Distributed server architecture for supporting a predictive content pre-fetching service for mobile device users
First Claim
1. Apparatus associated with an overlay network operating as a content delivery network (CDN) on behalf of sites of participating content providers, comprising:
- a set of hardware processors;
computer memory associated with each hardware processor; and
computer program instructions stored in computer memory and executed by a hardware processor as;
an instance of a front-end server application configured to execute in association with an CDN edge server located proximal to a mobile network operator (MNO) core network that is distinct from the overlay network, and a back-end server application configured to execute in the CDN to provide support for multiple instances of the front-end server application, wherein bifurcation of functionality provided by the front-end server application instance and the back-end server application improves an operation of the overlay network operating as a CDN;
wherein the back-end server application is operative to (i) receive and store, for each of a set of mobile devices, a set of preferences, the set of preferences including an identification of given content that originates with the CDN participating content providers and that is deliverable over the CDN, and that an end user of a mobile device has provided an indication is desired to be predictively prefetched to the end user mobile device;
(ii) based at least in part on the preferences associated with a particular end user mobile device, predict content of interest, the content of interest being content then available to be delivered from the CDN;
(iii) generate a manifest for the particular end user mobile device identifying the content of interest and its location; and
(iv) provide the manifest to a particular instance of the front-end server application;
wherein the particular instance of the front-end server application is operative to (i) notify the particular end user mobile device of availability of the manifest; and
(ii) responsive to a request, provide the manifest to the particular end user mobile device;
wherein the particular instance of the front-end server application is further operative to wake-up an end user mobile device in response to receiving the manifest from the back-end server application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A content delivery network (CDN) is enhanced to enable mobile network operators (MNOs) to provide their mobile device users with a content prediction and pre-fetching service. Preferably, the CDN enables the service by providing infrastructure support comprising a client application, and a distributed predictive pre-fetching function. The client application executes in the user'"'"'s mobile device and enables the device user to subscribe to content (e.g., video) from different websites, and to input viewing preferences for such content (e.g.: “Sports: MLB: Boston Red Sox”). This user subscription and preference information is sent to the predictive pre-fetching support function that is preferably implemented within or across CDN server clusters. A preferred implementation uses a centralized back-end infrastructure, together with front-end servers positioned in association with the edge server regions located nearby the mobile core network. The predictive pre-fetch service operates on the user'"'"'s behalf in accordance with the user preference information.
52 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus associated with an overlay network operating as a content delivery network (CDN) on behalf of sites of participating content providers, comprising:
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a set of hardware processors; computer memory associated with each hardware processor; and computer program instructions stored in computer memory and executed by a hardware processor as;
an instance of a front-end server application configured to execute in association with an CDN edge server located proximal to a mobile network operator (MNO) core network that is distinct from the overlay network, and a back-end server application configured to execute in the CDN to provide support for multiple instances of the front-end server application, wherein bifurcation of functionality provided by the front-end server application instance and the back-end server application improves an operation of the overlay network operating as a CDN;wherein the back-end server application is operative to (i) receive and store, for each of a set of mobile devices, a set of preferences, the set of preferences including an identification of given content that originates with the CDN participating content providers and that is deliverable over the CDN, and that an end user of a mobile device has provided an indication is desired to be predictively prefetched to the end user mobile device;
(ii) based at least in part on the preferences associated with a particular end user mobile device, predict content of interest, the content of interest being content then available to be delivered from the CDN;
(iii) generate a manifest for the particular end user mobile device identifying the content of interest and its location; and
(iv) provide the manifest to a particular instance of the front-end server application;wherein the particular instance of the front-end server application is operative to (i) notify the particular end user mobile device of availability of the manifest; and
(ii) responsive to a request, provide the manifest to the particular end user mobile device;wherein the particular instance of the front-end server application is further operative to wake-up an end user mobile device in response to receiving the manifest from the back-end server application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus associated with an overlay network operating as a content delivery network (CDN) on behalf of sites of participating content providers, comprising:
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a set of hardware processors; computer memory associated with each hardware processor; and computer program instructions stored in computer memory and executed by a hardware processor as;
a client application, an instance of a front-end server application configured to execute in association with an CDN edge server located proximal to a mobile network operator (MNO) core network that is distinct from the overlay network, and a back-end server application configured to execute in the CDN to provide support for multiple instances of the front-end server application, wherein bifurcation of functionality provided by the front-end server application instance and the back-end server application improves an operation of the overlay network operating as a CDN;wherein the back-end server application is operative to (i) receive and store, for each of a set of mobile devices, a set of preferences, the set of preferences including an identification of given content that originates with the CDN participating content providers and that is deliverable over the CDN, and that an end user of a mobile device has provided an indication is desired to be predictively prefetched to the end user mobile device;
(ii) based at least in part on the preferences associated with a particular end user mobile device, predict content of interest, the content of interest being content then available to be delivered from the CDN;
(iii) generate a manifest for the particular end user mobile device identifying the content of interest and its location; and
(iv) provide the manifest to a particular instance of the front-end server application;wherein the particular instance of the front-end server application is operative to (i) notify the particular end user mobile device of availability of the manifest; and
(ii) responsive to a request, provide the manifest to the particular end user mobile device;wherein the particular instance of the front-end server application is further operative to wake-up the client application in response to receiving the manifest from the back-end server application; wherein the client application is operative to (i) provide the set of preferences;
(ii) issue the request;
(iii) receive the manifest; and
(iv) control the end user mobile device to automatically retrieve to the mobile device from the CDN edge server the content of interest. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification