Intelligent content delivery networks
Systems and methods are provided for distributing content. One embodiment includes a content management server. The content management server includes a memory that stores a library of assets comprising digital media, and that further stores scores that indicate popularity of the assets in the library. The content management server also includes an interface that receives a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request that is sourced by a device remote from the content management server, and a controller that identifies a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) within the HTTP request, selects a group of assets for the URL from the library, identifies an asset that has a highest score within the group, and provides the asset in response to the HTTP request. The controller alters scores for assets in the library over time as assets in the library are provided, and selects different groups of assets for the URL over time.
1. A system comprising:
a content management server comprising:
a memory that stores a library of assets comprising digital media, and that further stores scores that indicate popularity of the assets in the library;
an interface that receives a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request that is sourced by a device remote from the content management server; and
a controller that selects a group of assets from the library based on the HTTP request, identifies an asset that has a highest score within the group, and provides the identified asset in response to the HTTP request,
wherein the controller adjusts the scores based upon locations of the assets appearing on web pages of a website.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the controller determines the locations of the assets at the website based on an order in which HTTP requests are received.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the controller determines the locations of the assets at the website based on Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) in HTTP requests.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the controller identifies restricted assets in the group that the device does not have permission to access, based on the HTTP request, and prevents the restricted assets from being provided to the device.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the controller removes assets from the library and adds assets to the library over time.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the controller determines, based on an additional HTTP request, that a larger version of the identified asset is being accessed by the device, infers that a user of the device has clicked on the identified asset as presented within a web page, and increases a score for the identified asset.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the scores are based on metrics of consumption of the assets in the library during a period of time.
8. A method comprising:
storing a library of assets comprising digital media at a content management server;
storing scores that indicate popularity of the assets in the library at the content management server;
receiving a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request that is sourced by a device remote from the content management server;
selecting a group of assets from the library based on the HTTP request;
identifying an asset that has a highest score within the group;
providing the identified asset in response to the HTTP request; and
adjusting the scores based upon locations of the assets appearing on web pages of a website.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining the locations of the assets at the website based on an order in which HTTP requests are received.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining the locations of the assets at the website based on Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) in HTTP requests.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
identifying restricted assets in the group that the device does not have permission to access, based on the HTTP request; and
preventing the restricted assets from being provided to the device.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
removing assets from the library and adding assets to the library over time.
13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining, based on an additional HTTP request, that a larger version of the identified asset is being accessed by the device;
inferring that a user of the device has clicked on the identified asset as presented within a web page; and
increasing a score for the identified asset.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the scores are based on metrics of consumption of the assets in the library during a period of time.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method comprising:
storing a library of assets comprising digital media at a content management server;
storing scores that indicate popularity of the assets in the library at the content management server;
receiving a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request that is sourced by a device remote from the content management server;
selecting a group of assets from the library based on the HTTP request;
identifying an asset that has a highest score within the group;
providing the identified asset in response to the HTTP request; and
adjusting the scores based upon locations of the assets appearing on web pages of a website.
16. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
determining the locations of the assets at the website based on an order in which HTTP requests are received.
17. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
determining the locations of the assets at the website based on Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) in HTTP requests.
18. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
identifying restricted assets in the group that the device does not have permission to access, based on the HTTP request; and
preventing the restricted assets from being provided to the device.
19. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
removing assets from the library and adding assets to the library over time.
20. The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
determining, based on an additional HTTP request, that a larger version of the identified asset is being accessed by the device;
inferring that a user of the device has clicked on the identified asset as presented within a web page; and
increasing a score for the identified asset.