Transcoding-enabled caching proxy and method thereof

• US 20040098463A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Sung-Ju, Shen, Bo
• Application Number:
  US10/300,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Methods and systems for delivering content are described. A first version of a content object is received at a caching proxy from a content source. The first version of the content object is transcoded at the caching proxy to create a second version. A decision is made whether to cache at the caching proxy at least one of the first and second versions. The decision is made according to a caching strategy and then implemented.

Claims

1. A method of delivering content, said method comprising:

receiving at a caching proxy a first version of a content object from a content source;

transcoding at said caching proxy said first version to create a second version of said content object;

making a decision whether to cache at said caching proxy at least one of said first and second versions, said decision made according to a first caching strategy; and

implementing said decision.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

caching said first version at said caching proxy;

receiving from a client device a request for said content object, said client device having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is transcodable from said first version; and

transcoding said first version according to said attributes.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

caching said first version at said caching proxy;

receiving from a client device a request for said content object, said client device having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is not transcodable from said first version; and

retrieving from said content source a version of said content object corresponding to said attributes.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

caching said second version at said caching proxy.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

receiving from a client device a request for said content object, said client device having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is transcodable from said second version; and

transcoding said second version according to said attributes.

6. The method of claim 4 comprising:

receiving from a client device a request for said content object, said client device having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is not transcodable from said second version; and

retrieving from said content source a version of said content object corresponding to said attributes.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

caching both said first version and said second version at said caching proxy.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said content object comprises video data.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:

selecting a second caching strategy different from said first caching strategy.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising:

buffering at said caching proxy a portion of said first version of said content object prior to said transcoding.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising:

buffering at said caching proxy a portion of said second version of said content object subsequent to said transcoding.

19. The method of claim 1 comprising:

storing a portion of said second version of said content object in a buffer subsequent to said transcoding.

12. A caching proxy comprising:

a communication link to a content source and a communication link to a client device;

a memory unit coupled to said communication links; and

a processor coupled to said memory unit, said processor for executing a method for delivering content, said method comprising;

receiving a first version of a content object from said content source;

creating a second version of said content object, said second version a transcoded version of said first version; and

determining whether to cache at least one of said first and second versions, wherein a decision regarding whether to cache is made according to a first caching strategy.

13. The caching proxy of claim 12 wherein said method comprises:

caching said first version;

receiving from said client device a request for said content object; and

transcoding said first version according to attributes of said client device when said first version is transcodable into a version substantially compliant with said attributes and otherwise retrieving from said content source a version of said content object corresponding to said attributes.

14. The caching proxy of claim 12 wherein said method comprises:

caching said second version;

receiving from said client device a request for said content object; and

transcoding said second version according to attributes of said client device when said second version is transcodable into a version substantially compliant with said attributes and otherwise retrieving from said content source a version of said content object corresponding to said attributes.

15. The caching proxy of claim 12 wherein said method comprises:

caching both said first version and said second version.

16. The caching proxy of claim 12 wherein said content object comprises video data.

17. The caching proxy of claim 12 wherein said method comprises:

implementing a second caching strategy different from said first caching strategy.

18. The caching proxy of claim 12 wherein said method comprises:

storing a portion of said first version of said content object in a buffer prior to said transcoding.

20. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

instructing a content source to deliver to said caching proxy a first version of a content object;

transcoding at said caching proxy said first version to create a second version of said content object;

deciding whether to cache at said caching proxy at least one of said first and second versions, wherein a decision whether to cache is made according to a first caching strategy; and

implementing said decision.

21. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

storing said first version at said caching proxy, wherein said first version is available for client devices having attributes corresponding to said first version; and

transcoding said first version for client devices having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is transcodable from said first version.

22. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

storing said first version at said caching proxy;

receiving from a client device a request for said content object, said client device having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is not transcodable from said first version; and

instructing said content source to provide a version of said content object that corresponds to said attributes.

23. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

storing said second version at said caching proxy, wherein said second version is available for client devices having attributes corresponding to said second version; and

transcoding said second version according to attributes of a client device requesting said content object, said client device having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is transcodable from said second version.

24. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

storing said second version at said caching proxy;

receiving from a client device a request for said content object, said client device having attributes corresponding to a version of said content object that is not transcodable from said second version; and

instructing said content source to provide a version of said content object that corresponds to said attributes.

25. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

storing both said first version and said second version at said caching proxy.

26. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said content object comprises video data.

27. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

changing from said first caching strategy to a second caching strategy.

28. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

buffering at said caching proxy a portion of said first version of said content object prior to said transcoding.

29. The computer-usable medium of claim 20 wherein said computer-readable program code embodied therein causes a caching proxy to perform a method for delivering content, said method comprising:

buffering at said caching proxy a portion of said second version of said content object subsequent to said transcoding.