Devices and methods supporting content delivery with adaptation services with feedback

• US 9,634,906 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandpiper CDN, LLC (Theseus LF Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Varney, Lewis Robert, Lipstone, Laurence R., Crowder, William, Swart, Andrew, Newton, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US13/838,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20140173029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0808 with cache invalidating means G06F12/0815 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5041 characterised by the time relationship between creation and deployment of a service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 : Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 : using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 : using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/58 : Caching of addresses or names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 : Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 : Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2885 : Hierarchically arranged intermediate devices, e.g. for hierarchical caching
• 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 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 : Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 : Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244

Abstract

A device supporting content delivery is configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services include adaptation services with feedback.

Claims

1. A device, operable in a system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, each computer configured to run at least two content delivery (CD) services of a plurality of CD services, wherein said plurality of CD services include:

adaptation services, collector services, and control services, and wherein a first at least some of said plurality of computers run first control services, and a second at least some of said plurality of computers run collector services, wherein said at least some of said computers running collector services comprise a collector services network,

said device comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor and;

(a) a first CD service, wherein said first CD service;

(a)(1) generates first information relating to operation of said first CD service; and

(a)(2) provides at least some of said first information to at least one other CD service, said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

(b) a second CD service, wherein said second CD service controls CD services on said device in response to service configuration information obtained by said second CD service at said device from said first control services, wherein said second CD service controls said first CD service based on first CD service configuration information obtained by said second CD service, wherein said first CD service configuration information is based on said first information provided by said first CD service in (a)(2),

wherein (A) at least some of said plurality of CD services produce event output relating to operation of said at least some of said plurality of CD services; and

wherein (B) at least some of said event output from at least some of said plurality of CD services is provided as event input to at least one other CD service, said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

wherein (C) said collector services network provides state information to said first control services, said state information being based on said event input from said plurality of CD services, and wherein (D) at least some of said first control services provide control information to said plurality of CD services, at least some of said control information being based on state information from the collector services network, and wherein (E) said plurality of CD services further include reducer services, wherein at least some of said computers run reducer services, said at least some of said computers running reducer services comprise a reducer services network; and

wherein (F) at least some of said reducer services in said reducer services network provide event output to at least some collector services in said collector services network, said event output being based on event output from said at least some of said plurality of CD services, and wherein (G) said at least one other CD service to which event output is provided as event input comprises at least one reducer service from said reducer services network.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the second CD service is an adaptation service.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said adaptation service is provisioned on said device in an out-of-band process.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first CD service configuration information obtained from the first control services is generated by said first control services.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said first CD service configuration information is based on:

(i) said first information provided by said first CD service in (a)(2); and

(ii) at least some event output from at least one other CD service in said system other than said first CD service.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes another CD service running on said device.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said other CD service running on said device is a third CD service that monitors operational health of the device.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes another CD service running on another device distinct from said device.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said other CD service running on said another device is a third CD service that monitors operational health of the other device.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein each CD service of said plurality of CD services has a plurality of operating states, and wherein the second CD service on a particular device monitors an operating state of each CD service on said particular device.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the second CD service monitors an operating state of the first CD service using information in the first CD service configuration information.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the second CD service on the device obtains operating state information about a CD service on said device using information obtained from the first control services.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided to the collector services network.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided indirectly to the collector services network.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein said first CD service:

(a)(3) provides at least some of said first information to at least one reducer service in said reducer services network; and

wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided to at least one of (i) the collector services network, and (ii) the reducer services network.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the second CD service instructs a CD service on said device to be in a specific operating state.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the second CD service instructs the first CD service on said device to be in a specific operating state based on said first CD service configuration information obtained by said second CD service from the first control services.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the second CD service causes the first CD service to terminate.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein said second CD service:

(b)(1) generates second information relating to operation of said second CD service; and

(b)(2) provides at least some of said second information to a second at least one collector service in said collector services network.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the second CD service provides said at least some of said second information indirectly to said second at least one collector service in said collector services network.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said second CD service:

(b)(1) generates second information relating to operation of said second CD service; and

(b)(2) provides at least some of said second information to a second at least one (i) collector service in said the collector services network, and (ii) reducer service in said the reducer services network.

22. An article of manufacture, comprising non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions for implementing a computer-implemented method, said method operable in a system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, each computer configured to run at least two content delivery (CD) services of a plurality of CD services, wherein said plurality of CD services include:

adaptation services, collector services, and control services, and wherein a first at least some of said plurality of computers run first control services, and wherein a second at least some of said computers run collector services, and wherein said at least some of said computers running collector services comprise a collector services network, and wherein at least some of said plurality of CD services produce event output;

the method comprising, on a particular computer of said plurality of computers, and using hardware, including memory and at least one processor, of said particular computer;

(a) by a first CD service on said particular computer;

(a)(1) generating first information relating to operation of said first CD service; and

(a)(2) providing at least some of said first information to at least one other CD service,

said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

(b) by a second CD service on said particular computer;

(b)(1) obtaining service configuration information from said first control services; and

(b)(2) controlling CD services on said particular computer based on said service configuration information,

wherein said second CD service controls said first CD service based on first CD service configuration information obtained by said second CD service, wherein said first CD service configuration information is based on said first information provided by said first CD service in (a)(2),

wherein (A) at least some of said event output from at least some of said plurality of CD services is provided as event input to at least one other CD service, said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

wherein (B) said collector services network provides state information to said first control services, said state information being based on said event input from said plurality of CD services, and wherein (C) at least some of said first control services provide control information to said plurality of CD services, at least some of said control information being based on state information from the collector services network, wherein (D) said plurality of CD services further include reducer services, wherein at least some of said computers run reducer services, said at least some of said computers running reducer services comprise a reducer services network; and

wherein (E) at least some of said reducer services in said reducer services network provide event output to at least some collector services in said collector services network, said event output being based on event output from said at least some of said plurality of CD services, and wherein (F) said at least one other CD service to which event output is provided comprises at least one reducer service from said reducer services network.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein the second CD service is an adaptation service.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23 wherein said adaptation service is provisioned on said particular computer in an out-of-band process.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein the first CD service configuration information obtained from the first control services is generated by said first control services.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein said first CD service configuration information is based on:

(i) said first information provided by said first CD service in (a)(2); and

(ii) at least some event output from at least one other CD service in said system other than said first CD service.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes a particular other CD service running on said particular computer.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27 wherein said particular other CD service running on said particular computer is a third CD service that monitors operational health of the particular computer.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 26 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes a particular other CD service running on another device distinct from said particular computer.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29 wherein said particular other CD service running on said another device is a third CD service that monitors operational health of the other device.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein each CD service of said plurality of CD services has a plurality of operating states, and wherein the second CD service on said particular computer monitors an operating state of each CD service on said particular computer.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein the second CD service monitors an operating state of the first CD service using information in the first CD service configuration information.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein the second CD service on the particular computer obtains operating state information about a CD service on said particular computer using information obtained from the first control services.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 33 wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided to the collector services network.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 34 wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided indirectly to the collector services network.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 34 wherein said first CD service:

(a)(3) provides at least some of said first information to at least one reducer service in said reducer services network; and

wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided to at least one of (i) the collector services network, and (ii) the reducer services network.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein the second CD service instructs a CD service on said particular computer to be in a specific operating state.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 37 wherein the second CD service instructs the first CD service on said particular computer to be in a specific operating state based on said first CD service configuration information obtained by said second CD service from the first control services.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38 wherein the second CD service causes the first CD service to terminate.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein said second CD service:

(b)(3) generates second information relating to operation of said second CD service; and

(b)(4) provides at least some of said second information to a second at least one collector service in said collector services network.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 40 wherein the second CD service provides said at least some of said second information indirectly to said second at least one collector service in said collector services network.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein said second CD service:

(b)(3) generates second information relating to operation of said second CD service; and

(b)(4) provides at least some of said second information to a second at least one (i) collector service in said the collector services network, and (ii) reducer service in said the reducer services network.

43. A device, operable in a system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, each computer configured to run at least two content delivery (CD) services of a plurality of CD services, wherein said plurality of CD services include:

adaptation services, collector services, and control services, and wherein a first at least some of said plurality of computers run first control services, and a second at least some of said plurality of computers run collector services, wherein said at least some of said computers running collector services comprise a collector services network,

said device comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor and;

(a) a first CD service, wherein said first CD service;

(a)(1) generates first information relating to operation of said first CD service; and

(a)(2) provides at least some of said first information to at least one other CD service, said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

(b) an adaptation service, wherein said adaptation service controls CD services on said device in response to service configuration information obtained by said adaptation service at said device from said first control services, wherein said adaptation service controls said first CD service based on first CD service configuration information obtained by said adaptation service, wherein said first CD service configuration information is based on;

(i) said first information provided by said first CD service in (a)(2); and

(ii) at least some event output from at least one other CD service in said system other than said first CD service,

wherein

(A) at least some of said plurality of CD services produce event output relating to operation of said at least some of said plurality of CD services; and

wherein (B) at least some of said event output from at least some of said plurality of CD services is provided as event input to at least one other CD service, said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

wherein (C) said collector services network provides state information to said first control services, said state information being based on said event input from said plurality of CD services, and wherein (D) at least some of said first control services provide control information to said plurality of CD services, at least some of said control information being based on state information from the collector services network, wherein said plurality of CD services further include reducer services, wherein at least some of said computers run reducer services, said at least some of said computers running reducer services comprise a reducer services network; and

wherein at least some of said reducer services in said reducer services network provide event output to at least some collector services in said collector services network, said event output being based on event output from said at least some of said plurality of CD services, and wherein said at least one other CD service to which event output is provided as event input comprises at least one reducer service from said reducer services network.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes another CD service running on said device.

45. The device of claim 43 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes another CD service running on another device distinct from said device.

46. The device of claim 45 wherein said other CD service running on said another device is a third CD service that monitors operational health of the other device.

47. A computer-implemented method, said method operable in a system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor, each computer configured to run at least two content delivery (CD) services of a plurality of CD services, wherein said plurality of CD services include:

adaptation services, collector services, and control services, and wherein a first at least some of said plurality of computers run first control services, and wherein a second at least some of said computers run collector services, and wherein said at least some of said computers running collector services comprise a collector services network, and wherein at least some of said plurality of CD services produce event output;

the method comprising, on a particular computer of said plurality of computers, and using hardware, including memory and at least one processor, of said particular computer;

(a) by a first CD service on said particular computer;

(a)(1) generating first information relating to operation of said first CD service; and

(a)(2) providing at least some of said first information to at least one other CD service,

said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

(b) by a second CD service on said particular computer;

(b)(1) obtaining service configuration information from said first control services; and

(b)(2) controlling CD services on said particular computer based on said service configuration information,

wherein said second CD service controls said first CD service based on first CD service configuration information obtained by said second CD service, wherein said first CD service configuration information is based on said first information provided by said first CD service in (a)(2),

wherein (A) at least some of said event output from at least some of said plurality of CD services is provided as event input to said at least one other CD service, said at least one other CD service comprising at least one collector service in said collector services network; and

wherein (B) said collector services network provides state information to said first control services, said state information being based on said event input from said plurality of CD services, and wherein (C) at least some of said first control services provide control information to said plurality of CD services, at least some of said control information being based on state information from the collector services network, wherein (D) said plurality of CD services further include reducer services, wherein at least some of said computers run reducer services, said at least some of said computers running reducer services comprise a reducer services network; and

wherein (E) at least some of said reducer services in said reducer services network provide event output to at least some collector services in said collector services network, said event output being based on event output from said at least some of said plurality of CD services, and wherein (F) said at least one other CD service to which event output is provided comprises at least one reducer service from said reducer services network.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the second CD service is an adaptation service.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said adaptation service is provisioned on said particular computer in an out-of-band process.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the first CD service configuration information obtained from the first control services is generated by said first control services.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein said first CD service configuration information is based on:

(i) said first information provided by said first CD service in (a)(2); and

(ii) at least some event output from at least one other CD service in said system other than said first CD service.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes a particular other CD service running on said particular computer.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said particular other CD service running on said particular computer is a third CD service that monitors operational health of the particular computer.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein said at least one other CD service in said system that produced said at least some event output includes a particular other CD service running on another device distinct from said particular computer.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein said particular other CD service running on said another device is a third CD service that monitors operational health of the other device.

56. The method of claim 47 wherein each CD service of said plurality of CD services has a plurality of operating states, and wherein the second CD service on said particular computer monitors an operating state of each CD service on said particular computer.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the second CD service monitors an operating state of the first CD service using information in the first CD service configuration information.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the second CD service on the particular computer obtains operating state information about a CD service on said particular computer using information obtained from the first control services.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided to the collector services network.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided indirectly to the collector services network.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein said first CD service:

(a)(3) provides at least some of said first information to at least one reducer service in said reducer services network; and

wherein the first control services determine the operating state of the first CD service using said first information generated by the first CD service and provided to at least one of (i) the collector services network, and (ii) the reducer services network.

62. The method of claim 56 wherein the second CD service instructs a CD service on said particular computer to be in a specific operating state.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the second CD service instructs the first CD service on said particular computer to be in a specific operating state based on said first CD service configuration information obtained by said second CD service from the first control services.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the second CD service causes the first CD service to terminate.

65. The method of claim 47 wherein said second CD service:

(b)(3) generates second information relating to operation of said second CD service; and

(b)(4) provides at least some of said second information to a second at least one collector service in said collector services network.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the second CD service provides said at least some of said second information indirectly to said second at least one collector service in said collector services network.

67. The method of claim 47 wherein said second CD service:

(b)(3) generates second information relating to operation of said second CD service; and

(b)(4) provides at least some of said second information to a second at least one (i) collector service in said the collector services network, and (ii) reducer service in said the reducer services network.