Apparatus and methods for content storage, distribution and security within a content distribution network

A method of providing a delayed-provision service to users of content distribution network, the method comprising:

• obtaining at least one digital content element;
• fragmenting the at least one digital content element into a plurality of fragments according to a fragmentation algorithm;
• and
• caching at least a portion of the plurality of fragments of the at least one digital content element locally to at least one of (i) a computerized client device or (ii) a plurality of computerized client devices to at least mitigate redundant network core storage of multiple copies of the at least one digital content element.

A network architecture for storing content within a content distribution network, the network architecture comprising:

• one or more network-based content storage locations, the one or more network-based content storage locations configured to store a plurality of digital content elements;
• a controller apparatus, the controller apparatus configured to fragment the stored plurality of digital content elements into a plurality of fragments;
• and
• a plurality of edge-based content storage locations, the plurality of edge-based content storage locations configured to respectively obtain the plurality of fragments according to a distribution scheme, the plurality of edge-based content storage locations utilized by one or more edge-based devices to assemble at least one of the plurality of digital content elements from at least a portion of the plurality of fragments.