Method and system for caching data using future access request information

#This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. 365 of International Application PCT/US2004/032820, filed Oct. 6, 2004, which was published in accordance with PCT Article 21(2) on 20 Apr. 2006 in English.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention generally relates to a technique for caching data such as audio, video and/or other data, and more particularly, to a method and system for caching data that uses information including future access request information for improved caching performance.

#The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary environment suitable for implementing the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating further exemplary details of each cache system of FIG. 1;

#The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

#Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, an exemplary environment 100 suitable for implementing the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, environment 100 comprises a content server 10, one or more cache systems 20, and a user device 30. According to an exemplary embodiment, environment 100 represents a network capable of distributing audio, video and/or other data from content server 10 to user device 30 via cache systems 20.

#Content server 10 is operative to store and distribute data. According to an exemplary embodiment, content server 10 is operative to store data including audio, video and/or other data, and to distribute such data by downloading it to one or more user devices including user device 30 via cache systems 20 responsive to request signals. The data stored and distributed by content server 10 may be referred to herein as “data items” and each such data item may for example represent audio and/or video content such as a movie, a song, or the like.