Method and system for distributing requests for content

• US 8,352,597 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jenny, Patrick Duncan, Tennican, Scott P., Amdahl, Carlton G., Sanders, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): DONAGHUE, LARRY D
• Application Number:
  US13/341,145
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for caching content, such as content requested from a server on the World Wide Web. Requests for dynamic content are forwarded directly to a content server to avoid caching data that might only be used once. Requests for static content are forwarded to a hot or a regular cache depending on the frequency at which the content is requested. When a hot cache does not contain the content, it forwards the request to the forwarder which then forwards the request to a regular cache. When the regular cache does not contain the content, it requests the content from the forwarder which then forwards the request to a content server. There may be more than two layers of cache.

Claims

1. A network device for forwarding requests for content from a client device over a network, comprising:

a memory that is arranged to store data and instructions;

a network interface for communicating over the network; and

a processor that executes the instructions to enable actions, including;

receiving a request for content over the network;

if the requested content is static, recursively forwarding the request over the network to a plurality of caches that enable access to the static content until a frequency of the request for static content exceeds a threshold associated with a particular cache and is particular to a content set that includes the requested content; and

if the frequency of the request for static content remains below the threshold associated with the particular cache and a defined cool down period is exceeded, access to the static content is unavailable from the particular cache.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the content is determined to be static based on at least a determination of information included within the request.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein recursively forwarding the request further comprises forwarding requests generated from different caches in the plurality of caches based on the received request and receipt of one of the recursively forwarded requests at each of the different caches.

4. The network device of claim 1, wherein the particular cache is a hot cache.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a regular cache in the plurality of caches if the request is generated by a hot cache.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a content server if the request is generated by a regular cache in the plurality of caches.

7. The network device of claim 1, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a content server that enables access to dynamic content if the requested content is determined to be dynamic.

8. The network device of claim 1, wherein the actions further comprise associating a high level cache in a hierarchy organized for the plurality of caches with a higher frequency of requests for static content than a lower frequency of requests for static content associated with a lower level cache in the hierarchy.

9. The network device of claim 1, wherein the actions further comprise determining if the request includes an indication for a process that is to be performed in a response to the request.

10. A system for forwarding requests for content over a network, comprising:

a client device that is operable to communicate a request for content over the network; and

a server device that is operable to enable actions, including;

receiving the request for content over the network from the client device;

if the requested content is static, recursively forwarding the request over the network to a plurality of caches that enable access to the static content until a frequency of the request for static content exceeds a threshold associated with a particular cache and is particular to a content set that includes the requested content; and

if the frequency of the request for static content remains below the threshold associated with the particular cache and a defined cool down period is exceeded, access to the static content is unavailable from the particular cache.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the content is determined to be static based on at least a determination of information included within the request.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein recursively forwarding the request further comprises forwarding requests generated from different caches in the plurality of caches based on the received request and receipt of one of the recursively forwarded requests at each of the different caches.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the particular cache is a hot cache.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a regular cache in the plurality of caches if the request is generated by a hot cache.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a content server if the request is generated by a regular cache in the plurality of caches.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a content server that enables access to dynamic content if the requested content is determined to be dynamic.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the actions further comprise associating a high level cache in a hierarchy organized for the plurality of caches with a higher frequency of requests for static content than a lower frequency of requests for static content associated with a lower level cache in the hierarchy.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the actions further comprise determining if the request includes an indication for a process that is to be performed in a response to the request.

19. A processor readable non-transitive storage medium that includes instructions, which are arranged to be executed on by a processor to enable a network device to perform actions, including:

receiving a request for content from a client device over a network;

if the requested content is static, recursively forwarding the request over the network to a plurality of caches that enable access to the static content until a frequency of the request for static content exceeds a threshold associated with a particular cache and is particular to a content set that includes the requested content; and

if the frequency of the request for static content remains below the threshold associated with the particular cache and a defined cool down period is exceeded, access to the static content is unavailable from the particular cache.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein recursively forwarding the request further comprises forwarding requests generated from different caches in the plurality of caches based on the received request and receipt of one of the recursively forwarded requests at each of the different caches.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a regular cache in the plurality of caches if the request is generated by a hot cache.

22. The medium of claim 19, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a content server if the request is generated by a regular cache in the plurality of caches.

23. The medium of claim 19, wherein the actions further comprise forwarding the request to a content server that enables access to dynamic content if the requested content is determined to be dynamic.

24. The medium of claim 19, wherein the actions further comprise associating a high level cache in a hierarchy organized for the plurality of caches with a higher frequency of requests for static content than a lower frequency of requests for static content associated with a lower level cache in the hierarchy.

25. A method to enable a network device to perform actions, including:

receiving a request for content from a client device over a network;

if the requested content is static, recursively forwarding the request over the network to a plurality of caches that enable access to the static content until a frequency of the request for static content exceeds a threshold associated with a particular cache and is particular to a content set that includes the requested content; and

if the frequency of the request for static content remains below the threshold associated with the particular cache and a defined cool down period is exceeded, access to the static content is unavailable from the particular cache.