Distributing intelligence across networks

• US 20080316923A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Adiletta, Matthew, Young, Valerie J., Fedders, Jeffrey G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,243,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• 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 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Methods and apparatus relating to distribution of intelligence across a network are described. In one embodiment, one or more content processors may be provided at the edge of a computer network (e.g., prior to a point where data is aggregated or routed by the network). Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing content data at a content processor coupled between one or more subscribers and a computer network; and

processing the stored content data in accordance with one or more attributes of a requesting subscriber in response to a request for the content data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling a content service provider to the computer network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the computer network aggregating and routing data packets transmitted between the content processor and the content service provider.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating data between the requesting subscriber and the content processor in accordance with a first communication protocol and communicating data between the content service provider and the content processor in accordance with a second communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the content processor receiving a request for the content data from the requesting subscriber.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining whether the requested content data is stored at the content processor.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising retrieving the requested content data from a content service provider in response to a determination that the requested content data is not stored at the content processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the stored content data comprises one or more of encrypting, trans-coding, adjusting size, or adjusting quality of the stored content data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the attributes of the requesting subscriber comprises one or more of:

a hardware attribute, a software attribute, or a service subscription attribute.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance between the content processor and each of the subscribers is based on a media used to communicatively couple the content processor and the subscribers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a response time of the content processor to a request by one of the subscribers is between about 1 millisecond and about 400 millisecond.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a delay associated with transmitting data between the content processor and each of the subscribers is between about 1 millisecond and about 10 millisecond.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a memory to store content data at a content processor; and

the content processor coupled to the memory to process the stored content data in accordance with one or more attributes of a requesting subscriber in response to a request for the content data,

wherein the content processor is coupled between one or more subscribers and a computer network.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer network is to aggregate and route data packets transmitted between the content processor and the content service provider.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein data communicated between the requesting subscriber and the content processor is communicated in accordance with a first communication protocol and data communicated between the content service provider and the content processor is communicated in accordance with a second communication protocol.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of content processors at a same location as the content processor, wherein the requested content data is to be retrieved from at least one of the plurality of content processors in response to a determination that the requested content data is not stored at the content processor.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the content processor is to perform one or more of encrypting, trans-coding, adjusting size, or adjusting quality on the stored content data.

18. A system comprising:

a switch fabric; and

an apparatus to process data communicated via the switch fabric comprising;

a memory to store content data at a content processor; and

the content processor coupled to the memory to process the stored content data in accordance with one or more attributes of a requesting subscriber in response to a request for the content data, wherein the content processor is coupled between one or more subscribers and a computer network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the attributes of the requesting subscriber comprises one or more of:

a hardware attribute, a software attribute, or a service subscription attribute.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein a distance between the content processor and each of the subscribers is based on a media used to communicatively couple the content processor and the subscribers.