CACHE STORAGE OPTIMIZATION IN A CACHE NETWORK

• US 20130268733A1
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Narayanan, Ashok, Oran, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/119
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0888 using selective caching, e.g. bypass
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/154 Networked environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data at a cache node in a network of cache nodes, the cache node located on a data path between a source of the data and a network device requesting the data, and determining if the received data is to be cached at the cache node, wherein determining comprises calculating a cost incurred to retrieve the data. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data at a cache node in a network of cache nodes, the cache node located on a data path between a source of the data and a network device requesting the data; and

determining if the received data is to be cached at the cache node, wherein determining comprises calculating at the cache node, a cost incurred to retrieve the data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the received data is to be cached further comprises comparing said calculated cost to a lowest cost to retrieve data stored in cache storage at the cache node and caching the data if said calculated cost is higher than said lowest cost to retrieve the stored data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating the cost comprises calculating the cost to retrieve the data from a neighbor node.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the cost to retrieve the data from the neighbor node is based on utilization of a path between the neighbor node and the cache node and a load at the neighbor node.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cost to retrieve the data is based on a cost of the neighbor node to retrieve the data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the cost of the neighbor node to retrieve the data comprises a cumulative cost of the neighbor node, and any other nodes in a data path between the neighbor node and the source of the data, to retrieve the data from its neighbor node.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving the cost of the neighbor node to retrieve the data in a packet comprising the data.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the received data is to be cached at the cache node further comprises calculating an expectation that the data will be requested again at the cache node.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the expectation that the data will be requested is based on whether or not a downstream node is planning to cache the data.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving an indication as to whether or not the downstream node is planning to cache the data in a packet comprising a request for the data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the cost to retrieve the data is based on a cost for the cache node and any other cache node in a data path between the source and the cache node, to retrieve the data from its upstream neighbor and wherein calculating a cost to retrieve the data comprises utilizing cost information received with the data from the upstream neighbor.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for processing data received in a network of cache nodes, on a data path between a source of the data and a network device requesting the data, and determining if the received data is to be cached at the apparatus, wherein determining comprises calculating a cost incurred to retrieve the data; and

cache storage for storing cached data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to compare said calculated cost to a lowest cost to retrieve data stored in the cache storage and cache the data if said calculated cost is higher than said lowest cost to retrieve the stored data.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein calculating the cost comprises calculating a cost to retrieve the data from a neighbor node.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cost to retrieve the data from the neighbor node is based on utilization of a path between the neighbor node and the apparatus and a load at the neighbor node.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cost to retrieve the data is based on a cost to retrieve the data from a neighbor node and a cost of the neighbor node to retrieve the data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the cost of the neighbor node to retrieve the data is received in a packet comprising the data.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein determining if the received data is to be cached further comprises calculating an expectation that the data will be requested again.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the expectation is based on whether or not a downstream node is planning to cache the data.

20. Logic encoded on one or more tangible computer readable media for execution and when executed operable to:

receive data at a cache node in a network of cache nodes, the cache node located on a data path between a source of the data and a network device requesting the data; and

determine if the received data is to be cached at the cache node, wherein determining comprises calculating a cost incurred to retrieve the data.