Apparatus and methods for managing delivery of content in a network with limited bandwidth using pre-caching

A network apparatus operable in a content delivery network, the network apparatus comprising:

• a processor apparatus;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable apparatus comprising a storage medium, the storage medium comprising a computer program, the computer program having a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, enable the network apparatus to:
• obtain prediction data indicative of a probability of interest of a user associated with a client device, the client device configured to receive content from the content delivery network;
• based on the prediction data, identify content as having an elevated probability of viewership;
• responsive to at least one demand criterion being met, schedule transmission of at least a portion of the identified content to a storage apparatus disposed within the content delivery network, the transmission to the storage apparatus configured to occur at a first transfer rate, the storage apparatus being configured for access initiated by the client device;
• and
• responsive to the at least one demand criterion not being met, transmit the at least portion of the identified content to the client device at a second transfer rate different than the first transfer rate.

An network apparatus operable within a content delivery network, the apparatus comprising:

• a data interface configured for communication with a network entity and one or more client devices;
• a processor apparatus in data communication with the data interface;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable apparatus comprising one or more storage media, the storage media comprising at least one computer program, the at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the network apparatus to:
• responsive at least to a change in at least one operational condition of the content delivery network, receive content data from the network entity at a first rate of transmission, the received content data having been selected for delivery to at least one of the one or more client devices based at least on data relating to a likelihood or probability of interest associated with the at least one client device or a user thereof;
• cause storage of the content data on the storage media;
• and
• responsive at least to a second change in the at least one operational condition of the content delivery network, cause delivery at least a portion of the stored content data to the at least one client device at a second rate of transmission that is greater than the first rate of transmission.

A method of operating a content delivery network, the method comprising:

• identifying content as having a probability of viewership (poV) higher than a prescribed level, the identifying based at least on data relating to a user associated with a first client device;
• based on a network parameter of the content delivery network meeting a predetermined criterion, scheduling a transmission of at least a portion of the poV content to a storage entity configured for data communication with the first client device, the scheduled transmission being configured to occur at a first transmission rate when the network parameter fails to meet the predetermined criterion;
• and
• enabling the storage entity to provide the at least portion of the poV content to the first client device at a second transmission rate.