Streaming while fetching broadband video objects using heterogeneous and dynamic optimized segmentation size

A video object distribution system for transfer of video data objects comprising:

• a network of digital data file servers in communication with at least one client system for the transfer of the video data objects to the client system;
• a scheduling apparatus for scheduling said transfer of the video data objects from said digital data file servers to the client system, comprising:
• a file segmenting device to variably and dynamically segment video data objects within said digital data file servers dependent upon an available transfer bandwidth, a predicted request loading, and an actual request loading;
• a client streaming device within said client to begin transfer of a first segment of said video data object to said client system such that the client system begins streaming of said video data object prior to reception of a totality of said first segment;
• an ordered sequential transfer device to order and sequentially transfer segments of the video data object to the client system and to assign a bandwidth to said transfer to prevent simultaneous transfer of all segments of the video data object so as to allow transfer of the video data objects to multiple systems;
• a preemption device to cease transfer of a first video data object and allow transfer of a second video data object that is more urgent than the first video data object, whereby said preemption device allows persistent video data object transfer of the first digital video data object without resending said first digital video data object;
• and
• a hierarchical caching controller to copy segments of any of the video data objects from a central distribution server to any of the network of data file servers, whereby the caching controller selects scheduling of transfers from the central distribution server to any of the network of data file servers or from on data file server within the network of data file servers.