Media resource card with programmable caching for converged services platform

1. In a converged services platform, a media resources card comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) and an associated CPU cache memory;

a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), each of which has an associated DSP cache memory, coupled in communicating relationship with said CPU; and

a network interface, coupled in communicating relationship with said CPU, through which said media resources card may communicate with a file server;

wherein said CPU and DSPs execute a caching algorithm in which a cached file may be assigned at least one of a persistence level attribute and a timer expiration attribute, wherein said persistence level attribute includes programming for specifying how readily or not said cached file may be deleted from one or more of said cache memories in relation to a number of remaining cached files of other persistence levels.

2. The media resources card as in claim 1 , wherein said persistence level may be assigned a value of “hard” denoting that said cached file is not to be removed from said cache memories, regardless of the number of remaining cached files of other persistence levels.

3. The media resources card as in claim 1 , wherein said persistence level may be assigned a value of “hard” denoting that said cached file is a cached recording file, not to be removed from cache until said cached file is stored to a non-volatile storage medium regardless of the number of remaining cached files of other persistence levels.

4. The media resources card as in claim 1 , wherein said persistence level may be assigned a value of “none” denoting that said cached file is to be removed from said cache memories for any reason.

5. The media resources card as in claim 4 , wherein said persistence level may be assigned a value of “soft” denoting that said cached file is to remain in said cache memories until after substantially all “none” cached files have been removed, said “soft” cached files being removed then by a Least Recently Used (LRU) algorithm.

6. The media resources card as in claim 5 , wherein said persistence level may be assigned a value of “firm” denoting that said cached file is to remain in said cache memories until after substantially all “soft” cached files have been removed, said “firm” cached files also being removed then by an LRU algorithm.

7. The converged services platform as in claim 1 , wherein said timer expiration attribute includes programming for specifying a time period after which said cached file may be deleted from one or more of said cache memories.

8. The media resources card as in claim 1 , wherein said timer expiration attribute overrides said persistence level attribute.

9. The media resources card as in claim 1 , further comprising: an application program for setting said timer expiration attribute and said persistence level attribute of said cached files on a per file basis.

10. A method for use in a converged services platform having a central processing unit (CPU) and a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), one of said DSPs being assigned for playback of a requested file, said method comprising the steps of:

executing a caching algorithm for said requested file, said caching algorithm resulting in a cached file stored on a cache memory of at least one of said CPU and said DSPs; and

assigning at least one of a persistence level attribute and a timer expiration attribute to said cached file, said persistence level attribute specifying how readily or not said cached file may be deleted from one or more of said cache memories in relation to a number of remaining cached files of other persistence levels.

11. The method as in claim 10 , further comprising: assigning said persistence level of said cached file a value of “hard” denoting that said cached file is not to be removed from said cache memories, regardless of the number of remaining cached files of other persistence levels.

12. The method as in claim 10 , further comprising: assigning said persistence level of said cached file a value of “hard” denoting that said cached file is a cached recording file, not to be removed from cache until said cached file is stored to a non-volatile storage medium, regardless of the number of remaining cached files of other persistence levels.

13. The method as in claim 10 , further comprising: assigning said persistence level of said cached file a value of “none” denoting that said cached file is to be removed from said cache memories for any reason.

14. The method as in claim 13 , further comprising: assigning said persistence level of said cached file a value of “soft” denoting that said cached file is to remain in said cache memories until after substantially all “none” cached files have been removed, said “soft” cached files being removed then by a Least Recently Used (LRU) algorithm.

15. The method as in claim 14 , further comprising: assigning said persistence level of said cached file a value of “firm” denoting that said cached file is to remain in said cache memories until after substantially all “soft” cached files have been removed, said “firm” cached files also being removed then by an LRU algorithm.

16. The method as in claim 10 , wherein said timer expiration attribute specifies a time period after which said cached file may be deleted from one or more of said cache memories.

17. The method as in claim 10 , wherein said timer expiration attribute overrides said persistence level attribute.

18. The method as in claim 10 , further comprising the step of: setting said timer expiration attribute and said persistence level attribute of said cached files on a per file basis.

19. A method for use in a converged services platform having a central processing unit (CPU) and a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), one of said DSPs being assigned for playback of a requested file, said method comprising the steps of:

executing a caching algorithm for said requested file, said caching algorithm resulting in a cached file stored on a cache memory of at least one of said CPU and said DSPs;

assigning at least one of a persistence level attribute and a timer expiration attribute to said cached file;

determining whether or not said requested file is contained within a cache memory of said converged services platform;

in response to a file not contained within a cache memory of said converged services platform:

i) retrieving, at said CPU, said requested file from an associated file server;

ii) caching said requested file in a cache memory of at least one of said CPU and said assigned playback DSP;

in response to a file contained within said cache memory of said assigned playback DSP:

i) performing a playback of said file from said cache memory of said assigned playback DSP; and

in response to a file contained within said cache memory of said converged services platform, but not contained within said cache memory of said assigned playback DSP:

i) caching said file to said cache memory of said assigned playback DSP contemporaneously with playback of said file from said cache memory of said converged services platform containing said file.

20. In a converged services platform, a media resources card comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), one of said DSPs being assigned for playback of a requested file;

means for executing a caching algorithm for said requested file, said caching algorithm resulting in a cached file stored on a cache memory of at least one of said CPU and said DSPs; and

means for assigning at least one of a persistence level attribute and a timer expiration attribute to said cached file, said persistence level attribute specifying how readily or not said cached file may be deleted from one or more of said cache memories in relation to a number of remaining cached files of other persistence levels.