Methods and system using secondary storage to store media data accessible for local area users

摘要

Methods and system are disclosed allowing media data to be stored on a secondary storage system accessible for local area users. Such users can thus post or store media data ("posted media data") on a central server and on the secondary storage system. By such a process, posted media data on the central server is in effect "mirrored" on the secondary storage system. As a result, collaborating local area users can utilize the benefits (e.g., higher bandwidth and faster download speed) of accessing posted media data from a local area source (i.e., the secondary storage system). Furthermore, in order to avoid downloading incomplete posted media data, a completion signal or pending signal can be used to indicate if the posted media data has been completely stored or is in the process of being stored on the secondary storage system.