Group-Based Content Caching for Mobile Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional content delivery systems for mobile devices face challenges in efficiently delivering media content due to user mobility and varying network conditions, leading to increased network traffic as they typically cache content in a single location, which is insufficient for devices with mobility.
Innovation Solution
A network architecture that includes a recommender, content delivery system, and grouping service, which associates users into groups based on shared interests and geographical proximity, allowing for proactive caching decisions based on user behavior and location, ensuring content is cached in optimal locations and retained until all group members have accessed it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If content is cached in a single location for stationary devices, then cache hit rate is improved, but network traffic reduction is insufficient for mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the caching function across multiple CDN nodes distributed at different network locations (edge nodes, regional sites, user premises). Instead of a single centralized cache, content is divided and cached at multiple strategic points in the network, allowing mobile users to access content from the nearest available cache regardless of their movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic content caching that adapts to user mobility patterns. The system monitors user movement and network conditions, dynamically deciding which content to prefetch and where to cache it. Caching decisions are adjusted in real-time based on user location changes, ensuring content remains accessible as users move between network attachment points.
2Reliability
If content is pre-fetched based on individual user preferences, then user experience is improved, but network traffic and cache utilization are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges content requests from multiple users into group-based caching decisions. Users with similar content consumption patterns or those in the same geographic area are grouped together, and content is cached once at a shared location for the entire group. This eliminates redundant storage of identical content across multiple individual caches while ensuring availability for all group members.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the caching parameter from individual user-specific content to group-based content. By aggregating user profiles and analyzing common content preferences at the group level, the system determines which content to prefetch and cache. This parameter change from individual to collective caching reduces overall network traffic while maintaining content availability for multiple users simultaneously.
3Speed
If CDN nodes are placed closer to users for mobile devices, then content access speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the CDN architecture into the mobile device itself by placing caching capabilities within the user's mobile terminal. This creates a new dimension in the content delivery hierarchy, where the device becomes an active caching node. Content is downloaded to the device during favorable network conditions and stored locally, providing fast access without requiring complex distributed caching at every network infrastructure point.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to certain embodiments, a network node comprises processing circuitry and computer executable program code. When executed by the processing circuitry, the computer executable program causes the network node to perform actions. The actions comprise obtaining grouping information that associates a plurality of users with a group and determining, based on the grouping information, content to be cached near the users that are associated with the group. The actions facilitate caching the content in one or more caches. The one or more caches are selected from a plurality of caches based at least in part on proximity to the users associated with the group.