Offset times in download queueing
 

On occasion I'll find a single host with a group of files I would like to download. The action of selecting and attempting to download several files causes them all to be 'synchronised' in the download list that is, they all attempt to connect to the host simultaneously. Typically the host will only be able to start serving our two or three files, perhaps queuing another two or three of the requests. The remainder start counting down from 60 seconds and all attempt to reconnect at the the same time when their timer reaches zero.

To lessen the load on both the server offering up the files and that attempting download, I would like to propose that when large groups of downloads are started they be 'staggered' to prevent them all hitting the host at the same time. From my own limited experience, I would suggest that perhaps the first five - or perhaps a number qqual to the remaining free download slots - of any group of files for which download is requested attempt to connect immediately and that the sixth and subsequent ones be scheduled singly after a short delay (perhaps 3, 7 or 11 seconds?)

A similar schedule on application startup would I'm sure also be useful.