Method for distributing file content from a selected target depot server in response to multiple client requests

In a content delivery network comprising multiple depot servers positioned at different locations, and further comprising clients that are respectively located closer to one of said depot servers than to other of said depot servers, a computer program product in a computer readable medium for distributing specified file content to said clients, comprising:

• first instructions for initially uploading said specified content to a particular one of said depot servers;
• second instructions for generating a download plan for replicating said specified content at one or more other depot servers in successive stages, wherein each of said other depot servers is designated as a target depot server;
• third instructions for notifying a multiplicity of said clients, when the uploading of said specified content to said particular depot server is completed, that said specified content is being made available for downloading at each of said target depot servers;
• and
• fourth instructions for operating a selected target depot server in one or more modes selected from a set of modes, wherein one of said modes comprises immediately serving said specified content to a given client from said selected target server, and another of said modes comprises notifying said given client of the amount of time remaining until said selected target server completes replicating said specified content.

In a content delivery network comprising multiple depot servers positioned at different locations, and further comprising clients that are respectively located closer to one of said depot servers than to other of said depot servers, an apparatus for distributing specified file content to said clients comprising:

• a first component for initially uploading said specified content to a particular one of said depot servers;
• a second component for generating a download plan for replicating said specified content at one or more other depot servers in successive stages, wherein each of said other depot servers is designated as a target depot server;
• a third component for notifying a multiplicity of said clients, when the uploading of said specified content to said particular depot server is completed, that said specified content is being made available for downloading at each of said target depot servers;
• and
• a fourth component for operating a selected target depot server in one or more modes selected from a set of modes, wherein one of said modes comprises immediately serving said specified content to a given client from said selected target server, and another of said modes comprises notifying said given client of the amount of time remaining until said selected target server completes replicating said specified content.