Abstract: A method for efficiently storing data files, includes: receiving a data file for storage at one of a plurality of storage devices, wherein the data file is associated with a specified user; determining whether an identical file already exists at one of the plurality of storage devices; deleting the received data file if it is determined that an identical file already exists at one of the plurality of storage devices; and directing subsequent requests to access the data file from the specified user to the storage device containing the identical file.

Abstract: A method for balancing loads on a plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes coupled to a communications network, includes: receiving a request from a user device to download a data file; identifying all storage nodes from a plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes containing the requested data file; selecting a first storage node containing the requested file to serve the request; and determining if the first storage node is too busy, wherein if the first storage node is determined not to be too busy, directing the request to the first storage node, otherwise searching for a second storage node containing the requested data file that is not too busy and, if the second storage node is found, directing the request to the second storage node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for managing a plurality of unique account holders, each having dynamically controllable policies relating to storage, transfer bandwidth, file sizes, pricing options and the like. User accounts can be organized in a hierarchical structure, where an account in the hierarchical structure can manage any account beneath it. For example, a parent account can manage all of its child accounts. In one embodiment, tilling policies can be set by a parent account dictating whether its child account's usage of the system is billed to the parent account or the child account. Moreover, in one embodiment, policies set in an account are automatically inherited by all accounts beneath that account unless that account specifies otherwise.

Abstract: A method for moving files from one storage location to another, includes: receiving a request from a user to access a file; copying the file from a first storage element to a second storage element in response to the request, wherein the second storage element provides access to files at a higher rate than that provided by the first storage element; automatically determining whether a demand for the file exists; and automatically maintaining a copy of the file stored in the second storage element if the demand exists; otherwise automatically deleting the copy of the file stored in the second storage element.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for accessing a file stored in memory, includes: receiving a request to access the file, the request comprising a virtual file path name associated with the requested file; correlating the virtual file path name with a logical file identification (LFID); and identifying a physical location of the file in the memory using the LFID.

Abstract: A method for managing storage and access to data files stored in a storage delivery network comprising a plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes, the method including: receiving a file request from a user, wherein the user is associated with a service level agreement (SLA) containing one or more policies governing handling of file requests from the user; determining if the SLA dictates redirecting the file request to a predetermined storage node; if the SLA dictates redirecting the file request to a predetermined storage node, redirecting the file request to the predetermined storage node; otherwise, identifying all storage nodes from the plurality of geographically distributed storage nodes that are near enough to the user based on one or more predetermined criteria; identifying a nearest storage node from among the near enough storage nodes; and redirecting the user request to the nearest storage node.