Multi-proxy network edge cache system and methods

A multi-proxy cache server supporting unified forward and reverse proxy caching at a network edge of a defined content access domain, said multi-proxy cache server comprising:

• a) a memory cache supporting storage and access to forward proxy data and first reverse proxy data;
• b) a disk cache supporting storage and access to second reverse proxy data;
• and
• c) a controller, coupled to said memory cache and said disk cache, operative to retrieve, store and access content, said controller further operative to receive and evaluate a content specification defining a plurality of content partitions for the respective preferential storage of a plurality of reverse proxy data sets.

A method of operating a network edge cache to support the cache accelerated serving of content from a bounded content domain to client computer systems, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) first defining a plurality of reverse proxy storage partitions within a network edge cache;
• b) second defining sets of reverse proxy content for caching in said network edge cache, said sets of reverse proxy content being respectively associated with said reverse proxy storage partitions;
• c) third defining a forward proxy storage area within said network edge cache;
• d) responding to client requests for content by sourcing requested content from said edge cache, including retrieving forward and reverse proxy content from origin servers for unified storage in said network edge cache;
• and
• e) managing the unified storage of retrieved forward and reverse proxy content in said network edge cache, including identifying retrieved reverse proxy content with respect to a corresponding one of said reverse proxy storage partitions and preferentially storing said retrieved reverse proxy content in said corresponding one of said reverse proxy storage partitions.

A method of operating a network edge cache to support the cache accelerated serving of content from a bounded content domain to client computer systems, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving, at predetermined intervals, a rules base defining policies for the unified storage management of forward and reverse proxy content within a network edge cache;
• b) evaluating said policies to determine a prefetch set of reverse proxy content for retrieval from corresponding origin servers for storage in said network edge cache;
• c) retrieving forward and reverse proxy content, including autonomously retrieving said prefetch set of reverse proxy content, from said corresponding origin servers;
• and
• d) managing, in connection with said retrieving step, the prioritized storage of said forward and reverse proxy content in said network edge cache subject to said policies.