Content delivery network with deep caching infrastructure

• US 9,871,881 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crowe, James Q., Waters, Jr., John F., Dugan, Andrew, Newton, Christopher, Lipstone, Laurence, Brookman, Kenneth, Lawrence, Joseph, Swart, Andrew, Fullagar, David, Paul, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Jimmy H
• Application Number:
  US14/537,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20150067092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2885 Hierarchically arranged intermediate devices, e.g. for hierarchical caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics

Abstract

Embodiments herein include methods and systems for use in delivering resources to a client device over a local network. An exemplary system comprises a plurality of caching devices operable to cache resources on behalf of a plurality of content providers, and a local caching device communicatively situated between an access network and the client device, wherein the access network is communicably situated between the plurality of caching devices and the local caching device. The local caching device is operable to retrieve a requested resource from at least one of the plurality of caching devices, deliver the requested resource to the client device over the local network, and store the requested resource for future requests by other client devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a redirection server, situated within a wireless network and comprising at least one processor that is operatively connected to memory; and

a plurality of caching devices, each of the caching devices situated within the wireless network and comprising at least one processor that is operatively connected to memory;

wherein the redirection server is operable to;

intercept a request for a resource originating from a wireless client device connected to the wireless network, wherein the request is intercepted prior to the request exiting the wireless network;

determine whether to redirect the request to at least one of the plurality of caching devices within the wireless network or to forward the request to one or more content delivery network (CDN) caching devices that reside in a CDN that is separate from, but communicatively coupled to, the wireless network, wherein determining whether to redirect the request is based at least on popularity of a domain associated with the resource;

when the redirection server determines to send the request to at least one of the plurality of caching devices within the wireless network, select the at least one of the plurality of caching devices to deliver the requested resource to the wireless client device based on at least one of;

whether a caching device has the requested resource;

proximity of the caching device to the wireless client device; and

wireless network conditions; and

wherein the selected at least one caching device is operable to initiate delivery of the requested resource to the wireless client device from within the wireless network.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of caching devices are further operable to retrieve the requested resource from the one or more content delivery network (CDN) caching devices communicatively coupled with the wireless network.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the redirection server is operable to redirect the wireless client device to the at least one selected caching device for delivery of the requested resource.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the request is a Domain Name System (DNS) request.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the request is an application protocol request.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the application protocol request is a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the redirection server is situated within a cellular core network of the wireless network.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of caching devices is locally proximate to the wireless client device and is operable to wirelessly deliver the requested resource to the wireless client device.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the locally proximate caching device is operable to retrieve the requested resource from the one or more content delivery network (CDN) caching devices communicatively coupled with the wireless network.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the locally proximate caching device is a Wi-Fi hotspot.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of caching devices is situated within at least one of a cellular core network and a radio access network of the wireless network.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of caching devices is proximately situated with at least one of a radio network controller (RNC), a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN), and a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) of the wireless network.

13. A method comprising:

at a redirection server, intercept a request for a resource originating from a wireless client device connected to a wireless network, wherein the request is intercepted prior to the request exiting the wireless network;

determining, by the redirection server, whether to redirect the request to at least one of a plurality of caching devices within the wireless network or to forward the request to one or more content delivery network (CDN) caching devices that reside in a CDN that is separate from, but communicatively coupled to, the wireless network, wherein determining whether to redirect the request is based at least on popularity of a domain associated with the resource;

when the redirection server determines to send the request to at least one of the plurality of caching devices within the wireless network, selecting at least one caching device from the plurality of caching devices to deliver the requested resource to the wireless client device based on at least one of;

whether a caching device has the requested resource;

proximity of the caching device to the wireless client device; and

wireless network conditions, wherein the selected caching device is situated within the wireless network; and

by the selected at least one caching device, initiating delivery of the requested resource to the wireless client device from within the wireless network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the resource is stored on the one or more content delivery network (CDN) caching devices.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

retrieving, by the selected at least one caching device, the requested resource from the one or more content delivery network (CDN) caching devices.

16. A system comprising:

a redirection server, situated within a wireless network and comprising at least one processor that is operatively connected to memory;

wherein the redirection server is operable to;

intercept a request for a resource originating from a wireless client device connected to the wireless network, wherein the request is intercepted prior to the request exiting the wireless network;

determine whether to redirect the request to at least one of a plurality of caching devices within the wireless network or to forward the request to one or more content delivery network (CDN) caching devices that reside in a CDN that is separate from, but communicatively coupled to, the wireless network, wherein determining whether to redirect the request comprises determining whether a domain associated with the resource is adequately popular to merit replication at the at least one of the plurality of caching devices;

when it is determined to redirect the request to at least one of the plurality of caching devices within the wireless network, select the at least one caching device from the plurality of caching devices to deliver the requested resource to the wireless client device and cause the request to be redirected to the selected at least one caching device.