Custom Tracking System for CDN Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content delivery networks (CDNs) face challenges in rapid provisioning of files to multiple locations and lack knowledge of which files are provisioned on which servers, leading to delays when users are directed to edge nodes without the desired content.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a custom tracking system that propagates operator tracking preferences to edge nodes, allowing for efficient tracking of content delivery data and utilizing an inventory server to map content items to delivery servers, enabling redirection of users to the correct server based on content location, and streamlining usage tracking through log message cross-tabulation and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all files are provisioned on all edge nodes, then content availability is improved, but storage burden and provisioning complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized inventory server as an intermediary between content providers and edge nodes. This server maintains a comprehensive mapping of which content items are stored on which delivery servers, allowing the system to achieve content availability without requiring all files to be provisioned on all edge nodes. The inventory server mediates user requests by directing them to the appropriate delivery server based on the current content location.
2Quantity of substance
If files are provisioned on fewer servers, then storage burden is reduced, but user access speed deteriorates due to redirection delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining an up-to-date inventory of content locations across all delivery servers. Before users need to access content, the inventory server already knows where each content item is stored and can immediately redirect users to the correct server. This eliminates the need for users to traverse multiple servers or experience delays searching for content.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive tracking of all delivery data is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but storage burden and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and tracks only the essential usage data that is most valuable to content providers, rather than comprehensively tracking all possible delivery parameters. The custom tracking system allows content providers to specify which types of usage data they want to monitor, extracting only the relevant information needed for their specific needs while minimizing storage and processing requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom tracking preferences are propagated to all edge nodes, then tracking versatility is improved, but network communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inventory server is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a content location registry and as a tracking preference distribution mechanism. By consolidating these functions in a single server, the system avoids the need to propagate tracking preferences to numerous edge nodes, thereby reducing network communication overhead while still providing versatile tracking capabilities through the centralized server.
Data Source
AI summary
A custom tracking system can provide functionality for operators of content sites to specify types of content delivery data to be tracked in a content delivery network. The custom tracking system can propagate operator tracking preferences to edge nodes in the content delivery network, such as delivery servers, which can track delivery data according to the preferences. The custom tracking system can use one or more tracking filters to reduce the storage burden of certain tracking requests while still providing relevant results. The custom tracking system can output results of the custom tracking for presentation to the content site operator.