Content caching in the Radio Access Network (RAN)

A method of monitoring communications to a user on a RAN network, wherein said network comprising a plurality of components, comprising:

• logically inserting a device between a first and second component in said RAN, said device comprising a storage element, control logic and two interface modules, such that said device communicates with both said first and said second component;
• using a first of said interface modules to emulate said first component to said second component, wherein said first component is disposed between said device and said user;
• using a second of said interface modules to emulate said second component to said first component;
• receiving a communication from said first component to said second component;
• using said control logic in said device to interpret said communication from said first to said second component, wherein said communication comprises a plurality of protocol layers and said protocols define a control plane and a user plane;
• saving information from said control plane and associating it with said user;
• decomposing said communication to determine an underlying higher layer message;
• passing said communication to said second component;
• and
• creating a copy of said underlying higher layer message.

A method of modifying communications to a user on a RAN network, based on user specific information, wherein said network comprising a plurality of components, comprising:

• logically inserting a device between a first and second component in said RAN, said device comprising a storage element, control logic and two interface modules, such that said device communicates with both said first and said second component;
• using a first of said interface modules to emulate said first component to said second component;
• using a second of said interface modules to emulate said second component to said first component;
• using said control logic in said device to interpret a communication from said first to said second component, wherein said communication comprises a plurality of protocol layers and said protocols define a control plane and a user plane;
• determining a wireless sector in which said user resides from said control plane;
• determining congestion of said wireless sector, based on number of other users determined to reside in said wireless sector;
• modifying communications at said user plane destined for said user, based on said determined congestion;
• and
• transmitting said modified information toward said user.

A method of modifying communications to a user on a RAN network, based on user specific information, wherein said network comprising a plurality of components, comprising:

• logically inserting a device between a first and second component in said RAN, said device comprising a storage element, control logic and two interface modules, such that said device communicates with both said first and said second component;
• using a first of said interface modules to emulate said first component to said second component;
• using a second of said interface modules to emulate said second component to said first component;
• using said control logic in said device to interpret a communication from said first to said second component, wherein said communication comprises a plurality of protocol layers and said protocols define a control plane and a user plane;
• saving information from said control plane and associating it with said user;
• inserting JAVA scripts at said user plane destined for said user, based on user plane and said saved control plane information;
• and
• transmitting said JAVA scripts toward said user.