NETWORK CACHE-BASED CONTENT ROUTING

• US 20080222305A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: CIESLAK, Martin, AVIANI, James, KAGAN, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for routing data traffic in a network having a plurality of layers including physical, data link, and network layers. The data traffic is received and one of a plurality of routing options for the data traffic is selected with reference to information outside of the physical, data link, and network layers. The data traffic is then routed according to the selected routing option.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data traffic at a network cache;

determining, at the network cache, the cheapest of a plurality of links to which to forward the data traffic;

routing the data traffic on the cheapest link, wherein the routing includes forwarding the data traffic from the network cache to a destination network device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the network cache, a destination network device to which to forward the data traffic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes examining at least one item selected from the group consisting of:

speed of link, economic cost of link, specific user'"'"'s need or level of access, and remote internet service provide use agreements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing includes selecting a socket option indicating the desired link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes examining information in an application layer.

6. An apparatus comprising:

cache memory;

one or more processors configured to;

receive data traffic at a network cache;

determine, at the network cache, the cheapest of a plurality of links to which to forward the data traffic;

route the data traffic on the cheapest link, wherein the routing includes forwarding the data traffic from the network cache to a destination network device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine, at the network cache, a destination network device to which to forward the data traffic.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the determining includes examining at least one item selected from the group consisting of:

speed of link, economic cost of link, specific user'"'"'s need or level of access, and remote internet service provide use agreements.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the routing includes selecting a socket option indicating the desired link.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the determining includes examining information in an application layer.

11. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving data traffic at a network cache;

means for determining, at the network cache, the cheapest of a plurality of links to which to forward the data traffic;

means for routing the data traffic on the cheapest link, wherein the routing includes forwarding the data traffic from the network cache to a destination network device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining, at the network cache, a destination network device to which to forward the data traffic.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for determining includes means for examining at least one item selected from the group consisting of:

speed of link, economic cost of link, specific user'"'"'s need or level of access, and remote internet service provide use agreements.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for routing includes means for selecting a socket option indicating the desired link.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for determining includes means for examining information in an application layer.

16. A system comprising:

a network component; and

a network cache, wherein the network cache comprises;

cache memory for storing a plurality of objects; and

an operating system which is operable to;

receive redirected data traffic;

determine a destination network device to which to forward the data traffic;

select one of a plurality of routing options for the data traffic with reference to information in the application layer; and

route the data traffic according to the selected routing option, wherein the routing includes forwarding the data traffic from the network cache to the destination network device.