HTTP Session Management via Secure Tokens in CDNs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Content delivery networks using HTTP lack control over client requests, as web server technologies treat servers as independent entities without an overarching management system, leading to challenges in managing and terminating sessions, especially regarding bandwidth usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses secure tokens with session identification credentials to validate and manage HTTP sessions, allowing operators to redirect requests, throttle, and terminate sessions based on business rules, thereby providing global control over HTTP sessions in content delivery networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If HTTP content delivery utilizes web server technologies with independent entities, then ease of operation is improved, but control over client requests deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidcontrol over client requests

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a session management system as an intermediary between independent web servers and client devices. This mediator tracks HTTP sessions, validates requests, and enforces bandwidth policies across the distributed server infrastructure, providing centralized control without compromising the independence of individual web server entities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The session management system performs multiple functions including session tracking, request validation, bandwidth throttling, and client identification. By consolidating these control functions into a universal management layer, the system maintains ease of operation through standardized interfaces while achieving comprehensive control over client requests across all web servers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If web servers are treated as independent entities without overarching control, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to terminate sessions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidability to terminate sessions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The session management system implements feedback mechanisms where servers report session information to the management system, which then responds with control decisions. This automated feedback loop enables the system to track active sessions, identify policy violations, and automatically terminate sessions that exceed bandwidth limits or violate access policies, all without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The management system acts as an intermediary that receives session information from independent servers and returns termination commands when necessary. This mediator approach allows servers to remain relatively simple while the intermediary provides sophisticated automated session management capabilities across the entire network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If no session tracking is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but bandwidth management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidbandwidth usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback by tracking session identifiers and bandwidth consumption in real-time. The session management system receives updates from servers about active sessions and their resource usage, then automatically enforces bandwidth policies by throttling or terminating sessions that exceed allocated limits, providing effective bandwidth management through automated monitoring and control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing bandwidth allocations and session limits before content delivery begins. Session identifiers are tracked from the outset, and bandwidth policies are enforced proactively throughout the session duration, preventing excessive bandwidth consumption rather than reacting to it after the fact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9973547B1Method and systems for adaptively managing hypertext transfer protocol sessions in a content delivery network

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 VECIMA NETWORKS INC

AI summary

A system (100) includes an interface portal (116) to receive (401), at a resource locator (402) pointing to media content (101), a request (117) for the media content from a client device (109). A server complex (102) can validate a secure token (403) of the request, and can issue a new token (405) that includes one or more session identification credentials (406). These can include a session identifier (407) indicating a session required to retrieve the media content to the client device, an identifier of an edge server (105) to serve the request for the media content, and other information. A resource management system (106), operable with the server complex and the edge server, can then throttle a data rate of the session as a function of the one or more session identification credentials or terminate the session as a function of the one or more session credentials.