modified URL that includes a hostname that is also resolvable to the shared CDN.

Abstract: A method of processing requests for resources in a system in which a plurality of content providers provide multiple resources. Content providers offload the serving of some of their resources to a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of servers. The CDN is shared among the content providers. Some of a content provider's content may be served from an origin server associated with that content provider, while requests for other content from that content provider are served from the shared CDN.

Abstract: A system in which a plurality of content providers provide multiple resources to multiple clients, wherein each content provider provides at least some resources via one or more content sources associated with that content provider. A client requests a resource from a content provider, where the resources includes references to other resources of the content provider. Referenced resources are served to requesting clients from a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed from a plurality of servers distinct from content sources associated with said content providers. The content sources may be origin servers associated with the respective content providers. The referenced resources may be video content, audio content, text, image content, web pages, HTML files, XML files, files in a markup language, documents, hypertext documents, data files, and embedded resources.

Abstract: A plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers. First and second resources are associated with a first content provider, the first resource referencing the second resource. The second resource is associated with a domain of the shared CDN. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from a server in a domain associated with the first content provider, a CDN server is identified in the domain associated with the shared CDN to serve the second resource to the client. The CDN server is selected based, at least in part, on load conditions on at least some of the CDN servers, and on the client's location.

Abstract: A method for delivering resources to clients in a distributed computing environment. At least a first resource associated with a first content provider and maintained on an origin server references a second resource. The second resource is associated with a network formed by a plurality of repeater servers operable to serve the second resource to clients on behalf of the first content provider, the origin server being distinct from the plurality of repeater servers. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from the origin server, at least one of the plurality of repeater servers is selected to serve the second resource to the client. If a copy of the second resource is available on the selected repeater server, the copy of the second resource is served to the client from the selected repeater server; otherwise, if a copy of the second resource is not available on the selected repeater server, the second resource is replicated on the selected repeater server.

Abstract: A method for delivering resources to clients in a distributed computing environment. At least a first resource associated with a first content provider and maintained on an origin server references a second resource. The second resource is associated with a network formed by a plurality of repeater servers operable to serve the second resource to clients on behalf of the first content provider, the origin server being distinct from the plurality of repeater servers. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from the origin server, at least one of the plurality of repeater servers is selected to serve the second resource to the client. If a copy of the second resource is available on the selected repeater server, the copy of the second resource is served to the client from the selected repeater server; otherwise, if a copy of the second resource is not available on the selected repeater server, the second resource is replicated on the selected repeater server.

Abstract: A plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers. First and second resources are associated with a first content provider, the first resource referencing the second resource. The second resource is associated with a domain of the shared CDN. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from a server in a domain associated with the first content provider, a CDN server is identified in the domain associated with the shared CDN to serve the second resource to the client. The CDN server is selected based, at least in part, on load conditions on at least some of the CDN servers, and on the client's location.

Abstract: A method of processing requests for resources in a system in which a plurality of content providers provide multiple resources. Content providers offload the serving of some of their resources to a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of servers. The CDN is shared among the content providers. Some of a content provider's content may be served from an origin server associated with that content provider, while requests for other content from that content provider are served from the shared CDN. Requests for content are directed to servers in the CDN based on load conditions on the CDN servers and network conditions.

Abstract: A method for delivering resources in a distributed computing environment, wherein at least a first resource and a second resource are associated with a content provider, and wherein the first resource references the second resource via a first uniform resource locator (URL), the first URL having a first domain name that resolves to a server associated with a domain of the content provider. The second resource is associated with a domain name that resolves to a content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of repeater servers. The domain of the CDN may be distinct from the domain of the content provider. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from an origin server associated with the content provider's domain, the second domain name in the second URL is resolved to identify a repeater server in the CDN's domain from which to serve the second resource to the client.

Abstract: A plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers. First and second resources are associated with a first content provider, the first resource referencing the second resource. The second resource is associated with a domain of the shared CDN. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from a server in a domain associated with the first content provider, a CDN server is identified in the domain associated with the shared CDN to serve the second resource to the client. The CDN server is selected based, at least in part, on load conditions on at least some of the CDN servers, and on the client's location.

Abstract: A repeater server in a content delivery network (CDN) maintains a list of resources that are no longer valid. When the server gets a request for a resource, it checks whether that resource is on the list, and, if so, it replicates the resource from a content provider's content source such as an origin server. Otherwise the repeater server tries to serve a copy of the requested resource or to obtain a copy from another location in the CDN.

Abstract: A plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers. First and second resources are associated with a first content provider, the first resource referencing the second resource. The second resource is associated with a domain of the shared CDN. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from a server in a domain associated with the first content provider, a CDN server is identified in the domain associated with the shared CDN to serve the second resource to the client. The CDN server is selected based, at least in part, on load conditions on at least some of the CDN servers, and on the client's location.

Abstract: A plurality of content providers provide multiple resources to multiple clients. At least some of said resources are to be served to clients from a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of repeater servers. Each content provider provides at least some resources via one or more content sources associated with that content provider. Amounts of data transmitted by the CDN on behalf of each of the plurality of content providers are monitored. Based at least in part on said monitoring, requests for resources are selectively delivered at a lower transmission rate. The lower transmission rate is achieved by generating pauses or delays in the transmission.

Abstract: A plurality of content providers provide multiple resources to multiple clients. At least some of the resources are to be served to clients from a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of repeater servers. Each content provider provides at least some resources via one or more content sources associated with that content provider. Transmission data rates from the CDN on behalf of some of the content providers are monitored. Based at least in part on the monitored data rates, requests for resources are directed to a source other than the CDN. Redirection of requests may be based on a pricing policy.

Abstract: A merchant can extend credit to a customer by establishing an account which allows the account to be paid off, or significantly paid down, on or after the customer's next payday. The payment can be directly extracted from the customer's bank account. The merchant is provided with a merchant system. The merchant system is used to read or recognize a unique customer identifier device, such as a magnetically encoded or bar-coded customer card, or an integrated chip, micro-computer, manually entered PIN etc., which uniquely identifies an account held by the customer. The merchant device communicates the information to a server system which approves the transaction and cooperatively the merchant system and server system generate a transaction instrument that can be signed by the customer.

Abstract: A repeater server in a content delivery network (CDN) maintains a list of resources that are no longer valid. When the server gets a request for a resource, it checks whether that resource is on the list, and, if so, it replicates the resource from a content provider's content source such as an origin server. Otherwise the repeater server tries to serve a copy of the requested resource or to obtain a copy from another location in the CDN.

Abstract: A plurality of content providers provide multiple resources to multiple clients. At least some of said resources are to be served to clients from a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of repeater servers. Each content provider provides at least some resources via one or more content sources associated with that content provider. Amounts of data transmitted by the CDN on behalf of each of the plurality of content providers are monitored. Based at least in part on said monitoring, requests for resources are selectively delivered at a lower transmission rate. The lower transmission rate is achieved by generating pauses or delays in the transmission.

Abstract: A plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers. First and second resources are associated with a first content provider, the first resource referencing the second resource. The second resource is associated with a domain of the shared CDN. Responsive to a request that causes the first resource to be served to a client from a server in a domain associated with the first content provider, a CDN server is identified in the domain associated with the shared CDN to serve the second resource to the client. The CDN server is selected based, at least in part, on load conditions on at least some of the CDN servers, and on the client's location.

Abstract: A first URL in a first document is modified to produce a first modified URL, that includes a first modified hostname resolvable to a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of repeater servers. A second URL in a second document is modified to produce a second modified URL that includes a hostname that is also resolvable to the shared CDN.