Managing network traffic by editing a manifest file

1. A method for controlling the streaming of content through a network, the method comprising:

receiving a manifest file at an intermediate network device, the intermediate network device being in a data path between a content source and a client, the manifest file being received at the intermediate network device in response to a request from a client for a content element according to an HTTP adaptive bit rate streaming protocol, the manifest file including at least one Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that identifies the content element;

editing the manifest file at the intermediate network device; and

sending the edited manifest file to the client.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein editing the manifest file comprises inserting a new URI, which identifies the content element, into the manifest file.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the new URI identifies a different version of the content element.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the different version of the content element is a version of the content element that is encoded at a bit rate that is different from the bit rates of other versions of the content element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein editing the manifest file comprises deleting a URI from the manifest file.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifest file is edited to influence traffic volumes in the network.

7. A system for controlling the streaming of content through a network, the system comprising:

an intermediate network device located in a path between a content source and a client, the intermediate network device being configured to receive a manifest file from the content source and to send the manifest file to the client, the manifest file being received at the intermediate network device in response to a request from the client for a content element according to an HTTP adaptive bit rate streaming protocol, the manifest file including at least one Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that identifies the content element; and

the intermediate network device having a manifest editor module configured to identify the manifest file and to edit the manifest file before the manifest file is sent to the client.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the manifest editor module is configured to insert a new URI, which identifies the content element, into the manifest file.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the new URI identifies a different version of the content element.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the different version of the content element is a version of the content element that is encoded at a bit rate that is different from the bit rates of other versions of the content element.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the manifest editor module is configured to delete a URI that identifies the content element.