Method and apparatus for flexible caching of delivered media

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
• cause a request for at least one of a primary representation for a segment or an alternative representation for the segment to be transmitted to a proxy cache apparatus;
• receive at least one of the primary representation or the alternative representation;
• and
• receive at least one of the primary representation or the alternative representation for the segment from the proxy cache apparatus.

A method comprising:

• causing a request for a proxy cache apparatus to provide a selectable cached alternative representation uniform resource indicator to be transmitted;
• receiving a list or a range of uniform resource indicators for a selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation;
• and
• causing, using a processor, a request for a resource of the selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation to be transmitted, wherein the resource is requested based on a predetermined selection criteria.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
• cause a request for a proxy cache apparatus to provide a selectable cached alternative representation uniform resource indicator to be transmitted;
• receive a list or a range of uniform resource indicators for a selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation;
• and
• cause a request for a resource of the selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation to be transmitted, wherein the resource is requested based on a predetermined selection criteria.

A method comprising:

• receiving a request for at least one of a primary representation or an alternative representation for a segment;
• determining whether the request comprises an indication that a streaming client apparatus will accept the alternative representation of the segment;
• determining, using a processor, whether at least one of a primary uniform resource indicator associated with the primary representation is cached;
• and
• causing the primary representation of the segment to be transmitted in an instance in which the primary uniform resource indicator is cached.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
• receive a request for at least one of a primary representation or an alternative representation for a segment;
• determine whether the request comprises an indication that a streaming client apparatus will accept the alternative representation of the segment;
• determine whether at least one of a primary uniform resource indicator associated with the primary representation is cached;
• and
• cause the primary representation of the segment to be transmitted in an instance in which the primary uniform resource indicator is cached.

A method comprising:

• receiving a request for at least one of a primary representation or an alternative representation for a segment;
• determining, using a processor, whether the request comprises an indication that a streaming client apparatus will accept the alternative representation of the segment;
• causing a list and range of uniform resource indicators for a selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation to be transmitted;
• and
• receiving a request for a resource of the selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
• receive a request for at least one of a primary representation or an alternative representation for a segment;
• determine whether the request comprises an indication that a streaming client apparatus will accept the alternative representation of the segment;
• cause a list and range of uniform resource indicators for a selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation to be transmitted;
• and
• receive a request for a resource of the selectable cached alternative representation for agent driven content negotiation.