Dynamic CDN Configuration for Origin Server Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content delivery networks (CDNs) face challenges in maintaining an optimal hit:cache ratio and protecting the origin server from overuse, leading to increased latency and decreased performance, especially in variable user demand scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The method involves measuring operating parameters and time to live (TTL) of data caches in CDNs, dynamically altering configurations, and aggregating a second CDN with the same origin server to optimize the hit:cache ratio, thereby reducing download times and maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If CDN configurations are statically optimized, then initial performance is improved, but adaptability to variable user demand deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic CDN configuration by continuously monitoring operating parameters (CPU utilization, memory usage, disk I/O, network bandwidth) and automatically adjusting CDN splicing decisions based on real-time conditions. This transforms the static optimization approach into a dynamic system that adapts to variable user demand patterns, resolving the contradiction between initial performance optimization and adaptability.
2Reliability
If origin server capacity is increased, then service availability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces CDN nodes as intermediary elements between the origin server and end users. By splicing CDN configurations dynamically based on monitored operating parameters, the system distributes content delivery load across multiple CDN nodes, reducing direct traffic to the origin server and improving service availability without proportionally increasing origin server capacity or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the content delivery function by separating origin servers from CDN edge nodes. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component - origin servers focus on content management while CDN nodes handle content delivery, distributing system complexity across multiple specialized components rather than concentrating it in the origin server.
3Speed
If CDN nodes are added to distribute content, then content delivery speed is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic splicing of CDN configurations based on real-time monitoring of operating parameters. Instead of statically adding all possible CDN nodes, the system dynamically determines which CDN nodes to activate and how to route traffic based on current network conditions, origin server load, and user demand patterns. This dynamic approach optimizes content delivery speed while managing network complexity through adaptive rather than exhaustive node deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes: measuring, by a computer device, a current value of an operating parameter of an origin server in an existing content delivery network (CDN) having a number of other servers, the other servers being servers other than the origin; determining, by the computer device, that the current value of the operating parameter is outside of an acceptable range for the operating parameter; measuring, by the computer device, a time to live (TTL) of data caches on a plurality of the other servers of the existing CDN; and determining, by the computer device and based on the measuring of the TTL, an alteration to a configuration of the other servers in the existing CDN that changes the current value of the operating parameter to a value inside the acceptable range.