Local Caching Server for Group-Based Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased demand for digital content delivery to multiple electronic devices over networks can overwhelm internet connections, leading to bandwidth limitations and excessive costs for schools and other institutions, and also poses risks of unauthorized content access in shared network environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a local caching server system that caches content from a content delivery network and delivers it to devices within a local area network, using groups of user accounts to manage access and reduce reliance on internet bandwidth, while ensuring secure and authorized content distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If content is delivered directly from content delivery network to multiple electronic devices over internet, then content delivery is enabled, but internet bandwidth is overwhelmed and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The local caching server pre-loads and caches content from the content delivery network before it is requested by electronic devices. This preliminary action stores content locally so that subsequent deliveries can occur over the local area network rather than consuming internet bandwidth, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling content delivery and reducing bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The local caching server acts as an intermediary between the content delivery network and electronic devices. It receives content from the content delivery network, caches it locally, and then serves it to electronic devices over the local area network. This intermediary role eliminates the need for direct internet connections for each device, reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining delivery efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If local caching server is implemented to reduce bandwidth consumption, then internet bandwidth usage decreases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The local caching server automatically manages content caching, validation, and delivery without requiring complex manual configuration or intervention. It self-regulates by receiving content from the content delivery network, storing it locally, and automatically serving it to requesting devices. This self-service capability reduces system complexity despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The local caching server performs multiple functions: it acts as a content receiver from the content delivery network, a local storage cache, and a content distribution server for the local area network. By consolidating these functions into a single device, the system avoids the complexity that would arise from having separate systems for each function, thus reducing overall system complexity while achieving bandwidth savings.
3Ease of operation
If devices connect to provider in shared network environment, then content exchange is enabled, but unauthorized access risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The local caching server serves as an authenticated intermediary between the content delivery network and electronic devices in the shared network. It validates requests and controls content distribution, preventing unauthorized devices from accessing content while still enabling legitimate content exchange. This intermediary function maintains ease of operation for authorized devices while blocking unauthorized access.
Data Source
AI summary
The described embodiments electronically deliver content (e.g., digitally-encoded files) to an electronic device using groups of accounts. In the described embodiments, a content provider obtains a public address of the electronic device and at least one account identifier for the electronic device from a request for the content received from the electronic device. Next, the content provider uses the public address to identify a local caching server (LCS) on a local area network (LAN) to which the electronic device is connected and uses the account identifier to determine that an account associated with the LCS is associated with a group of accounts with which an account for the electronic device is also associated. The content provider then provides a local address of the LCS to the electronic device, which uses the local address to obtain the content from the LCS via the LAN without accessing a content delivery network outside the LAN.