Method and system for storing and distributing electronic content

摘要

A content distribution network has at least two network stations adapted for storing and retrieval of content. The content is divided in complementary fragments stored in different network stations. When a further network station is added to the network it determines which fragments of a desired content are available from other network stations within a predetermined maximum distance. In case not all fragments of the desired content are available within the predetermined distance the added network station downloads a random fragment from a set of missing fragments of the desired content from a network station that is further away than the predetermined distance. Otherwise the added network station determines a set of network stations located within the predetermined maximum distance having the closest distance to the added network station, while, in their totality, storing all fragments of the desired content required for producing the complete file. The added network station then downloads the fragment of the desired content from that network station out of the previously determined set of network stations that has the largest distance.