Edge Node Control Object for Uniform CDN Request Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content delivery networks (CDNs) face complexity due to varied and customized programming across different servers for handling content requests and responses, leading to inefficiencies and redundant authentication processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a standardized system where edge nodes receive a control object with sheets implementing customer business logic, allowing them to uniformly process and transmit content requests and responses, thereby reducing the need for customized programming and eliminating redundant authentication across servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different servers in the CDN are configured to process and respond to content requests in varied ways, then the CDN can handle diverse content delivery scenarios, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control object structure that can be applied across all CDN servers (edge nodes, cache servers, origin servers). This control object contains standardized fields for client information, requested content, and authentication data, allowing a single unified processing framework to handle diverse content delivery scenarios without requiring custom configurations for each server type or scenario.
2Reliability
If multiple servers attempt to authenticate the same client, then authentication can be performed at multiple checkpoints, but computational resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs authentication at the edge node, which is the first point of contact for client requests. The authentication result is then cached and propagated through the control object to downstream servers (cache servers and origin servers). This preliminary authentication action eliminates the need for redundant authentication attempts at subsequent servers, reducing computational waste while maintaining security through multi-point verification of the authentication status.
Solution Approach 2:
The control object serves as a feedback mechanism that carries authentication results from the edge node through the CDN hierarchy. Each server receives the control object with embedded authentication information and can verify the client's authenticated status without performing duplicate authentication operations. This feedback loop ensures authentication reliability while preventing computational resource waste.
3Productivity
If customized programming is implemented across different CDN servers, then specific business logic can be optimized, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a standardized control object structure with specific fields (client information, requested content, authentication data) that can be uniformly processed across all servers. This parameter-based approach allows different business logic to be implemented through configuration of the control object fields rather than through customized programming, maintaining productivity while improving ease of operation. The same control object format works across edge nodes, cache servers, and origin servers without requiring server-specific code modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein relate to standardizing content requests and responses in a content delivery network (CDN). An edge node receives a control object including sets of instructions each implementing portions of a customer's business logic. The edge node may receive, from a client, a content request identifying a content item, and may apply a set of the instructions which causes the edge node to (i) determine whether any changes are needed for the benefit of a cache server and whether any changes are need for the benefit of an origin server, and (ii) generate a processed client request identifying the content item and including, if needed, any changes for the benefit of the cache server and the origin server. The edge node transmits the processed client request to the cache server, receives a response from the cache server, and transmits a processed client response to the client.