Network Intermediary Caching Policy Feedback Loop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current caching systems lack an efficient mechanism for identifying and addressing caching inefficiencies in web sites, leading to suboptimal bandwidth savings, as existing solutions are often custom and manually applied without automated feedback on their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system that automatically collects and delivers data on caching policies from network intermediary devices, using data collection directives within policy updates to analyze and improve caching behaviors, providing periodic and randomized feedback communications to a policy analysis server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom caching policies are manually developed and distributed to individual customers, then specific caching problems can be addressed, but the process is tedious, haphazard, and lacks automated feedback to assess effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated feedback mechanisms where caching devices send performance data and policy effectiveness information back to the policy distribution server. This feedback loop allows the system to assess whether custom policies are working as intended and to refine policies based on actual performance metrics, eliminating the need for manual log analysis and customer follow-up.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically collecting performance data from caching devices and generating optimized policies without requiring manual customer intervention. The caching devices themselves provide the necessary performance data, and the system autonomously processes this information to create and distribute improved policies.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If voluminous log files are reviewed manually to develop custom solutions, then caching problems can be identified, but the process is tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (human reviewers examining log files) with automated electronic systems. The policy distribution server automatically collects, processes, and analyzes performance data from multiple caching devices, using algorithms to identify patterns and generate optimized policies without human intervention in the analysis phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and pre-processing performance data from caching devices in the background. This ongoing data collection and preliminary analysis prepares the system to quickly generate solutions when issues are detected, rather than starting from scratch when problems are reported.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate custom configuration files are distributed to customers through e-mail or forums, then individual caching issues can be addressed, but there is no guarantee the solution will work and no automated feedback mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a structured feedback mechanism where caching devices automatically report performance metrics and policy effectiveness to the policy distribution server. This allows the system to verify whether distributed policies are achieving their intended effects and to make data-driven adjustments, ensuring continuous improvement and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from distributing separate custom configuration files to a universal policy distribution platform that serves multiple customers simultaneously. The policy distribution server can distribute customized policies to specific devices while also identifying and distributing broadly applicable policies to multiple devices, increasing both adaptability and reliability through规模化 validation.
4Ease of operation
If knowledgeable customers manually install custom configuration files, then some caching problems can be solved, but the process requires customer expertise and there is no assurance of problem resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where caching devices automatically receive, install, and configure policies without requiring manual customer intervention. The devices autonomously communicate with the policy distribution server, download appropriate policies, and apply them according to pre-configured parameters, eliminating the need for customer expertise while ensuring consistent implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated feedback mechanism allows the system to verify whether installed policies are effectively resolving problems. The system receives performance data from devices, assesses whether issues are resolved, and can automatically distribute follow-up policies if needed, ensuring problem resolution without requiring customer follow-up or expertise.
Data Source
AI summary
Data useful in analyzing the effectiveness of policies for handling transactions involving client communications is automatically collected at network intermediary devices and delivered to an analysis server as part of feedback communications from the network intermediary devices. The data may be collected according to data collection directives distributed to the network intermediary devices along with updates to policies for handling transactions, those updates being configured to alter actions of the network intermediary devices, for example to accommodate changes in behaviors of content servers from which the network intermediary devices obtain content in connection with the client communications.