Partial object caching

An edge server in a content delivery network (CDN) for providing media at multiple bit rates using partial object caching, the edge server comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more memories having stored thereon instructions that cause the one or more processors to:
• receive, from a first user device, a first request for a media object encoded at a first bit rate;
• receive a first portion of the media object from a CDN server, wherein the first portion of the media object is encoded at the first bitrate;
• provide the first portion of the media object to the first user device;
• cache, in a partial object cache, the first portion of the media object;
• receive, from a second user device, a subsequent request for the media
• object encoded at the first bit rate;
• provide the first portion of the media object to the second user device, wherein the first portion of the media object is retrieved from the partial object cache;
• receive, from the second user device during playback of the first portion of the media object, a request for the media object encoded at a second bit rate;
• and
• modify the request for the media object encoded at the second bit rate to instead request a second portion of the media object at the second bit rate, wherein the second portion of the media object follows the first portion of the media object during playback on the second user device.

A method of providing media at multiple bit rates using partial object caching, the method comprising:

• caching, in a partial object cache, a first portion of a media object, wherein the first portion of the media object is encoded at a first bitrate;
• caching, in the partial object cache, a second portion of the media object, wherein the second portion of the media object is encoded at a second bitrate;
• receiving, from a user device, a subsequent request for the media object encoded at the first bit rate;
• providing the first portion of the media object to the user device, wherein the first portion of the media object is retrieved from the partial object cache;
• receiving, from the user device, while first portion of the media object is being played by the user device, a request for the media object encoded at a second bit rate;
• and
• providing the second portion of the media object to the user device, wherein the second portion of the media object is retrieved from the partial object cache;
• modifying the request for the media object encoded at the second bit rate to instead request a third portion of the media object at the second bit rate, wherein the third portion of the media object follows the second portion of the media object during playback on the user device.