Network caching for multiple contemporaneous requests

A live caching system for caching requests on a network for live media events, the system comprising:

• a memory;
• a request component that receives a request for content from one or more clients over the network;
• a matching component that identifies a cache key based on distinguishing information in the received request and looks up the identified cache key in a cache within the live caching system to determine whether the requested media content is stored in the cache;
• a forwarding component that determines whether there is a pending request for the same media content requested by the received request;
• and in response to determining that the requested media content is not stored in the cache and that there is a pending request for the same media content waits for a response to the pending request without forwarding the received request to an origin server;
• and
• a response component that receives a response from the origin server to the pending request and responds to a client associated with the received request and a client associated with the pending request using the received response.

A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for handling requests for live media events, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a processor to perform actions comprising:

• receiving a request for media content;
• identifying a cache key based on distinguishing information in the received request;
• looking up the identified key in a cache within a live caching system to determine whether the requested media content is stored in the cache;
• determining whether there is a pending request for the same media content requested by the received request;
• and
• in response to determining that the requested media content is not stored in the cache and that there is a pending request for the same media content,
• waiting for a response to the pending request without forwarding the received request to an origin server;
• and
• receiving a response to the pending request;
• and
• responding to both the received request and the pending request using the received response.