Origin Server-Side Channel In A Content Delivery Framework

• US 20140344399A1
• Filed: 06/17/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lipstone, Laurence R., Crowder, William, Swart, Andrew, Newton, Christopher, Varney, Lewis Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/307,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20140344399A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• 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 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• 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 41/509 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 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is operable in a content delivery network (CDN). The method includes, at a content source external to the CDN, wherein the CDN serves content from the content source via content delivery (CD) services in the CDN, monitoring configuration information associated with content to be delivered by the CDN on behalf of the content source. In response to at least one change in the configuration information being determined by the monitoring, the content source provides the CDN an indication of a change in the configuration information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method operable in a content delivery network (CDN), the method operable on one or more devices comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, the method comprising:

(A) at a content source external to the CDN, wherein the CDN serves content from the content source via content delivery (CD) services in the CDN, monitoring configuration information associated with content to be delivered by the CDN on behalf of the content source; and

,

(B) in response to at least one change in the configuration information being determined by the monitoring, the content source providing to the CDN an indication of a change in the configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the content source comprises one or more origin servers.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the configuration information relates to configuration for substantially all content associated with the one or more origin servers.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein content from the content source comprises one or more resources.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the one or more resources comprise one or more properties and the configuration information relates to configuration per property of the one or more properties.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the configuration information relates to configuration per resource of the one or more resources.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing of an indication in (B) may include providing at least some of the configuration information to the CDN.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least some of the configuration information may be provided by the content source to one or more CD services in the CDN.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein at least some of the configuration information may be pushed by the content source to one or more CD services in the CDN.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(C) in response to the content source providing the indication in (B), the CDN obtaining at least some of the configuration information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the CDN obtains at least some of the configuration information from the content source.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the CDN pulls the at least some of the configuration information from the content source.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the CDN obtains at least some of the configuration information from a source distinct from the content source.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication comprises at least some of the configuration information.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring is performed by a software routine associated with the content source.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the software routine is authenticated by the CDN.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the software routine comprises a plugin running on the content source.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the software routine is at least partially co-located with the content source.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the software routine is at a location distinct from the content source.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication is provided to the CDN via a channel between the content source and the CDN.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the channel comprises a secure channel.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the secure channel is encrypted.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the CDN comprises one or more configuration services, and wherein the content source provides the indication to the one or more configuration services.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to the providing in (B), the CDN modifying configuration information associated with content from the content source.

25. A computer-implemented method operable in a content delivery network (CDN), the method operable on one or more devices comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, the method comprising:

(A) a software routine associated with a particular content source monitoring configuration information associated with content to be delivered by the CDN on behalf of the content source; and

(B) providing the CDN an indication of a change in the configuration information as determined by the software routine.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the software routine is co-located with said content source.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the content source is external the CDN, and wherein the CDN serves content from and on behalf of the content source.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the configuration information relates to configuration for substantially all content associated with the content source.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein content from the content source comprises one or more resources.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more resources comprise one or more properties and the configuration information relates to configuration per property of the one or more properties.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the particular content source comprises at least one origin server and wherein the software routine comprises at least one software routine running on said at least one origin server.

32. A system, operable in a network comprising multiple service endpoints, said service endpoints running on a plurality of devices, the system comprising:

(a) hardware including memory and at least one processor, and

(b) one or more services running on said hardware, wherein said one or more services are configured to;

(A) at a content source external to the CDN, wherein the CDN serves content from the content source via content delivery (CD) services in the CDN, monitor configuration information associated with content to be delivered by the CDN on behalf of the content source; and

,

(B) in response to at least one change in the configuration information being determined by the monitoring, provide to the CDN an indication of a change in the configuration information.

33. 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 on one or more devices comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor and running one or more services on said hardware, said method operable in a network comprising multiple service endpoints, said service endpoints running on a plurality of devices, and said method comprising:

(A) at a content source external to the CDN, wherein the CDN serves content from the content source via content delivery (CD) services in the CDN, monitoring configuration information associated with content to be delivered by the CDN on behalf of the content source; and

,

(B) in response to at least one change in the configuration information being determined by the monitoring, the content source providing to the CDN an indication of a change in the configuration information.