Enhancement of upload and/or download performance based on client and/or server feedback information

• US 8,745,267 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Luecke, Ryan, Queisser, Jeff, Lyons, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAZARO, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US13/969,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 709/241
• US Class Current: 709/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/124 using a combination of metrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing enhancement of upload and/or download performance based on client and/or server feedback information are disclosed. In an embodiment, the disclosed method detects that a data transfer event is about to occur and based on a set of characteristics associated with the data transfer event, selects a host from a group of hosts as a pathway for transferring data associated with the data transfer event to optimize data transfer performance. The group of hosts can include a server providing cloud-based collaboration and/or storage services, one or more content delivery network servers and/or geographically distributed edge servers.

Claims

1. A method of using feedback information to optimize data transfer performance, comprising:

detecting that a data transfer event is about to occur; and

based on a set of characteristics associated with the data transfer event, selecting a host from a group of hosts as a pathway for transferring data associated with the data transfer event to optimize data transfer performance;

wherein selecting the host from the group of hosts further comprises;

retrieving an aggregation profile corresponding to the set of characteristics;

wherein the aggregation profile is one of a plurality of aggregation profiles; and

wherein each aggregation profile is defined by the set of characteristics and comprises an aggregate speed and a data transfer count for each of the group of hosts;

wherein the set of characteristics comprises a partial or full Internet Protocol (IP) address, an operating system name associated with a client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transfer event comprises a request to upload the data to a cloud-based environment or a collaboration platform.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transfer event comprises a request to download the data from a cloud-based environment or a collaboration platform.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected host is the fastest host among the group of hosts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected host is the most reliable host among the group of hosts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transfer event originates at the client device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of characteristics associated with the data transfer event further comprises a browser name.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

randomly selecting the host from the group of hosts based on weights, wherein each host in the group of hosts is accorded a weight corresponding to the host'"'"'s aggregate speed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a host having the highest aggregate speed is selected more frequently than a host having the lowest or lower aggregate speed.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a speed with which the data associated with the data transfer event is transferred via the selected host; and

updating the aggregation profile corresponding to the set of characteristics associated with the data transfer event.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein updating the aggregation profile includes updating an aggregate speed and a data transfer count for the selected host.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each aggregation profile includes data aggregated from multiple users over a period of time.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of aggregation profiles are stored in a memcache, wherein the data in each of the plurality of aggregation profiles becomes out of date after a period of time.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of hosts comprises at least two of:

an edge server, a content delivery network server or a server hosting a cloud-based collaboration platform where the data associated with the data transfer event is stored or is to be stored.

15. A method of using feedback information to optimize upload performance, comprising:

receiving feedback information regarding a path to upload a file;

uploading the file to one of an array of paths based on the feedback information;

wherein the feedback information is specific to a set of characteristics associated with a client device;

wherein uploading the file to one of an array of paths further comprises;

retrieving an aggregation profile corresponding to the set of characteristics;

wherein the aggregation profile is one of a plurality of aggregation profiles; and

wherein each aggregation profile is defined by the set of characteristics and comprises an aggregate speed and a data transfer count for each of the array of paths;

wherein the set of characteristics comprises a partial or full IP address and an operating system name associated with a client device.

16. A system for enhancing upload performance, comprising:

a memory;

a processor disposed in communication with the memory, and configured to observe upload of files through multiple pathways; and

identify a pathway from the multiple pathways that is fastest for a given set of characteristics;

wherein identifying a pathway from the multiple pathways further comprises;

retrieving an aggregation profile corresponding to the set of characteristics;

wherein the aggregation profile is one of a plurality of aggregation profiles; and

wherein each aggregation profile is defined by the set of characteristics and comprises an aggregate speed and a data transfer count for each of the multiple pathways;

wherein the set of characteristics comprises a partial or full IP address and an operating system name associated with a client device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the upload of files through the multiple pathways originates from multiple client devices, each of which has an associated set of characteristics.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the set of characteristics comprises a partial or full Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser information and operating system information.

19. The system of claim 16, further configured to:

aggregate some of information from the observation into groups,

wherein each group is defined by a set of characteristics, and

wherein the aggregated information is stored in a memcache.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the aggregated information stored in the memcache becomes invalid after a period of time.

21. The system of claim 19, further configured to:

aggregate all of the information from the observation in a persistent datastore, wherein the information in the persistent datastore is used to repopulate the memcache in the event that the aggregated information stored in the memcache is lost.