Efficient method for rule-based distribution and management of content in a distributed hierarchy of storage devices

A distributed system for management, distribution, and storage of content comprising:

• a source node which initiates sending of content for storage;
• a plurality of end nodes each having a plurality of storage locations;
• a plurality of intermediate nodes disposed between said source node and said end nodes, each intermediate node storing device characteristics about every node proximate to the intermediate node;
• at least one owning node having control of at least one of the plurality of storage locations at one of the plurality of end nodes, said owning node comprising one of an end node and an intermediate node;
• and
• wherein said at least one source node is adapted for generating control information regarding said content and for distributing packets comprising said control information and said content for storage in at least one of said storage locations using addressing information for at least one intermediate node.

A distributed storage management system for the reliable distribution and storage of content according to storage management information comprising:

• a plurality of end nodes each having a plurality of storage locations for storing said content;
• at least one owning node having control of at least one of the plurality of storage locations at one of the plurality of end nodes;
• at least one source node for distributing said content for storage in at least one of said storage locations using addressing information and wherein said at least one source node is additionally adapted for generating control information regarding said content;
• and
• a plurality of intermediate nodes located between said source and said end nodes, each of said intermediate nodes having local memory for storing a portion of said management information and being adapted to modify at least one of said control and said addressing information based on said portion of management information to effect routing of said content for storage,
• wherein said at least one source node is adapted for distributing packets comprising said control information and said content for storage in at least one of said storage locations using addressing information for at least one intermediate node.

A method for the reliable distribution of content, from a source node to storage at a recipient node in a network comprising a plurality of nodes comprising the source node, at least one recipient node, and a plurality of intermediate nodes disposed between said source node and said recipient node, wherein each of said plurality of nodes stores a portion of distributed storage management information, said method comprising the steps of:

• said source node generating control information regarding said content, said control information comprising access information;
• said source node assembling at least one packet comprising said content and said control information and addressing information only for a first proximate node, which first proximate node is an intermediate node that is proximate to said source node and is a node other than the recipient node;
• said source node transmitting the at least one packet to the first proximate node;
• said first proximate node directing the at least one packet to the recipient node via at least one intermediate node;
• and
• said at least one intermediate node modifying at least one of said addressing information and said control information based on said portion of said distributed storage management information.