CACHING DIRECTIVES FOR A FILE DELIVERY PROTOCOL

• US 20080046575A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bouazizi, Imed
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

Abstract

An extension to a file delivery protocol which permits the signaling of cache control information to a receiving device. Various embodiments of the present invention permit a server or other sending device to signal instructions regarding cache control to a receiving device using the file delivery protocol. This signaling may include information such as whether the receiving device should cache a file, how long the file should be cached for, and/or a cache priority assignment for the file. Various embodiments of the present invention may be particularly useful in the transmission of rich media content, where some content may be sent over RTP while other information is transmitted via the file delivery protocol.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

preparing an extension mechanism in accordance with a file delivery protocol for at least one file, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of the at least one file by a receiving device; and

transmitting the extension mechanism including the at least one instruction to the receiving device using the file delivery protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a Layered Coding Transport header.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one instruction directs the receiving device not to cache the at least one file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one instruction directs the receiving device to cache the at least one file for an indefinite period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one instruction directs the receiving device to cache the at least one file until a specified time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one instruction assigns a priority level to the at least one file for use by the receiving device in deciding whether the at least one file should no longer be cached.

8. A computer program product, embodied in a computer-readable medium, comprising computer code configured to perform the processes of claim 1.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including;

computer code for preparing an extension mechanism in accordance with a file delivery protocol for at least one file, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of the at least one file by a receiving device, and

computer code for transmitting the extension mechanism including the at least one instruction to the receiving device using the file delivery protocol.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a Layered Coding Transport header.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one instruction directs the receiving device not to cache the at least one file.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one instruction directs the receiving device to cache the at least one file for an indefinite period of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one instruction directs the receiving device to cache the at least one file until a specified time.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one instruction assigns a priority level to the at least one file for use by the receiving device in deciding whether the at least one file should no longer be cached.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including;

computer code for preparing an extension mechanism in accordance with a file delivery protocol for at least one file, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of the at least one file by at least one receiving device, and

computer code for forwarding the extension mechanism including the at least one instruction to at least one other connected device using the file delivery protocol.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving an extension mechanism via a file delivery protocol from a sending device, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of at least one file; and

selectively caching the at least one file in accordance with the at least one instruction.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a Layered Coding Transport header.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one instruction comprises an instruction not to cache the at least one file.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one instruction comprises an instruction to cache the at least one file for an indefinite period of time.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one instruction comprises an instruction to cache the at least one file until a specified time.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one instruction assigns a priority level to the at least one file for use in deciding whether the at least one file should no longer be cached.

24. A computer program product, embodied in a computer-readable medium, comprising computer code configured to perform the processes of claim 17.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including;

computer code for receiving an extension mechanism via a file delivery protocol from a sending device, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of at least one file; and

computer code for selectively caching the at least one file in accordance with the at least one instruction.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a Layered Coding Transport header.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one instruction comprises an instruction not to cache the at least one file.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one instruction comprises an instruction to cache the at least one file for an indefinite period of time.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one instruction comprises an instruction to cache the at least one file until a specified time.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one instruction assigns a priority level to the at least one file for use in deciding whether the at least one file should no longer be cached.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including;

computer code for processing an extension mechanism constructed in accordance with a file delivery protocol, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of at least one file.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a Layered Coding Transport header.

35. A system, comprising:

a sending device configured to;

prepare an extension mechanism in accordance with a file delivery protocol for at least one file, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of the at least one file, and

transmit the extension mechanism including the at least one instruction using the file delivery protocol; and

a receiving device in at least selective communication with the sending device, the receiving device configured to;

receive the extension mechanism via the file delivery protocol from the sending device, and

selectively caching the at least one file in accordance with the at least one instruction.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a Layered Coding Transport header.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

means for preparing an extension mechanism in accordance with a file delivery protocol for at least one file, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of the at least one file by a receiving device, and

means for transmitting the extension mechanism including the at least one instruction to the receiving device using the file delivery protocol.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving an extension mechanism via a file delivery protocol from a sending device, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of at least one file; and

means for selectively caching the at least one file in accordance with the at least one instruction.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

means for processing an extension mechanism constructed in accordance with a file delivery protocol, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of at least one file.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

means for preparing an extension mechanism in accordance with a file delivery protocol for at least one file, the extension mechanism including at least one instruction relating to the caching of the at least one file by at least one receiving device, and

means for forwarding the extension mechanism including the at least one instruction to at least one other connected device using the file delivery protocol.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the extension mechanism comprises code within the file delivery table extensible markup language schema for the File Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport protocol.