Front-end optimization in a content delivery network (CDN)

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program instructions stored thereon, the program instructions, operable on a computer system in a content delivery network (CDN), the computer system implementing a content delivery (CD) service, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of the computer system causes the one or more processors to carry out the acts of:

• receive a request for a particular resource from a client operatively connected to the CDN via a connection;
• determine that the client includes an optimization support mechanism using a modified user-agent string included in the request, wherein the optimization support mechanism comprises a decompression mechanism for decompressing a compressed resource;
• determine a cost of the connection including a cost for compression of the particular resource and a cost for decompression of the particular resource;
• responsive to a determination that the client includes the optimization support mechanism, determine to provide the client with a first version of the particular resource, the first version of the particular resource being optimized, at least in part, for the client in combination with the optimization support mechanism, wherein whether to provide the client with the first version of the particular resource is determined based on (i) the cost of the connection and (ii) a delay caused by optimization of the first version;
• attempt to obtain the first version of the particular resource from another location, wherein the another location comprises a peer of the CD service;
• and
• based on determining to provide the client with the first version of the particular resource is determined, provide the client with the first version of the particular resource or providing the client with either (i) an un-optimized version of the particular resource, or (ii) a version of the particular resource optimized, at least in part, for the client without the optimization support mechanism,
• wherein the request is an HTTP request and wherein the information provided with the request is included in one or more HTTP headers provided with the HTTP request.

A tangible device in a content delivery network (CDN), wherein the CDN delivers content on behalf of at least one content provider, the tangible device implementing a content delivery (CD) service, the tangible device comprising:

• at least one processor;
• memory, operatively connected to the at least one processor, and containing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the tangible device to:
• receive a request for a particular resource from a client operatively connected to the CDN via a connection;
• determine that the client includes an optimization support mechanism using a modified user-agent string included in the request, wherein the optimization support mechanism comprises a decompression mechanism for decompressing a compressed resource;
• determine a cost of the connection including a cost for compression of the particular resource and a cost for decompression of the particular resource;
• responsive to a determination that the client includes the optimization support mechanism, determine to provide the client with a first version of the particular resource, the first version of the particular resource being optimized, at least in part, for the client in combination with the optimization support mechanism, wherein determining to provide the client with the first version of the particular resource is determined based on (i) the cost of the connection and (ii) a delay caused by optimization of the first version;
• attempt to obtain the first version of the particular resource from another location, wherein the another location comprises a peer of the CD service;
• and
• based on whether to provide the client with the first version of the particular resource is determined, provide the client with the first version of the particular resource or providing the client with either (i) an un-optimized version of the particular resource, or (ii) a version of the particular resource optimized, at least in part, for the client without the optimization support mechanism,
• wherein the request is an HTTP request and wherein the information provided with the request is included in one or more HTTP headers provided with the HTTP request.