Rule-based caching for packet-based data transfer
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- at a computer, registering a user for sharing data from a packet-communicating terminal;
programming the packet-communicating terminal with cache engine functions for storing shared data at a network-based cache;
receiving, from the registered user, caching policies by which to store shared data at the network-based cache;
implementing the cache engine to send data to the network-based cache, over a packet-communicating network, as a function of the caching policies and of a current status of shared data that is stored at the network-based cache for the user; and
at the computer, responding to a remote request for shared data by directing the transfer of shared data in the network-based cache over the packet-communicating network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Data transfer to a remote packet-communicating device over a network is effected using a network-based cache to selectively store data. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a network-based server facilitates selective, rule-based storage of a registered user'"'"'s data in a network-based cache. The registered user'"'"'s data is available via the user'"'"'s data source coupled to a packet-based network (e.g., via a user'"'"'s home or business computer coupled to the Internet). The server controls remote access to data stored in the cache as well as data accessible via the registered user'"'"'s data source. For instance, when a request for data transfer is received from a remote packet-communicating device, the network-based server authenticates the request and, for authenticated requests, facilitates a transfer of the requested data from one or both of a registered user'"'"'s data source and the cache.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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at a computer, registering a user for sharing data from a packet-communicating terminal; programming the packet-communicating terminal with cache engine functions for storing shared data at a network-based cache; receiving, from the registered user, caching policies by which to store shared data at the network-based cache; implementing the cache engine to send data to the network-based cache, over a packet-communicating network, as a function of the caching policies and of a current status of shared data that is stored at the network-based cache for the user; and at the computer, responding to a remote request for shared data by directing the transfer of shared data in the network-based cache over the packet-communicating network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor configured to respond to a content request from a remote user by authenticating the request as a function of authentication information provided by a registered user and information in the request, in response to the request being authenticated, ascertaining availability of the requested data at a network cache in accordance with caching rules specified by the registered user, in response to the requested data being available at the network cache and in accordance with the caching rules, selectively directing the transfer of the requested data from the network cache to the remote user at a remote packet-communicating device, and responsive to the availability of the requested data at the network cache and to the caching rules, selectively directing, via an established communications link, the transfer of the requested data from a registered user data source to the remote user at the remote packet-communicating terminal, wherein the registered user data source is configured to send data to the network cache by comparing information about the data to be sent with the information characterizing data previously sent to the network cache, and determining, via the comparison, whether the data to be sent is already in the network cache and, therefrom, sending a portion of the data that is not already in the network cache. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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at the network cache, receiving data from a registered-user data source over a packet-based network and in accordance with caching rules specified by a registered user of the data source; at the network cache, maintaining data received from the data source in accordance with the caching rules; and in response to a content request from a remote user, authenticating the request, and in response to the request being authenticated, transferring the requested data from the network cache to the remote user at a remote packet-communicating terminal, over a packet-based network.
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a network server processor; and a memory including computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following, administratively control registered user data sources to send user-provided data to a network cache in accordance with caching rules specified by a registered user, using a communications link initiated by each data source for transfer therefrom, in response to a content request from a remote user, authenticating the request as a function of authentication information provided by the registered user and information in the request, in response to the request being authenticated, ascertaining availability of the requested data at the network cache in accordance with the caching rules, in response to the requested data being available at the network cache and in accordance with the caching rules, selectively directing the transfer of the requested data from the network cache to the remote user at a remote packet-communicating terminal, and in response to the availability of the requested data at the network cache and to the caching rules, selectively directing, via the established communications link, the transfer of the requested data from the data source to the remote user at a remote packet-communicating terminal.
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Specification