Framework for content representation and delivery

1. A method for delivery of target files, the method comprising:

encoding in an index one or more recipes for each of the target files using a framework that represents content delivery schemes comprising a conventional archive that contains a single copy of each target file, a delta archive that contains a delta file that encodes how each target file differs from its earlier version, an intra-package delta that contains a copy of a first target file and a delta file that describes how a second target file differs from the first target file, and, an extra-package delta that contains a delta file that is applied to an external basis file, the content delivery schemes involving static containers, dynamic containers, self-contained containers, containers that are not self-contained, containers with internal delta dependency and containers with no internal delta dependency, each recipe provides a mechanism for generation of an associated target file.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein encoding the one or more recipes in the index comprises:

encoding in the index a single recipe for each of the target files.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein encoding the one or more recipes in the index comprises:

encoding in the index two or more recipes for at least one of the target files.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein encoding the one or more recipes in the index comprises:

specifying at most one source file and one basis file in each recipe;

representing a target file that is produced by copying or decompressing a particular file with a recipe that specifies as its source file the particular file; and

representing a target file that is synthesized by applying a particular delta file to a particular basis file with a recipe that specifies as its source file the particular delta file and specifies as its basis file the particular basis file.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein encoding the one or more recipes in the index comprises:

representing internal delta dependency with a recipe of a particular target file that identifies its basis file as a different one of the target files.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein encoding the one or more recipes in the index comprises:

representing lack of self containment by specifying in the index one or more search locations where basis files can be searched for.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein encoding the one or more recipes in the index comprises:

representing lack of self containment by specifying in the index one or more search locations where source files and basis files can be searched for.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

packaging the index and source files of the recipes in a container.

9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

including in the index meta-data about one or more of the target files, the source files and the basis files.

10. The method of claim 1 , the index represents a container associated with the target files and further provides metadata on one or more content delivery solutions associated with the container associated with the target files.

11. A computer storage medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:

an index describing one or more recipes for the production of target files, each recipe provides a mechanism for generation of an associated target file,

wherein the index uses a framework that represents content delivery schemes comprising a conventional archive that contains a single copy of each target file, a delta archive that contains a delta file that encodes how each target file differs from its earlier version, an intra-package delta that contains a copy of a first target file and a delta file that describes how a second target file differs from the first target file, and, an extra-package delta that contains a delta file that is applied to an external basis file, the content delivery schemes involving static containers, dynamic containers, self contained containers, containers that are not self-contained, containers with internal delta dependency and containers with no internal delta dependency.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the index includes a single recipe for each of the target files.

13. The computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the index includes two or more recipes for at least one of the target files.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the index specifies at most one source file and one basis file in each recipe, a target file that is produced by copying or decompressing a particular file is represented with a recipe that specifies as its source file the particular file, a target file that is synthesized by applying a particular delta file to a particular basis file is represented with a recipe that specifies as its source file the particular delta file and specifies as its basis file the particular basis file.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein internal delta dependency is represented in the index with a recipe of a particular target file that identifies its basis file as a different one of the target files.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein lack of self containment is represented in the index by one or more search locations where basis files can be searched for.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein lack of self containment is represented in the index by one or more search locations where source files and basis files can be searched for.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the data structure further comprises:

source files of the recipes.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the index includes meta-data about one or more of the target files, the source files and the basis files.

20. The method of claim 10 , the index further including a signature for the container associated with the target files, the signature used for validation that the container associated with the target file was not maliciously modified in transit.