Network-optimized content delivery for high demand non-live contents

A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a server, causes the server to distribute non-live content by performing operations comprising:

• transmitting an initial meta-file in response to receiving a request for non-live content, the initial meta-file identifying a division of the non-live content into blocks, the initial meta-file identifying available sources for delivery of blocks, the available sources including a first multicast source server and a second multicast source server, the initial meta-file assigning a first portion of the blocks for delivery using the first multicast source server, the initial meta-file assigning a second portion of the blocks for delivery using the second multicast source server;
• transmitting the first portion of the blocks using the first multicast source server;
• and
• transmitting the second portion of the blocks using the second multicast source server, the first and second portions corresponding to distinct non-overlapping portions of the non-live content.

An apparatus that distributes non-live content in a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a meta-file server transmitting an initial meta-file, the initial meta-file being transmitted in response to receiving a request for non-live content, the initial meta-file identifying a division of the non-live content into blocks, the initial meta-file identifying available sources for delivery of the plurality of blocks;
• a first multicast source server transmitting a first portion of the blocks in response to transmission of the initial meta-file, the initial meta-file assigning the first portion of the blocks to be delivered using the first multicast source server device;
• and
• a second multicast source server transmitting a second portion of the blocks, the initial meta-file assigning the second portion of the blocks to be delivered using the second multicast source server device, the available sources including the first multicast source server device and the second multicast source server device, the first and second portions corresponding to distinct non-overlapping portions of the non-live content.