Virtual web caching system
DCFirst Claim
1. An arrangement including a plurality of interconnected cache servers, where at least some of the cache servers are connected to a data network, the arrangement comprising:
- a cache selection module in each of said cache servers that, in response to receiving a request from a client for information from any one of multiple web sites, makes a determination, without consultation with other cache servers of said plurality of cache servers at the time said request arrives at said module, whether an attempt to service said request should be made a) at a specific one of said cache servers belonging to a set that includes said cache server of said module, or b) by servers outside said arrangement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an arrangement where a plurality of cache servers are interconnected to form a virtual cache, each cache server includes a selection module and a caching module. The selection module determines whether the cache server can service an incoming request for information, whether the request ought to be directed to another one of the cache servers, or whether the request be routed to the site from whence the information is requested. In making this determination, in accordance with one embodiment, the module consults a table that associates sites or/and sub-sites with specific ones of the cache servers. In another embodiment, the determination is made by translating the address of the site, or sub-site, or web page that is requested; for example, with a hash function. The caching module determines whether a request for information from a particular site will be cached in the cache server of the caching module, if it is not already being cached by one of the cache servers. The determinations made by the caching module comport with the determinations made by the selection module.
153 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An arrangement including a plurality of interconnected cache servers, where at least some of the cache servers are connected to a data network, the arrangement comprising:
a cache selection module in each of said cache servers that, in response to receiving a request from a client for information from any one of multiple web sites, makes a determination, without consultation with other cache servers of said plurality of cache servers at the time said request arrives at said module, whether an attempt to service said request should be made a) at a specific one of said cache servers belonging to a set that includes said cache server of said module, or b) by servers outside said arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. In an arrangement including a plurality of cache servers interconnected to form a virtual cache, a method for retrieving information from said virtual cache comprising the steps of:
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receiving at one of said cache servers a request for information which specifies an address of one of multiple sites, or a sub-site of said one of multiple sites, which address designates the source of said information; converting said address destination to a designation that identifies a cache server in said virtual cache; and directing said request for information to the identified cache server. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. In an arrangement including a plurality of cache servers interconnected to form a virtual cache, a method for caching information in said virtual cache, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for information which specifies one of multiple sites, or a sub-site of said one of multiple sites, address that designates the source of said information; evaluating whether said request can be serviced by said virtual cache, when said step of evaluating determines that said virtual cache cannot service said request, routing said request to said one of multiple sites, or said sub-site address, receiving information responsive to said request for information; and based on address granularity no finer than sub-site address, assigning one of said servers to cache said information. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification