CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK CACHE GROUPING
First Claim
1. A method to cache content objects in a content delivery network (CDN) according to an arrangement of using different parent caches for different URIs, the method comprising:
- receiving a first universal resource indicator (URI) at a cache of an edge server in a first points of presence (POP), wherein the first URI specifies a first content object;
determining that the cache does not hold the first content object;
analyzing the first URI to determine a first parent cache;
requesting the first content object from the first parent cache in a second POP;
receiving a second URI at the cache of the edge server in the first POP, wherein the second URI specifies a second content object;
determining that the cache does not hold the second content object;
analyzing the second URI to determine a second parent cache different from the first parent cache, wherein the second parent cache is in a third POP; and
requesting the content object from the second parent cache.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One or more content delivery networks (CDNs) that deliver content objects for others is disclosed. Content is propagated to edge servers through hosting and/or caching. End user computers are directed to an edge server for delivery of a requested content object by a universal resource indicator (URI). When a particular edge server does not have a copy of the content object from the URI, information is passed to another server, the ancestor or parent server to find the content object. There can be different parents servers designated for different URIs. The parent server looks for the content object and if not found, will go to another server, the grandparent server, and so on up a hierarchy within the group. Eventually, the topmost server in the hierarchy goes to the origin server to find the content object. The origin server may be hosted in the CDN or at a content provider across the Internet. Once the content object is located in the hierarchical chain, the content object is passed back down the chain to the edge server for delivery. Optionally, the various servers in the chain may cache or host the content object as it is relayed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method to cache content objects in a content delivery network (CDN) according to an arrangement of using different parent caches for different URIs, the method comprising:
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receiving a first universal resource indicator (URI) at a cache of an edge server in a first points of presence (POP), wherein the first URI specifies a first content object; determining that the cache does not hold the first content object; analyzing the first URI to determine a first parent cache; requesting the first content object from the first parent cache in a second POP; receiving a second URI at the cache of the edge server in the first POP, wherein the second URI specifies a second content object; determining that the cache does not hold the second content object; analyzing the second URI to determine a second parent cache different from the first parent cache, wherein the second parent cache is in a third POP; and requesting the content object from the second parent cache. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A CDN for caching content objects according to a selectable arrangement of separate caches, the CDN comprising:
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a plurality of POPs; a plurality of edge servers distributed among the plurality of POPs, wherein the plurality of edge servers comprise a plurality of caches; and a cache parent determining function that receives a plurality of URIs specifying a plurality of content objects for delivery to end user computers, wherein; the plurality of URIs include information that allows selecting from the plurality of caches that would serve as a parent cache to find the content object should a cache, previously assigned the content object, not have the content object, and different URIs have different parent caches. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for caching content objects according to a selectable arrangement of separate caches of a CDN, the method comprising:
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receiving a first URI at a cache of an edge server, wherein the first URI specifies a first content object; determining that the cache does not hold the first content object; analyzing the first URI to determine a first parent cache; requesting the first content object from the first parent cache; receiving a second URI at the cache of the edge server, wherein the second URI specifies a second content object; determining that the cache does not hold the second content object; analyzing the second URI to determine a second parent cache different from the first parent cache; and requesting the content object from the second parent cache. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification