System and method for dynamically adapting network delivery modes of content

#The present disclosure generally relates to communications networks, and more particularly relates to content delivery networks.

#Packet-switched networks, such as networks based on the TCP/IP protocol suite, can distribute a rich array of digital content to a variety of client applications. One popular application is a personal computer browser for retrieving documents over the Internet written in the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Frequently, these documents include embedded content. Where once the digital content consisted primarily of text and static images, digital content has grown to include audio and video content as well as dynamic content customized for an individual user.

#It is often advantageous when distributing digital content across a packet-switched network to divide the duty of answering content requests among a plurality of geographically dispersed servers. For example, popular Web sites on the Internet often provide links to “mirror” sites that replicate original content at a number of geographically dispersed locations. A more recent alternative to mirroring is content distribution networks (CDNs) that dynamically redirect content requests to a cache server situated closer to the client issuing the request. CDNs either co-locate cache servers within Internet Service Providers or deploy them within their own separate networks.

#It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings presented herein, in which:

#FIGS. 1-4 are block diagrams illustrating a content distribution network in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

#FIGS. 5-7 are flow diagrams illustrating a method for providing content in the content distribution network;

#The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

#The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others.

#FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a content distribution network (CDN) 100 that can be used in conjunction with a communications network such as the Internet. The CDN 100 can include a content transport management (CTM) server 102, a source locator list (SLL) server 104, a content source multicast server 106, content source anycast servers 108, 110, 112, and 114, and client devices 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, and 130. The CDN 100 can provide content to the client devices 116-130 via multiple delivery modes, such as a unicast mode, a multicast mode, a peer-to-peer mode, and the like. The CTM server 102 is in communication with the SLL server 104, with the multicast server 106, and with the anycast servers 108-114. The SLL server 104 can communicate with the client devices 116-130.