Method and system for optimizing bandwidth cost via caching and other network transmission delaying techniques

A method for optimizing bandwidth pricing for a data transmission system electronically connected to a source of bandwidth spot prices, the data transmission system transmitting data as packets to a predetermined destination, which method comprises:

• determining whether delaying transmission of data to the predetermined destination is appropriate;
• providing acceptable price for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• providing maximum acceptable time delay for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• determining whether data should be stored in a storage device by looking for presence of said acceptable price associated with said data;
• if said acceptable price is not found for said data, dividing said data into packets and sending said packets to the predetermined destination, and if said acceptable price is found for said data, storing said data in the storage device;
• comparing said acceptable price for said data with a spot bandwidth price from the source;
• dividing said data into packets;
• providing said acceptable price and said maximum acceptable time delay within each of said packets;
• and
• transmitting said packets to the predetermined destination if said spot bandwidth price is at or below said acceptable price or if said maximum acceptable time delay for said data has been reached.

A system for optimizing bandwidth pricing for a data transmission system, the data transmission system transmitting data as packets to a predetermined destination, which optimization system comprises:

• first software operable on the data transmission system to provide acceptable price and maximum acceptable time delay for data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• second software operable on the data transmission system for including said acceptable price and said maximum acceptable time delay within each packet formed from dividing said data;
• a storage device for storing packets having said acceptable price within said packet, said storage device electronically connected to a source of bandwidth spot prices;
• and
• said storage device transmitting said packets to the predetermined destination if a spot bandwidth price is at or below said acceptable price or if said maximum acceptable time delay has been reached.

A method for optimizing bandwidth pricing for a data transmission system electronically connected to a source of bandwidth spot prices, the data transmitting system transmitting data as packets to a predetermined destination, the method comprising:

• determining an acceptable price for transmitting said data packets at a later time;
• determining a maximum acceptable time delay for transmitting said data packets at a later time;
• including the acceptable price and the maximum acceptable time delay within each data packet;
• and
• determining whether a data packet should be stored in a storage device by the presence or absence of the acceptable price within the data packet.

Computer executable software code transmitted as an information signal, the code for optimizing bandwidth pricing for a data transmission system electronically connected to a source of bandwidth spot prices, the data transmission system transmitting data as packets to a predetermined destination, the code comprising:

• code to determine whether delaying transmission of data to the predetermined destination is appropriate;
• code to provide acceptable price for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• code to provide maximum acceptable time delay for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• code to provide said acceptable price and said maximum acceptable time delay within each packet formed from dividing said data;
• code to determine whether a data packet should be stored in a storage device by looking for presence of said acceptable price within said data packet;
• if said acceptable price is not found within said data packet, code to send said data packet to the predetermined destination, and if said acceptable price is found within said data packet, code to store said data packet in the storage device;
• code to compare said acceptable price within said data packet with a spot bandwidth price from the source of bandwidth spot prices;
• and
• code to transmit said data packet to the predetermined destination if said spot bandwidth price is at or below said acceptable price or if said maximum acceptable time delay for said packet has been reached.

A computer-readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for optimizing bandwidth pricing for a data transmission system electronically connected to a source of bandwidth spot prices, the data transmission system transmitting data as packets to a predetermined destination, the code comprising:

• code to determine whether delaying transmission of data to the predetermined destination is appropriate;
• code to provide acceptable price for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• code to provide maximum acceptable time delay for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• code to provide said acceptable price and said maximum acceptable time delay within each packet formed from dividing said data;
• code to determine whether a data packet should be stored in a storage device by looking for presence of said acceptable price within said data packet;
• if said acceptable price is not found within said data packet, code to send said data packet to the predetermined destination, and if said acceptable price is found within said data packet, code to store said data packet in the storage device;
• code to compare said acceptable price within said data packet with a spot bandwidth price from the source of bandwidth spot prices;
• and
• code to transmit said data packet to the predetermined destination if said spot bandwidth price is at or below said acceptable price or if said maximum acceptable time delay for said packet has been reached.

A programmed computer for optimizing bandwidth pricing for a data transmission system electronically connected to a source of bandwidth spot prices, the data transmission system transmitting data as packets to a predetermined destination, comprising:

• a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code;
• and
• a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;
• wherein the program code comprises:
• code to determine whether delaying transmission of data to the predetermined destination is appropriate;
• code to provide acceptable price for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• code to provide maximum acceptable time delay for transmitting said data that can be transmitted at a later time;
• code to provide said acceptable price and said maximum acceptable time delay within each packet formed from dividing said data;
• code to determine whether a data packet should be stored in a storage device by looking for presence of said acceptable price within said data packet;
• if said acceptable price is not found within said data packet, code to send said data packet to the predetermined destination, and if said acceptable price is found within said data packet, code to store said data packet in the storage device;
• code to compare said acceptable price within said data packet with a spot bandwidth price from the source of bandwidth spot prices;
• and
• code to transmit said data packet to the predetermined destination if said spot bandwidth price is at or below said acceptable price or if said maximum acceptable time delay for said packet has been reached.