Dynamic streaming buffer cache algorithm selection

A streaming media cache comprising:

• a mass storage device configured to store streaming media data;
• a cache memory coupled to the mass storage device, the cache memory configured to store a subset of the streaming media data in a plurality of locations;
• and
• a processor coupled to the mass storage device and to the cache memory, the processor configured to use a first retirement algorithm to determine a first location within the cache memory that is to be retired, configured to copy data from the mass storage device to the first location within the cache memory;
• configured to monitor a cache memory age, wherein the cache memory age is determined in response to a time stamp of at least a second location within the cache memory;
• configured to use a second retirement algorithm to determine a third location within the cache memory that is to be retired when the cache memory age falls below a threshold age;
• and configured to copy data from the mass storage device to the third location within the cache memory.

A computer program product for a streaming media cache including a processor and a cache buffer, the computer program product comprising:

• a tangible medium on which are stored:
• code that directs the processor to determine a first location within the cache buffer that is to be retired in response to a first retirement algorithm;
• code that directs the processor to write data from a mass storage device to the first location;
• code that directs the processor to determine a cache buffer age in response to an age of data within a second location within the cache memory;
• code that directs the processor to compare the cache buffer age to a first threshold age;
• code that directs the processor to determine a third location within the cache buffer that is to be retired in response to a second retirement algorithm when the first threshold age exceeds the cache buffer age;
• and
• code that directs the processor to write data from the mass storage device to the third location.

A method of operating a streaming media cache, the method comprising:

• storing streaming media data in the streaming media cache;
• determining a cache memory age associated with the streaming media cache;
• selecting a first retirement algorithm, for use in retiring memory locations of the streaming media cache, if the cache memory age has a first relationship to a cache memory age threshold;
• and
• selecting a second retirement algorithm, for use in retiring memory locations of the streaming media cache, if the cache memory age has a second relationship to the cache memory age threshold.

A network attached caching device comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface coupled to the processor;
• a cache memory to store streaming media data;
• and
• instructions which configure the processor to
• determine a cache memory age associated with the streaming media cache,
• select a first retirement algorithm, for use in retiring memory locations of the cache memory, if the cache memory age has a first relationship to a cache memory age threshold, and
• select a second retirement algorithm, for use in retiring memory locations of the cache memory, if the cache memory age has a second relationship to the cache memory age threshold.

A network attached caching device comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface coupled to the processor;
• a cache memory to store streaming media data;
• and
• a first software subsystem, executable by the processor, to retrieve streaming media data over a network and to provide the streaming media data to a remote client in response to a request from the remote client;
• and
• a second software subsystem, executable by the processor, to
• store the streaming media data in the cache memory and retrieve the streaming media data from the cache memory;
• determine a cache memory age associated with the cache memory;
• select a first retirement algorithm, for use in retiring memory locations of the cache memory, if the cache memory age has a first relationship to a cache memory age threshold;
• and
• select a second retirement algorithm, for use in retiring memory locations of the cache memory, if the cache memory age has a second relationship to the cache memory age threshold.