System and methods of streaming media files from a dispersed peer network to maintain quality of service
A multi-source peer content distribution system transfers content files from multiple, distributed peer computers to any requesting computer. The content distribution network coordinates file transfers through a mediation system including a content catalog and a host broker system. The content catalog contains an identification of each content file, the segmented subunits of each file, and the peer caches to which the subunits have been distributed. The host broker system receives content file requests issued over a network from requesting computers. In response, manifest files identifying the request corresponding content subunits and distributed cache locations are returned. The requesting computers can then retrieve and assemble the corresponding content subunits from the peer computers to obtain the requested content file.
1. A method of streaming a distributed content file accessible for use within a network of computer end user nodes, wherein the computer end user nodes are interconnected by a communications network, said method comprising:
storing segments of the content file, the segments of the content file being redundantly stored across multiple end user nodes, the storing controlled such that only a fragmentary portion of the content file is stored in each of the multiple end user nodes and that storage of the entire content file in a single end user node is prevented, wherein each segment of the content file is stored on more than one end user node, each end user node storing a unique fragmentary portion of the content file relative to the other end user nodes;
in response to a request for the content file, determining an optimal set of end user nodes from which a requesting node can download the segments of the content file;
transferring the segments from the multiple end user nodes to the requesting node;
assembling the segments at the requesting node to obtain the content file; and
streaming the content file to a media player at the requesting node.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transiently storing the segments of said content file prior to streaming the content file to the media player.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the transferring is performed on demand in response to the request.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the transferring further enables the authentication of the segments of the content file transferred to the requesting node.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising transferring the segments of the content file through the communications network to the requesting node.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the transferring includes providing multiple requests for a predetermined segment to the multiple end user nodes and selecting to finally accept receipt of a single copy of the predetermined segment subject to an authentication of the predetermined segment.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein receipt of multiple copies of the predetermined segment is reduced based on a quality of service metric.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the performance of the segment transfers.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution of the redundantly stored segments of the content file is controlled by update messages received by a server node that determines an optimal distribution pattern of the redundant segments of the content file in response to the update messages.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the update messages are transmitted periodically.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the optimal distribution pattern is based on connection latency and reliability of transferring the redundant segments of the content file.