System and method for selecting cache server based on transmission and storage factors for efficient delivery of multimedia information in a hierarchical network of servers

摘要

A multimedia information delivery network system is disclosed for delivering multimedia programs to a plurality of users at user- selected times. The network includes a wide area transmitter for transmitting the multimedia programs. Additionally, the network includes a plurality of network servers for receiving the programs and for selectively caching the programs for retransmission to downstream network servers and/or directly to one or more users at the user-selected transmission times. A scheduler receives the user-selected transmission times and, in response thereto, establishes a network server path by which the multimedia program is efficiently delivered to each user at the respective user- selected time.