Using segment routing to access chunks of content

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program code, the computer program code, when executed, configured to:

• obtain a packet at a network endpoint, the packet being obtained from a client via a first segment, the packet having a segment routing header, the segment routing header including a list of addresses attached to a chunk entry, the list of addresses including a plurality of addresses, wherein the packet is configured to identify at least a first chunk requested by the client, wherein a first chunk address corresponding to the at least first chunk is a last address included in the list of addresses, the computer program code configured to identify the at least first chunk using the packet being further configured to obtain the first chunk address from the list of addresses, wherein the last address is a V6 content descriptor (v6CD) that identifies the first chunk, and wherein other addresses in the list of addresses identify endpoints that may be asked for the first chunk;
• identify, at the network endpoint, the at least first chunk using the packet;
• determine at the network endpoint if the network endpoint has the first chunk;
• provide the first chunk from the network endpoint to the client if it is determined that the network endpoint has the first chunk;
• and
• provide the packet to at least a second segment if it is determined that the network endpoint does not have the first chunk.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a data storage arrangement, the data storage arrangement configured to store a set of chunks;
• an input/output (I/O) interface, the I/O interface arranged to obtain a packet from a client via a first network segment, the packet including a segment routing header having a list of addresses including a first chunk address arranged to identify a first chunk requested by the client;
• and
• logic arranged to be executed by the processor, the logic being configured to identify the first chunk using the packet and to determine if the first chunk is included in the set of chunks, wherein the logic is further configured to provide the first chunk to the client if it is determined that the first chunk is included in the set of chunks and to cause the I/O interface to provide the packet to at least a second segment if it is determined that the first chunk is not included in the set of chunks, wherein the first chunk address is a last address included in the list of addresses, the list of addresses including a plurality of addresses, the last address being a V6 content descriptor (v6CD) that identifies the first chunk, and wherein other addresses in the list of addresses identify endpoints that may be asked for the first chunk.

A method comprising:

• obtaining a packet at a network endpoint, the packet being obtained from a client via a first segment, the packet having a segment routing header, the segment routing header including a list of addresses attached to a chunk entry, wherein the packet is configured to identify at least a first chunk requested by the client, wherein the first chunk is a chunk of video, and wherein the segment routing header is configured to identify at least the first chunk requested by the client;
• identifying, at the network endpoint, the at least first chunk using the packet;
• determining at the network endpoint if the network endpoint has the first chunk;
• providing the first chunk from the network endpoint to the client if it is determined that the network endpoint has the first chunk;
• and
• providing the packet to at least a second segment if it is determined that the network endpoint does not have the first chunk, wherein the list of addresses includes a plurality of addresses, and wherein a last address in the list of addresses is a content identifier corresponding to the at least first chunk, the CID being an address in which content information is included, the content information including at least one selected from a group including a format, a resolution, a quality, and a time code.