Customer Premises Node Content Caching for Network Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content distribution methods consume excessive network resources and incur high storage costs due to the need for replicating data across multiple distribution centers, which is unsustainable with increasing demands for high-definition content and faster data services.
Innovation Solution
Deploying content servers on customer premises nodes with processing and storage capabilities, allowing them to cache and redistribute content efficiently within local networks, thereby reducing the load on network infrastructure and storage costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If content servers are distributed closer to customer premises, then network resource consumption is reduced and response time is improved, but storage costs and infrastructure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables customer premises equipment (CPE) to autonomously function as content servers by utilizing its existing processing and storage capabilities. The CPE automatically caches content and serves requests from local customers without requiring provider infrastructure deployment, thus reducing network resource consumption while avoiding the complexity of adding dedicated server infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes general-purpose CPE devices (such as modems and routers) perform multiple functions: they serve as both access points for customers and as content servers for caching and redistributing digital content. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated content servers, reducing infrastructure complexity while improving network efficiency.
2Reliability
If content is replicated at multiple distribution centers, then availability and reliability improve, but storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Customer premises equipment performs the reliability function of content replication autonomously using its local storage resources. Each CPE independently caches content and serves requests from its local customer base, providing redundancy without requiring provider-managed replication infrastructure. This self-service approach maintains availability while avoiding the storage costs of centralized replication.
3Device complexity
If centralized content servers are used, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but network resource consumption increases and response time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content delivery function by distributing content servers throughout the customer premises network rather than consolidating them at centralized locations. Each CPE operates as an independent content server for its local segment, reducing the distance data must travel and improving response time while maintaining infrastructure simplicity through the use of existing CPE devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for distributing digital content include receiving provider content over a network connection at a customer premises node located on premises of a first customer. The provider content is offered by a network service provider different from the first customer. Provider data based on the provider content is stored in non-volatile storage on the customer premises node of the first customer. It is determined whether conditions are satisfied for sending the provider content to a second customer different from the first customer. If it is determined that such conditions are satisfied, then the provider data is retrieved from the non-volatile storage, and data based on the provider data is sent over the network connection for receipt by the second customer. Thereby a customer premises node serves as a cache of provider content for other customer premises nodes on the same last mile segment or access network.