Application-guided bandwidth-managed caching

A data caching method for use with a plurality of media composition systems, wherein the plurality of media composition systems are serviced by a data caching system, the method comprising:

• determining a state of each of the plurality of media composition systems;
• based on the determined states of each of the media composition systems, generating a priority-ordered list of media data that is anticipated to be requested by at least one of the media composition systems;
• in an order of priority specified by the priority-ordered list, requesting media data identified by the priority-ordered list;
• receiving the requested media data at the data caching system;
• and
• writing at least a portion of the received media data into a cache memory of the data caching system.

A data caching method for use with a media composition system for editing a time-based media composition, the method comprising:

• receiving information on usage patterns of media data pertaining to a first media composition by one or more of a first set of users of the media composition system during editing of the first media composition;
• based on the received information, generating a prioritized list of media data that is anticipated to be required by the media composition system during editing of a second time-based media composition by one or more of a second set of users;
• in an order of priority specified by the prioritized list, requesting over a network from a media storage system media data identified by the prioritized list;
• receiving the requested media data at a caching system servicing the media editing system;
• and
• writing at least a portion of the received media data into a cache memory of the caching system.

A data caching system for use with a media composition system, the data caching system comprising:

• a cache memory;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• in an order of priority specified by a priority-ordered list of media that is anticipated to be requested by the media composition system, request over a network from a media storage system media data identified by the priority-ordered list;
• receive the requested media data;
• and
• write at least a portion of the received media data into the cache memory.