Virtual Node Caching in Content Distribution Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content delivery networks (CDNs) inefficiently use network resources due to suboptimal content placement, as they do not consider internal communication costs and actual demand, leading to cache misses that increase traffic through costly core networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and node that define virtual nodes based on internal communication costs, collect statistics on content requests, and determine caching decisions using a gain function that considers demand and cost factors, optimizing content placement across cache nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If content is cached in cache nodes using traditional greedy fashion or basic algorithms (LRU, MRU, LFU), then cache nodes can store content with simple rules, but network resources are used inefficiently due to not considering internal communication costs and actual demand patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual node as an intermediary layer between the content source and physical cache nodes. This virtual node collects statistics from multiple cache nodes and makes centralized caching decisions, mediating between simple local cache operations and complex network-wide optimization to achieve both ease of implementation and high network efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where cache nodes report content request statistics to the virtual node, which then adjusts caching decisions based on this feedback. This closed-loop control enables the system to adapt to actual demand patterns and optimize network resource usage while maintaining simple local cache operations
2Reliability
If cache nodes store every piece of content that passes through them, then content availability increases, but cache memory is wasted on low-demand content and network resources are used inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the decision parameter from simple presence/absence of content to a demand-based metric collected through statistics. The virtual node uses these statistics to dynamically determine which content should be cached, transforming the caching decision from a static rule-based system to an adaptive system that optimizes both content availability and memory utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting statistics on content requests before making caching decisions. This advance information gathering allows the virtual node to proactively cache high-demand content and avoid caching low-demand content, preventing memory waste before it occurs while ensuring high-demand content is available
3Speed
If clients are always redirected to their closest cache node, then access speed is improved, but cache misses increase and core network traffic increases due to forwarding requests outside the aggregation network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a logical dimension to the physical cache network by introducing virtual nodes that group cache nodes based on internal communication costs. This allows the system to maintain fast local access within aggregation networks while intelligently routing requests that require external cache nodes, optimizing the balance between access speed and core network traffic
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and node for efficiently distributing electronic content in a content distribution network (CDN) comprising a plurality of cache nodes. The method defines a virtual node logically representing a set of cache nodes. The set of cache nodes is in turn defined based on an internal communication cost between the cache nodes. In each of the cache nodes represented by the virtual node statistics regarding content requests is collected, and based on this statistics it is determined whether specific content is to be cached in the virtual node or not. If it is determined to cache specific content in the virtual node, the specific content may be caused to be cached in one or more of the cache nodes represented by the virtual node.