A system and method for optimizing the delivery of audio and video data over a computer network

摘要

Method and apparatus for optimizing delivery of digital content over a computer network. A user specifies through his browser the audio and video data he wants to playback on his screen. A plurality of servers on the network is presented to him, each of which containing at least one copy of specified digital content in at least one digital format. Relative electronic distance over the network between the user terminal and the identified servers are also given to the user in order to let him select one identified server having specified digital content in a designated format and which is determined to be electronically close to the user terminal.