Method and system for providing network caches

A cache placement controller configured to direct provision of a plurality of network caches in a communication network, the cache placement controller comprising a network interface, a microprocessor, and a memory component and configured to:

• obtain, using the network interface:
• one or more parameters from a Traffic Engineering function of the communication network;
• a delay threshold;
• and a plurality of client device locations, wherein the Traffic Engineering function is operated at a different network node from the cache placement controller and is configured to perform path selection and data rate control for data links between potential cache locations and client devices at the plurality of client device locations, said one or more parameters from the Traffic Engineering function dependent on said path selection and data rate control;
• determine a plurality of nodes of the communication network at which to place the plurality of network caches, the determining comprising evaluating and satisfying a content coverage constraint, the content coverage constraint defined based at least in part on the one or more parameters obtained from the Traffic Engineering function;
• wherein the coverage content constraint limits a maximum delay across the plurality of client device locations by providing a guarantee that the maximum delay will be less than a given amount, and wherein satisfying the coverage content constraint comprises selecting the plurality of nodes such that, for each one of the plurality of client device locations and for a predetermined number c of the plurality of nodes, a corresponding output value of a coverage cost function is less than or equal to the delay threshold, the corresponding output value of the coverage cost function is determined based on a first input indicative of said one of the plurality of client device locations and a second input indicative of a location of one of the plurality of nodes and the coverage cost function is indicative of data propagation delay between locations received as input;
• and
• provide, using the network interface, instructions for execution by the network to locate the plurality of network caches at the respective plurality of nodes.