Providing localized content delivery with remote token authentication

A computer-implemented method performed by a first machine that leverages resources of a plurality of second machines in order to optimize content delivery to different sets of users, the first machine storing a different encryption key for each content provider of a plurality of content providers relying on the first machine for secure delivery of content provider content, the method comprising:

• receiving at the first machine, a user request comprising an encrypted token and an identifier identifying content of a particular content provider of the plurality of content providers;
• retrieving at the first machine, a particular encryption key configured for the particular content provider based on the request identifier;
• decrypting a first access restriction from the encrypted token of the user request using the particular encryption key;
• transferring the user to a particular second machine of the plurality of second machines providing optimal delivery of said content to the user when the user satisfies the first access restriction;
• and
• passing a message from the first machine to the user denying the user access to said content when the user does not satisfy the first access restriction.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving at a first machine, a request from a user for content of a content provider, said request comprising a first token encrypting at least a first access restriction using a first encryption key previously exchanged between the content provider and the first machine, wherein the first machine provides content delivery services for said content provider;
• authenticating the user for access to said content from the first machine by decrypting the first access restriction from the first token at the first machine using the first encryption key and by verifying the user satisfies the first access restriction;
• identifying a different second machine providing improved delivery of the content provider content relative to the first machine;
• and
• forwarding the user from the first machine to the second machine for retrieval of said content, wherein said forwarding comprises passing a message comprising the request, a second token encrypting at least a different second access restriction using a second encryption key exchanged between the first machine and the second machine.