Comprehensive global information network broadcasting system and implementation thereof

• US 5,987,233 A
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cidera, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skycache, Inc.
• Inventors: Humphrey, Douglas Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US09/039,710
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 395/200.3, 395/200.32, 395/200.33, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 395/200.54, 711/118, 711/119, 711/121, 711/122, 711/126
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18578 Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations for selecting H04W; provisions for broadband connection, H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• 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 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The comprehensive global information network broadcasting system and implementation thereof is designed to be used to provide a plurality of, what is commonly referred to as internet service providers with updated information through the use of high speed satellite links directly to the local internet service provider from a centralized location. The satellite broadcasting system is combined with servers known as caching or proxy servers located at the client site which serve to store web and other data until the end user needs to access the data and a master cache center which coordinates the selection and transmission of information to those client sites via the satellite broadcasting system. The caching of data objects as close to the end user as possible will require less data to transit the backbones networks. The client site cache communicates to the master cache center via a connection to the internet and the client site cache receives from the master cache center via the satellite broadcasting system and, in some cases, the internet connection.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, for use in overcoming inherent limitations in current global information network systems including the requirement for multiple copies of the same information or data being moved around the internet to serve individual users and the point to point nature of the infrastructure, comprising the steps of:

providing a master caching center for receiving information requests and sending out information and data;

installing local caching systems for internet service providers and customer sites;

providing a satellite broadcast linking system to the local caching system for providing nearly instantaneous information from the master caching center to the caching systems;

disseminating a program for selecting data elements for storage in the local caching system; and

distributing data and information updates for the local caching systems as predetermined by the master caching center.

2. A method for implementing a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 1, wherein:

said providing a master caching center step comprises using a caching unit for measuring all the information request misses from the local caching systems; and

said providing a master caching center step further comprises the use of a software program for controlling the measurement of the number of information and data requests and determining the level of interest in a particular piece of information or data.

3. A method of implementing a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 2, wherein:

said use of a software program step further comprises setting the priority of the information and data to be transmitted by the satellite broadcast linking system.

4. A method of implementing a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 1, wherein:

said installing local caching systems step comprises positioning a receiving customer cache with the customer or internet service provider for storing a limited amount of information and data and relaying requests for information and data it does not possess to the complete comprehensive internet broadcasting system; and

said installing local caching systems step further comprises providing a cache adapter to the customer or internet service provider for providing a screening mechanism for the master caching center.

5. A method of implementing a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 4, wherein:

providing a cache adapter step comprises installing a unit which relays information to the master caching center dealing with information and data request misses in the local caching system.

6. A method of implementing a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 1, wherein:

said providing a satellite broadcast linking system step comprises providing the necessary hardware to permit the master caching center to be linked to the satellite transmission system; and

said providing a satellite broadcast linking system step further comprises providing the receiving hardware to be connected to the local caching system for allowing the information to be received and return information can be submitted back to the master caching center.

7. A method of implementing a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 1, wherein:

said disseminating a program for selecting data elements step comprises providing a software program that instructs the local caching system to search its own storage for the information or data requested, then request the information from the cache adapter and then to search other areas, such as the internet.

8. A comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, for use in overcoming inherent limitations in current global information network systems including the requirement for multiple copies of the same information or data being moved around the internet to serve individual users and the point to point nature of the infrastructure, comprising:

a master caching center for receiving information requests and sending out information and data;

local cache systems positioned at customer and internet service provider sites for sending out information and data requests and receiving and storing the information requested;

means for connecting said master caching center with said local cache systems; and

means for determining the level and interest in a particular piece of information or data and allowing the information and data to be sent from the master caching center to the local cache systems.

9. A comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 8, wherein:

local cache systems comprises a customer cache for storing information and data, requesting information and data, and sending out the received information and data; and

said local cache systems further comprise a cache adapter for receiving requests from said local cache system for said information and data and notifying said master caching center of the request for information and data from said local cache system.

10. A comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 9, wherein:

said local cache systems having a software program for directing said local cache system to search its own memory when a request for information or data is received, notify said cache adapter when the information or data requested is not in the memory of said local cache systems, and then searching the internet for the information and data requested.

11. A comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 8, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a satellite broadcast system for allowing said master caching center to all of said local cache systems through said caching adapters at said local cache systems;

said satellite broadcast system comprises a master caching center linkage means for permitting said master caching center to said satellite broadcast system; and

said satellite broadcast system further comprises a local cache system linkage means for permitting said local cache systems to be connected to said master caching center.

12. A comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 8, wherein:

said means for determining the level of interest and allowing the data and information to be sent comprises a software program for permitting the measuring the number of inquiries from said cache adapters by the master caching center, the predetermined level at which the number of inquiries triggers the forwarding of the information and data requested from said master caching center to all of said local cache systems.

13. A method of operating a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, for use in overcoming inherent limitations in current global information systems including the requirement for multiple copies of the same information or data being moved around the internet to serve individual users and the point to point nature of the infrastructure, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for information or data from a customer to the local cache site;

determining the location by the local cache site of the requested information or data from a number of location sources;

notifying the master cache center of the lack of success in finding the requested data or information in the local sources;

analyzing the number of requests that the master cache has received on a particular piece of information or data;

retrieving the data or information from the internet once a predetermined level of interest has been achieved; and

sending the requested information or data through the satellite broadcasting system to all the local cache sites once the data or information requests have reached a predetermined level.

14. A method of operating a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 13, wherein:

said determining the location of the requested data or information step comprises checking the local cache site for the information or data in an updated current format;

said determining the location of the requested data or information step further comprises checking the cache adapter; and

said determining the location of the requested data or information step further comprises checking other sources, such as the internet itself, to obtain the information or data.

15. A method of operating a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 13, wherein:

said notifying the master caching center of the lack of success in finding the requested data or information on the local cache site step comprises having the cache adapter notify the master caching center of the request for information or data from the local caching site.

16. A method of operating a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 13, wherein:

said analyzing the number of requests step comprises providing the master cache center with a software program that determines the level of interest in a particular piece of information or data and obtaining that information when the level of interest in a particular piece of information or data is reaches a predetermined point.

17. A method of operating a comprehensive global information network broadcasting system, according to claim 13, wherein:

said sending the requested information or data step comprises sending the items from the master caching center to all the local cache sites through the satellite broadcasting system even to those local caching sites that did not specifically request that particular information or data.