Devices And Methods Supporting Content Delivery With Adaptation Services

• US 20140173043A1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Varney, Lewis Robert, Lipstone, Laurence R., Crowder, William, Swart, Andrew, Newton, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,654,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0808 with cache invalidating means G06F12/0815 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5041 characterised by the time relationship between creation and deployment of a service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 : Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 : using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 : using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/58 : Caching of addresses or names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 : Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• 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 67/1078 : Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2885 : Hierarchically arranged intermediate devices, e.g. for hierarchical caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 : Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 : Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 : Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244

Abstract

A device supporting content delivery is configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services include adaptation services.

Claims

1. A device, operable in a system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, each computer configured to run at least two content delivery (CD) services of a plurality of CD services, wherein said CD services include:

adaptation services and control services, and wherein at least some of said to plurality of computers run control services,

said device comprising;

(i) hardware including memory and at least one processor; and

(ii) an adaptation service running on said hardware on said device,

wherein said CD services further include collector services, and wherein (A) at least some of said CD services produce event output relating to their respective operation; and

wherein (B) at least some of said computers run collector services; and

(C) at least some of said event output from at least some of said CD services is provided to at least one other CD service, wherein said at least one other CD service comprises at least one collector service; and

wherein (D) at least one collector service provides state information to said control services, said state information being based on said event input from said CD services, and wherein (E) at least some of said control services provide control information to said CD services, at least some of said control information being based on state information from at least one collector service, and

wherein said adaptation service is configured to configure and control CD services on said device in response to service configuration information obtained by said adaptation service at said device from said control services.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said CD services further include reducer services, wherein at least some of said computers run reducer services, said at least some of said computers running reducer services comprise a reducer services network;

and wherein at least some of said reducer services in said reducer services network provide event output to at least some of said collector services, said event output being based on event output from said at least some of said CD services,

wherein said at least one other CD service further comprises at least one reducer service in said reducer services network.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the service configuration information obtained from the control services is generated by said control services.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said service configuration information is generated by said control services based on at least some event output from at least some CD services in said system.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said at least some CD services in said system that produced said at least some event output include a service running on said particular device.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein each CD service may be in various of a plurality of operating states, and wherein, the adaptation service on a particular device is configured to monitor an operating state of each CD service on said particular device.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the adaptation service on the particular device obtains operating state information about a CD service on said particular device using information obtained from the control services.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the adaptation service on each particular device is configured to instruct a CD service on said particular device to be in a specific operating state.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the adaptation service on each particular device is configured to instruct a CD service on said particular device to be in a specific operating state based on information obtained by the adaptation service from the control services.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein, for each particular device, said adaptation service on said particular device is configured:

to perform a first configuration of said particular device, based on first information obtained from said control services.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said first configuration is an initial configuration of said device obtained from said control services when said particular device initially communicates with said CDN.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the first information corresponds to a first service constellation for the particular device, said first service constellation comprising one or more CD service specifications, each CD service specification providing configuration information about a corresponding CD service in said first service constellation.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said adaptation service on said particular device is configured to perform said first configuration by attempting to run, on said device, each CD service in said first service constellation.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein each CD service may be in various of a plurality of operating states, and at least one particular CD service specification in said first service constellation specifies a required operating state for a corresponding particular CD service in said first service constellation.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said adaptation service on said particular device is configured to perform said first configuration by attempting to run, on said device, each CD service in said first service constellation in the required operating state for each said CD service.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein, for each particular device, said adaptation service on said particular device is further configured:

(b) to perform modified configuration of said particular device, based on second information obtained from said control services after said first information was obtained from said control services.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said second information is obtained after said device is configured in accordance with said first information.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said second information is obtained after said adaptation service to attempt to configure said device in accordance with said first information.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein

the adaptation service performs the modified configuration of the particular device by attempting to configure the device in accordance with the second information.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein

each CD service may be in various of a plurality of operating states, and wherein

the first information corresponds to a first service constellation for the particular device, said first service constellation comprising one or more CD service specifications, each CD service specification providing configuration information about a corresponding CD service in said first service constellation, and

at least one particular CD service specification in said first service constellation specifies a required operating state for a corresponding particular CD service in said first service constellation, and wherein

the second information corresponds to a second service constellation for the particular device,

said second service constellation comprising a second one or more CD service specifications, each providing configuration information about a corresponding CD service in said second service constellation, and

said second service constellation being at least partially distinct from said first service constellation, and wherein

the adaptation service performs the modified configuration of the particular device by attempting to configure the device in accordance with the second information.

21. The device of claim 12 wherein the first service constellation specifies at least a first list of CD services and corresponding first configuration information for CD services in said first list.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the second service constellation specifies at least a second list of CD services and second configuration information CD services in said second list.

23. The device of claim 10 wherein said adaptation service on a particular device is configured to configure the particular device to run one or more CD services based on said first information and said second information obtained from said control services.

24. The device of claim 10 wherein said first information comprises a first list of one or more CD services to be run on the particular device.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the first list of one or more CD services includes at least two CD services.

26. The device of claim 10 wherein said second information comprises a second list of one or more CD services to be run on the particular device.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the second list of one or more CD services includes at least two CD services.

28. The device of claim 24 wherein, as part of the initial configuration, the adaptation service causes the particular device to try to start services in the first list of CD services.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein each CD service may be in various of a plurality of operating states, and wherein the initial configuration specifies a corresponding operating state for at least some of said services in the first list of CD services, and wherein, as part of the initial configuration, the adaptation service causes the particular device to try to start each specific service in the first list of CD services in an operating state for said specific service, as specified in said initial configuration.

30. The device of claim 26 wherein each CD service may be in various of a plurality of operating states, and wherein, as part of a modified configuration of said particular device, the adaptation service causes the particular device to try to change the operating state of at least one service on said particular device.

31. The device of claim 26 wherein, as part of a modified configuration of said particular device, the adaptation service causes the particular device to try to start services in the second list of one or more CD services.

32. The device of claim 26 wherein, as part of a modified configuration of said particular device, the adaptation service causes the particular device to try to terminate or modify CD services already running on the particular device.

33. The device of claim 10 wherein said adaptation service is further configured:

to generate information relating to operation of said adaptation service; and

to provide at least some of said information to at least one reducer service in said reducer services network.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the adaptation service provides said at least some of said information to at least two reducer services in said reducer services network.

35. The device of claim 1 wherein the CD services on the device comprise one or more services selected from:

adaptation services, rendezvous services, collector services, reducer services, control services, and delivery services.

36. The device of claim 1 wherein, for each particular device, said adaptation service is provisioned on said particular device in an out-of-band process.

37. A computer-implemented method,

operable in a system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, each computer configured to run at least two content delivery (CD) services of a plurality of CD services, wherein said CD services include:

adaptation services and control services, and wherein at least some of said plurality of computers run control services,

said method operable on a particular computer in said system, and using memory and at least one processor of said particular computer and comprising;

in response to service configuration information obtained by said adaptation service at said device from said control services,

(a) configuring CD services on said device, and

(b) controlling CD services on said device,

wherein said CD services further include collector services, and wherein (A) at least some of said CD services produce event output relating to their respective operation; and

wherein (B) at least some of said computers run collector services; and

(C) at least some of said event output from at least some of said CD services is provided to at least one other CD service, wherein said at least one other CD service comprises at least one collector service; and

wherein (D) at least one collector service provides state information to said control services, said state information being based on said event input from said CD services, and wherein (E) at least some of said control services provide control information to said CD services, at least some of said control information being based on state information from at least one collector service.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said CD services further include reducer services, wherein at least some of said computers run reducer services, said at least some of said computers running reducer services comprise a reducer services network;

and wherein at least some of said reducer services in said reducer services network provide event output to at least some collector services, said event output being based on event output from said at least some of said CD services,

wherein said at least one other CD service further comprises at least one reducer service in said reducer services network.

40. The computer program product of claim 38 wherein said CD services further include reducer services, wherein at least some of said computers run reducer services, said at least some of said computers running reducer services comprise a reducer services network;

and wherein at least some of said reducer services in said reducer services network provide event output to at least some collector services, said event output being based on event output from said at least some of said CD services,

wherein said at least one other CD service further comprises at least one reducer service in said reducer services network.

39. A computer program product having computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory computer readable media, the computer readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer-implemented method, said method operable in a system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, each computer configured to run at least two content delivery (CD) services of a plurality of CD services, wherein said CD services include:

adaptation services and control services, and wherein at least some of said plurality of computers run control services,

said method operable on a particular computer in said system, and using memory and at least one processor of said particular computer and comprising;

in response to service configuration information obtained by said adaptation service at said device from said control services,

(a) configuring CD services on said device, and

(b) controlling CD services on said device,

wherein said CD services further include collector services, and wherein (A) at least some of said CD services produce event output relating to their respective operation; and

wherein (B) at least some of said computers run collector services, and wherein (C) at least some of said event output from at least some of said CD services is provided to at least one other CD service, wherein said at least one other CD service comprises at least one collector service; and

wherein (D) at least one collector service provides state information to said control services, said state information being based on said event input from said CD services, and wherein (E) at least some of said control services provide control information to said CD services, at least some of said control information being based on state information from at least one collector service.