Content network global replacement policy
View Patent ↗This invention is related to content delivery systems and methods. In one aspect of the invention, a content provider controls a replacement process operating at an edge server. The edge server services content providers and has a data store for storing content associated with respective ones of the content providers. A content provider sets a replacement policy at the edge server that controls the movement of content associated with the content provider, into and out of the data store. In another aspect of the invention, a content delivery system includes a content server storing content files, an edge server having cache memory for storing content files, and a replacement policy module for managing content stored within the cache memory. The replacement policy module can store portions of the content files at the content server within the cache memory, as a function of a replacement policy set by a content owner.
1. A method for enabling content storage management at a plurality of edge servers comprising:
providing a computerized user interface over a network to a user computer, wherein the user interface is configured to receive content replacement policies for a plurality of edge servers;
receiving, from the user computer via the provided user interface, data indicative of a first content replacement policy for execution by a first edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
transmitting data indicative of the first content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the first content replacement policy.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving from the user computer data indicative of a second content replacement policy for execution by a second edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
transmitting data indicative of the second content replacement policy to the second edge server, thereby causing the second edge server to execute the second content replacement policy, resulting in the first edge server executing a different content replacement policy than that executed by second edge server.
3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving from the user computer data indicative of a second content replacement policy for execution by the first edge server, wherein the received data indicates that the first content replacement policy is to apply to a first set of content stored on the first edge server and the second content replacement policy is to apply to a second, different set of content stored on the first edge server;
transmitting data indicative of the second content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the first and second content replacement policies.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data indicating the first content replacement policy indicates that the first content replacement policy is to be executed by a plurality of edge servers.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a computerized user interface comprises transmitting a web page implementing the computerized user interface.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a computerized user interface comprises providing the computerized user interface by a central server in communication with the plurality of edge servers.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a content distribution network.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of edge servers is included in a content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, and the computerized user interface is provided by a central system for the content delivery network.
9. A system for enabling content storage management at a plurality of edge servers comprising:
a memory for storing content replacement policies for the respective edge servers;
a processor configured for:
providing a computerized user interface over a network to a user computer, wherein the user interface is configured to receive content replacement policies for a plurality of edge servers;
receiving from the user computer via the provided user interface, data indicative of a first content replacement policy for execution by a first edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
storing the first content replacement policy in the memory; and
transmitting data indicative of the content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the content replacement policy.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the memory is configured to store content replacement policies for a plurality of content providers.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the provided computerized user interface is further configured to enable the user computer to upload content to at least one of the plurality of edge servers, wherein the storage of such content by the at least one edge server is to be governed by the first content replacement policy.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured for:
receiving from the user computer data indicative of a second content replacement policy for execution by a second edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
transmitting data indicative of the second content replacement policy to the second edge server, thereby causing the second edge server to execute the second content replacement policy, resulting in the first edge server executing a different content replacement policy than that executed by second edge server.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured for:
receiving from the user computer data indicative of a second content replacement policy for execution by the first edge server, wherein the received data indicates that the first content replacement policy is to apply to a first set of content stored on the first edge server and the second content replacement policy is to apply to a second, different set of content stored on the first edge server;
transmitting data indicative of the second content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the first and second content replacement policies.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the data indicating the first content replacement policy indicates that the first content replacement policy is to be executed by a plurality of edge servers.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein providing a computerized user interface comprises providing the computerized user interface by a central server in communication with the plurality of edge servers.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of edge servers is included in a content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, and the processor is included in a central system for the content delivery network.
17. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, which when executed cause a processor to carry out a method of enabling content storage management at a plurality of edge servers, the method comprising:
providing a computerized user interface over a network to a user computer, wherein the user interface is configured to receive content replacement policies for a plurality of edge servers;
receiving from the user computer via the provided user interface, data indicative of a first content replacement policy for execution by a first edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
transmitting data indicative of the content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the content replacement policy.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the method comprises:
receiving from the user computer data indicative of a second content replacement policy for execution by a second edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
transmitting data indicative of the second content replacement policy to the second edge server, thereby causing the second edge server to execute the second content replacement policy, resulting in the first edge server executing a different content replacement policy than that executed by second edge server.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the method comprises:
receiving from the user computer data indicative of a second content replacement policy for execution by the first edge server, wherein the received data indicates that the first content replacement policy is to apply to a first set of content stored on the first edge server and the second content replacement policy is to apply to a second, different set of content stored on the first edge server;
transmitting data indicative of the second content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the first and second content replacement policies.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the data indicating the first content replacement policy indicates that the first content replacement policy is to be executed by a plurality of edge servers.
21. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein providing a computerized user interface comprises transmitting a web page implementing the computerized user interface.
22. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein providing a computerized user interface comprises providing the computerized user interface by a central server in communication with the plurality of edge servers.
23. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of edge servers is included in a content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, and the computerized user interface is provided by a central system for the content delivery network.
24. A method for enabling content storage management at a plurality of edge servers comprising:
providing, via a central system for a content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, a computerized user interface over a network to a user computer, wherein the user interface is configured to receive content replacement policies for a plurality of edge servers of the content delivery network;
receiving at a central system for the content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, from the user computer via the provided user interface, data indicative of a first content replacement policy for execution by a first edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
transmitting data indicative of the first content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the first content replacement policy.
25. A system for enabling content storage management at a plurality of edge servers comprising:
a central system for a content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, the central system comprising:
a memory for storing content replacement policies for the respective edge servers;
a processor configured for:
providing a computerized user interface over a network to a user computer, wherein the user interface is configured to receive content replacement policies for a plurality of edge servers of the content delivery network;
receiving at a central system for the content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, from the user computer via the provided user interface, data indicative of a first content replacement policy for execution by a first edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
storing the first content replacement policy in the memory; and
transmitting data indicative of the content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the content replacement policy.
26. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, which when executed cause a processor to carry out a method of enabling content storage management at a plurality of edge servers, the method comprising:
providing, via a central system for a content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, a computerized user interface over a network to a user computer, wherein the user interface is configured to receive content replacement policies for a plurality of edge servers of the content delivery network;
receiving at a central system for the content delivery network accessible to a plurality of content providers, from the user computer via the provided user interface, data indicative of a first content replacement policy for execution by a first edge server of the plurality of edge servers;
transmitting data indicative of the content replacement policy to the first edge server, thereby causing the first edge server to execute the content replacement policy.