Replacement time based caching for providing server-hosted content

• US 9,122,766 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: von Haden, Kyle Matthew, Heaney, Ryan Patrick, Blendea, Neculai
• Primary Examiner(s): KATSIKIS, KOSTAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/604,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

Abstract

A system is provided in which two sets of content are cached in a corresponding two caches—a current cache and a next cache. A client renders content in the current cache and uses the next cache to define the expiration for the content in the current cache as well as provide the replacement content when the current content expires. When a client application renders the content in the current cache, the application checks whether the expiration for the current cache has been reached according to the expiration defined by the content in the next cache (which is not being rendered). If the expiration has been reached, the content in the next cache is moved to the current cache and rendered. New content can then be downloaded to fill the next cache and define the expiration for the content formerly in the next cache but now in the current cache.

Claims

1. A method of providing server-hosted content on a client device, the method comprising:

receiving a prior package;

receiving a subsequent package;

storing a current content received with the prior package in a current cache associated with a client application;

storing a next content received with the subsequent package in a next cache associated with the client application; and

assigning an expiration time to the current content received with the prior package using a read value received with the next content of the subsequent package.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering the current content; and

moving the next content to the current cache after the expiration time for the current content is reached or passes.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, after the subsequent package, a third package comprising a third value and a third content;

assigning an expiration time for the next content stored in the current cache by using the third value; and

rendering the next content stored in the current cache.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising checking a content server for replacement content for the next content before the expiration time for the current content is reached or passes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the expiration time to the current content received with the prior package using the read value received with the next content of the subsequent package comprises:

setting the expiration time for the current content received with the prior package as a number of milestones multiplied by the read value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the read value indicates an amount of time until the current content expires, wherein assigning the expiration time to the current content received with the prior package using the read value received with the next content of the subsequent package comprises:

setting the expiration time for the current content received with the prior package to a time the prior package was received plus the read value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the read value indicates a day and time for the current content to expire, wherein assigning the expiration time to the current content received with the prior package using the read value received with the next content of the subsequent package comprises:

setting the expiration time for the current content received with the prior package to the day and time for the current content to expire indicated by the read value.

8. A computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:

instantiating a client application comprising two caches associated therewith;

rendering a first content stored in a first cache of the two caches associated with the client application;

storing a next content in a second cache of the two caches associated with the client application, the next content being received after the first content; and

maintaining the first content associated with the client application as valid until an expiration time for the first content is determined to lapse, wherein a next expiration information included with the next content provides the expiration time for the first content.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

moving the next content to the first cache after the expiration time lapses;

storing a third content in the second cache, the third content being received after the next content, wherein a third expiration information included with the third provides a next expiration time for the next content; and

rendering the next content stored in the first cache.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the next expiration information included with the next content comprises an expiration value for the first content,

wherein maintaining the first content associated with the client application as valid until the expiration time for the first content is determined to lapse comprises:

setting the expiration time for the first content as a number of milestones multiplied by the expiration value; and

checking the expiration time to determine whether the expiration time has been reached, a result that the expiration time has been reached indicating that the expiration time has lapsed and a result that the expiration time has not been reached indicating that the first content is valid.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the next expiration information included with the next content comprises an expiration value for the first content, the expiration value indicating an amount of time,

wherein maintaining the first content associated with the client application as valid until the expiration time for the first content is determined to lapse comprises:

setting the expiration time for the first content to a time the next content is received plus the amount of time indicated by the expiration value; and

checking the expiration time to determine whether the expiration time has been reached, a result that the expiration time has been reached indicating that the expiration time has lapsed and a result that the expiration time has not been reached indicating that the first content is valid.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the next expiration information included with the next content comprises an expiration value for the first content, the expiration value indicating a day and time,

wherein maintaining the first content associated with the client application as valid until the expiration time for the first content is determined to lapse comprises:

setting the expiration time for the first content to the day and time indicated by the expiration value; and

checking the expiration time to determine whether the expiration time has been reached, a result that the expiration time has been reached indicating that the expiration time has lapsed and a result that the expiration time has not been reached indicating that the first content is valid.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises checking a content server for replacement content for the next content before the expiration time for the first content lapses.

14. A system for replacement time-based caching, the system comprising:

one or more memory devices;

a current cache stored on the one or more memory devices;

a next cache stored on the one or more memory devices; and

a processor coupled to the one or more memory devices, the processor operating to;

instantiate a client application, the current cache and the next cache being associated with the client application;

render a first content stored in the current cache; and

maintain the first content as valid until an expiration time for the first content is determined to lapse, wherein a next expiration information included with a next content stored in the next cache provides the expiration time for the first content.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further operating to:

store the next content in the current cache when the expiration time for the first content is determined to lapse;

store a third content in the next cache, wherein a third expiration information included with the third content provides a next expiration time for the next content; and

render the next content stored in the current cache.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein to maintain the first content as valid until the expiration time for the first content is determined to lapse, the processor operates to:

set the expiration time for the first content using the next expiration information included with the next content, wherein the next expiration information comprises an expiration value for the first content; and

check the expiration time to determine whether the expiration time has been reached, a result that the expiration time has been reached indicating that the expiration time has lapsed and a result that the expiration time has not been reached indicating that the first content is valid.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein to set the expiration time for the first content using the next expiration information included with the next content, the processor operates to:

set the expiration time for the first content as a number of milestones multiplied by the expiration value.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the expiration value indicates an amount of time,

wherein to set the expiration time for the first content using the next expiration information included with the next content, the processor operates to:

set the expiration time for the first content to a time the next content is received plus the amount of time indicated by the expiration value.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the expiration value indicates a day and time,

wherein to set the expiration time for the first content using the next expiration information included with the next content, the processor operates to:

set the expiration time for the first content to the day and time indicated by the expiration value.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further operating to check a content server for replacement content for the next content before the expiration time for the current content is determined to lapse.