Methods and apparatus for downloading and/or distributing information and/or software resources based on expected utility

A storage medium having machine executable instructions which, when executed by a machine, effect acts of:

• a) accepting at least one user-based factor;
• b) accepting at least one resource-based factor;
• and
• c) maximizing an expected value of downloaded resources.

A method for installing software components, each having a size, from a source to an intermediate storage facility, having a finite storage capacity, the method comprising:

• a) accepting at least one user-based factor;
• b) accepting at least one component-based factor;
• and
• c) maximizing an expected value of downloaded software components.

A method for distributing resources, each having a size, among at least two storage facilities, each of the storage facilities having a finite capacity and a request-to-receive latency, the method:

• a) accepting at least one user-based factor;
• b) accepting at least one resource-based factor;
• c) accepting at least one storage facility-based factor;
• and
• d) minimizing total expected latencies to request and receive resources.

A method for distributing resources, each having a size, among at least two storage facilities, each of the storage facilities having a finite available capacity, the method comprising:

• a) determining, for each resource, a change in value of storing the resource on a first storage facility versus storing the resource on a second storage facility;
• b) determining, for each resource, a change in cost of storing the resource on the first storage facility versus storing the resource on the second storage facility;
• c) determining, for each resource, a value density based on the change in value determined in act (a) and the change in cost determined in act (b);
• and
• d) maximizing a total value density given a total size of resources being less than the finite available capacity of the first storage facility.

A storage medium having machine executable instructions which, when executed by a machine, effect acts of:

• a) accepting at least one user-based factor;
• b) accepting at least one resource-based factor;
• c) accepting at least one storage facility-based factor;
• and
• d) minimizing total expected latencies to request and receive resources.

A method for determining whether or not to change the storage capacity of an intermediate storage facility, the method comprising:

• a) determining a change in value associated with the change;
• b) determining a change in cost associated with the change;
• and
• c) determining whether or not to effect the change in the storage capacity of the intermediate storage facility based on the change in value and the change in cost.