Dynamic CDN Selection via HTTP HEAD Metadata
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content delivery networks (CDNs) face inefficiencies when user devices request and download content to determine availability and permission, consuming network and processing resources, especially when multiple CDNs are queried for the same content, leading to delays in content delivery.
Innovation Solution
User devices can dynamically determine the optimal CDN to request content from by receiving information about availability, permission, and performance metrics without downloading chunks, using HTTP head requests to gather metadata and monitor network conditions, allowing for real-time CDN selection based on thresholds and user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user devices request and download content chunks to determine CDN availability and permission, then content delivery reliability is improved, but network resources and processing resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential information needed for CDN selection (availability, permission, performance metrics) from the full content chunks by using HTTP HEAD requests to retrieve only metadata. This allows the system to determine CDN suitability without downloading the actual content, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary CDN evaluation by requesting metadata before actual content delivery. By using HEAD requests to gather availability and performance information in advance, the system can select the optimal CDN beforehand, avoiding unnecessary content downloads and resource waste while ensuring reliable delivery.
2Reliability
If user devices request and download content chunks to determine CDN capability, then content delivery reliability is improved, but processing resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts critical CDN capability information (availability, permission status, performance metrics) from the content request process by using HEAD requests. This allows the user device to evaluate multiple CDNs and select the optimal one without downloading full content chunks, reducing processing resource consumption while maintaining delivery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of CDN capabilities by requesting metadata through HEAD requests before actual content delivery. This preliminary action enables the device to assess CDN performance and select the best candidate in advance, avoiding the need to process and analyze full content chunks for capability determination.
3Reliability
If user devices request content from multiple CDNs to determine optimal delivery, then content delivery reliability is improved, but time delay is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary CDN selection by using HTTP HEAD requests to gather availability and performance information from multiple CDNs before actual content delivery. This allows the system to identify the optimal CDN in advance and establish the connection beforehand, significantly reducing the time delay that would otherwise occur while evaluating multiple CDNs during content delivery.
4Reliability
If CDNs provide content chunks for user device analysis, then content delivery reliability is improved, but network resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the necessary information for CDN evaluation (availability, permission, performance metrics) from the content delivery process by using HTTP HEAD requests that retrieve only metadata. This allows CDNs to provide essential information for user device analysis without transferring full content chunks, thereby reducing network resource consumption while maintaining delivery reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A device can receive information related to an availability of content from multiple content delivery networks or a capability of the multiple content delivery networks to provide the content. The device can determine to receive a first portion of the content from a first content delivery network based on the information. The device can receive the first portion of the content from the first content delivery network. The device can receive additional information related to the availability of the content from the multiple content delivery networks or the capability of the multiple content delivery networks to provide the content. The device can determine to receive a second portion of the content from a second content delivery network based on the additional information. The device can receive the second portion of the content from the second content delivery network. The device can perform an action.