Scheduling of multiple files for serving on a server

A method for serving a file using a server coupled to a data network, the method comprising:

• determining a file, wherein the file includes an integer number of compound blocks, wherein each compound block includes at least one basic block, wherein each basic block includes at least one input symbol;
• determining an indication of at least one channel on which to serve the file;
• determining a rate at which to serve the file;
• determining a schedule for processing the basic blocks;
• generating output symbols for the basic blocks according to the schedule, wherein basic blocks comprising each compound block are generated using a same set of operations, wherein generating output symbols includes using a chain reaction code;
• assembling basic blocks into compound output symbols;
• and
• transmitting the compound output symbols on the corresponding at least one channel, such that the file is served at the corresponding rate.

A method for recovering a file using a client coupled to a data network, wherein the file includes an integer number of blocks, wherein each block includes at least one input symbol, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of output symbols generated from each of the blocks, wherein the output symbols are generated using a chain reaction code;
• for each block, storing output symbols corresponding to the block in a fast access memory;
• and
• for each block, decoding the output symbols corresponding to the block in place in the fast access memory to recover the block.

A method for recovering a compound block using a client coupled to a data network, wherein a compound block includes a grouping of one or more basic blocks, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of compound output symbols generated from the compound block, wherein each compound output symbol includes a plurality of basic output symbols generated from at least one basic block using a same set of operations, wherein the compound output symbols are generated using a chain reaction code;
• determining at least one schedule of operations based on the compound output symbols;
• and
• for each basic block, applying one of the at least one schedule of operations to the basic output symbols corresponding to the basic block to recover the basic block.