US 8,615,577 B2Granted

Policy based processing of content objects in a content delivery network using mutators

AssigneeLimelight Networks, Inc.

InventorsBryan Black, Jacob S. Roersma, Jared Boelens, Luke Knol, Neil Dunbar, Sig Lange, Wylie Swanson

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method for processing content objects with resources associated with a content delivery network (CDN) having a plurality of geographically distributed points of presence (POPs) is disclosed. The resources are enrolled to be accessible from the CDN. Each resource is categorized using tags that categorize the resources. Selection of a policy from a plurality of policies is received, where the plurality of policies define processes to perform on content objects. The selected policy includes an applicability criteria and a call to the resource. Metadata is received at the CDN, the metadata being related to a content object, a requester of the content object and/or a provider of the content object. It is determined that the policy is applicable through analysis of the metadata and/or applicability criteria. The resource is called according to the call in the policy to cause the resource to perform specified processing on the content object.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A content delivery network (CDN) having a plurality of geographically distributed points of presence (POPs) for processing content objects with a plurality of resources, the CDN comprising:

a landing pad to receive a content object from a client;
one or more databases comprising a list of the plurality of resources, each of the plurality of resources being associated with one or more tags, each tag indicating a characteristic of the associated resource;
and
a policy reconciliation service (PRS) for maintaining and processing policies, the PRS being coupled to the one or more databases, the PRS comprising:
a policy store comprising a plurality of policies, each of the plurality of policies defining specific processing of content objects, the plurality of policies including a first policy and a second policy,
wherein each of the first policy and the second policy comprises an applicability parameter indicating criteria that a content object must satisfy in order for the content object to be processed in accordance with the respective first or second policy, the criteria indicated in the first policy's applicability parameter being different from the criteria indicated in the second policy's applicability parameter,
wherein the first policy comprises a disposition parameter indicating criteria that a resource must satisfy in order for the resource to effect the first policy, and
wherein the first policy comprises one or more mutators, each mutator comprising a template for inclusion of an address of a resource and/or a location of a received content object;
and
a policy manager configured to:
determine that the first policy is applicable to the received content object and that the second policy is not applicable to the received content object, the determination being based on the first policy's criteria and metadata related to the received content object, a requester of the received content object and/or a provider of the received content object at the CDN;
and
identify a resource of the plurality of resources for effecting the first policy based on the disposition parameter and a tag associated with the first policy.

10 more elements

A method for processing content objects with a plurality of resources associated with a content delivery network (CDN) having a plurality of geographically distributed points of presence (POPs), the method comprising:

Enrolling, using a registration interface, the plurality of resources to be accessible from the CDN;
categorizing each of the plurality of resources using a plurality of tags that categorize the plurality of resources, and the plurality of resources includes a resource;
receiving selection of a policy from a plurality of policies, wherein the plurality of policies define processes to perform on content objects stored at the CDN, wherein the selected policy includes an applicability criteria and a call to the resource;
receiving, at the CDN, metadata related to a content object, a requester of the content object and/or a provider of the content object
receiving the content object for storage at the CDN;
determining, with a policy manager, that the policy is applicable and that other policies are not applicable to the received content object based on an analysis of the metadata and the applicability criteria of the policy;
and
calling, with the policy manager, the resource according to the call in the policy to cause the resource to perform specified processing on the received content object.

5 more elements

A content delivery network (CDN) having a plurality of geographically distributed points of presence (POPs) for processing content objects with a plurality of resources, the CDN comprising two or more hardware servers having one or more processors for:

enrolling the plurality of resources to be accessible from the CDN;
categorizing each of the plurality of resources using a plurality of tags that categorize the plurality of resources, and the plurality of resources includes a resource;
receiving selection of a policy from a plurality of policies, wherein the plurality of policies define processes to perform on content objects stored at the CDN, wherein the selected policy includes an applicability criteria and a call to the resource;
receiving, at the CDN, metadata related to a content object, a requester of the content object and/or a provider of the content object;
receiving the content object for storage at the CDN;
determining that the policy is applicable and that other policies are not applicable to the received content object based on an analysis of the metadata and the applicability criteria of the policy;
and
calling the resource according to the call in the policy to cause the resource to perform specified processing on the received content object.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/336,915Filed 23 Dec 2011 · continuation
Priority: 1 Feb 2011
Published: US 2012/0198041 A12 Aug 2012
Granted: 24 Dec 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

H04L 67/06
Protocols: specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
H04L 67/1097
In which an application is distributed across nodes in the network: for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for…
G06F 9/5027
To service a request: the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
H04L 67/1001
In which an application is distributed across nodes in the network: for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers