Controlling subscriber information rates in a content delivery network

• US 20080215750A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Greer, Richard E., Farber, David A., Swart, Andrew D., Balter, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1006 with static server selection, e.g. the same server being selected for a specific client
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1019 Random or heuristic server selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1025 Dynamic adaptation of the criteria on which the server selection is based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2895 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data provider application, e.g. reverse proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A plurality of content providers provide multiple resources to multiple clients. At least some of said resources are to be served to clients from a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of repeater servers. Each content provider provides at least some resources via one or more content sources associated with that content provider. Amounts of data transmitted by the CDN on behalf of each of the plurality of content providers are monitored. Based at least in part on said monitoring, requests for resources are selectively delivered at a lower transmission rate. The lower transmission rate is achieved by generating pauses or delays in the transmission.

Claims

1. A method for delivering resources to clients in a framework in which a plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) operable to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers, the method comprising:

determining a data traffic rate of a particular content provider of said plurality of content providers; and

based at least in part on said determined data traffic rate, selectively causing responses to requests for resources of the particular content provider to be delayed by at least one pause.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said data traffic rate for a content provider is determined at least in part by monitoring amounts of data transmitted by said CDN over a period of time on behalf of said particular content provider.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of monitoring comprises:

monitoring amounts of data transmitted by each repeater server in the CDN on behalf of said particular content provider.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of monitoring comprises:

each repeater server in the CDN periodically measuring the amount of data that repeater transmits on behalf of at least some content providers, including said particular content provider.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of selectively causing is based at least in part on a pricing policy.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of selectively causing is based at least in part on a relationship between (a) the data traffic rate of the particular content provider and (b) a threshold aggregate information rate associated with that particular content provider.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said data traffic rate is a rate at which data of a particular content provider has been served to clients during a given period of time.

8. A method for delivering resources to clients in a framework in which a plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) operable to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers, the method comprising:

determining a data traffic rate for of at least some of said plurality of content providers;

selectively causing a client request for the CDN to serve a resource of a particular content provider to be delayed by at least one pause, said causing being based at least in part on a function of the data traffic rate associated with that particular content provider.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said causing is based at least in part on a relationship between (a) the data traffic rate of the particular content provider and (b) a threshold aggregate information rate associated with that particular content provider.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the length of the at least one pause is based at least in part on a relationship between (a) the data traffic rate of the particular content provider exceeds (b) a threshold aggregate information rate associated with the particular content provider.

11. A method as in claim 8 wherein said selectively causing is based at least in part on a pricing policy.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said data traffic rate is a rate at which data of a particular content provider has been served to clients during a given period of time.

13. A method for delivering resources to clients in a framework in which a plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) operable to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers, the method comprising:

determining a data traffic rate of a particular content provider of said plurality of content providers; and

based at least in part on said determined data traffic rate, selectively adjusting a rate at which responses to requests for resources of the particular content provider are served.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein said adjusting is achieved by delaying transmission by at least one pause.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said data traffic rate is a rate at which data of a particular content provider has been served to clients during a given period of time.

16. A method for delivering resources to clients in a framework in which a plurality of repeater servers form a shared content delivery network (CDN) operable to serve resources to clients on behalf of a plurality of content providers, the method comprising:

determining a data traffic rate of a particular content provider of said plurality of content providers; and

based at least in part on said determined data traffic rate and on a pricing policy, selectively adjusting a rate at which responses to requests for resources of the particular content provider are served.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said data traffic rate is a rate at which data of a particular content provider has been served to clients during a given period of time.