System and method for employing slot level locking of a cache

A computer system for distributing data via a communication network, the computer system comprising:

• at least one client for requesting data over the communication network;
• and
• a content provider, wherein the content provider includes a cache with at least one cache slot for storing data and wherein the content provider receives data requests from the client via the communication network;
• wherein the content provider allocates a cache slot for each data request from the client and wherein the allocated cache slot is locked while the content provider obtains the requested data across the communication network;
• and wherein allocating a cache slot for the data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated includes:
• obtaining a file identifier corresponding to the requested data;
• generating a hash key corresponding to the file identifier;
• and
• determining whether the generated hash key matches a hash key in an existing cache slot.

In a content delivery system having a content provider and a communication network, wherein the content provider obtains data via the communication network and processes data requests over the communication network, a computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for retrieving data from a cache corresponding to a data request, wherein the cache includes at least one cache slot for storing data, the method comprising:

• obtaining a request for data over the communication network;
• allocating a cache slot for the data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated;
• wherein allocating a cache slot for the data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated includes:
• obtaining a file identifier corresponding to the requested data;
• generating a hash key corresponding to the file identifier;
• and
• determining whether the generated hash key matches a hash key in an existing cache slot;
• locking the allocated cache slot prior to retrieving the data from the communication network;
• obtaining the requested data from the communication network;
• storing the requested data in the allotted cache slot;
• releasing the cache slot lock;
• and
• transmitting the request data over the communication network.

In a content delivery system having a content provider and a communication network, wherein the content provider obtains data via the communication network and processes data requests over the communication network, a computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system for retrieving data from a cache corresponding to a data request, wherein the cache includes at least one cache slot for storing data, the computer system operable to perform:

• obtaining a request for data over the communication network;
• allocating a cache slot for the data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated;
• wherein allocating a cache slot for the data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated includes:
• obtaining a file identifier corresponding to the requested data;
• generating a hash key corresponding to the file identifier;
• and
• determining whether the generated hash key matches a hash key in an existing cache slot:
• locking the allocated cache slot prior to retrieving the data from the communication network;
• obtaining the requested data from the communication network;
• storing the requested data in the allotted cache slot;
• releasing the cache slot lock;
• and
• transmitting the request data over the communication network.