Proxy Cache Prefetching Using Multi-Tier Storage and Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional disk-based caching techniques for network traffic acceleration are inefficient due to memory constraints and reliance on freshness values, leading to transmission of outdated information, and proxy servers pose security risks by lacking user authentication.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses multiple storage tiers for caching based on object size and deploying security measures to authenticate users before serving cached objects, while also employing prefetching and prefreshening techniques to optimize network traffic and reduce latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If disk-based caching is used to accelerate network traffic, then network latency is reduced, but memory consumption increases due to cache index entries scaling with the number of cache entries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cache index into multiple smaller index files distributed across different storage devices, rather than maintaining a single large index in memory. This allows the cache to scale to millions of entries while consuming minimal memory (only for the active index structure), resolving the contradiction between large cache capacity and low memory usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the cache index from a purely in-memory structure to a distributed file-based structure across multiple storage devices. This dimensional shift from memory to disk storage enables the system to handle much larger cache capacities without proportionally increasing memory consumption, as the index can be paged or loaded in chunks from disk.
2Ease of operation
If freshness values are used to determine cache validity, then cache operations are simplified, but outdated information may be transmitted multiple times before freshness expires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors actual cache hit patterns and object access frequencies. This feedback allows the system to dynamically adjust cache retention policies and validity checks, ensuring that outdated objects are identified and refreshed based on actual usage patterns rather than relying solely on static freshness timestamps.
3Productivity
If proxy servers are deployed to cache network traffic, then network acceleration is achieved, but security risks increase due to lack of user authentication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication layer between the user and the cache system. This intermediary component verifies user credentials and authorization before allowing access to cached objects, thereby maintaining the performance benefits of caching while adding the necessary security controls. The intermediary acts as a gatekeeper that enables both acceleration and security.
4Productivity
If prefetching is used to load objects before request, then cache hit rate increases, but network bandwidth is consumed by prefetch traffic competing with actual requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective prefetching where only a subset of objects are prefetched based on predicted access patterns and current system conditions. Rather than aggressively prefetching all potential objects, the system performs partial prefetching of high-probability candidates, thereby improving cache hit rates while limiting the bandwidth overhead to only necessary prefetch operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present solution provides a variety of techniques for accelerating and optimizing network traffic, such as HTTP based network traffic. The solution described herein provides techniques in the areas of proxy caching, protocol acceleration, domain name resolution acceleration as well as compression improvements. In some cases, the present solution provides various prefetching and/or prefreshening techniques to improve intermediary or proxy caching, such as HTTP proxy caching. In other cases, the present solution provides techniques for accelerating a protocol by improving the efficiency of obtaining and servicing data from an originating server to server to clients. In another cases, the present solution accelerates domain name resolution more quickly. As every HTTP access starts with a URL that includes a hostname that must be resolved via domain name resolution into an IP address, the present solution helps accelerate HTTP access. In some cases, the present solution improves compression techniques by prefetching non-cacheable and cacheable content to use for compressing network traffic, such as HTTP. The acceleration and optimization techniques described herein may be deployed on the client as a client agent or as part of a browser, as well as on any type and form of intermediary device, such as an appliance, proxying device or any type of interception caching and/or proxying device.