Methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated computer executable code for caching content

A gateway network comprising:

• a client device interface to receive a media content request from a client device connected to the gateway network and to stream the requested content to the client device;
• a content source interface to receive the requested media content from an external content source;
• and
• a content caching unit comprising:
• (1) a content characterization module to generate one or more characterization parameters of streaming media content, as the streaming media content is streaming from the external content source to the client device, wherein the one or more characterization parameters comprises one of a content ID and content fingerprint to identify the streaming media content;
• (2) a cache repository to store one or more content entities and characterization parameters for at least one of the one or more content entities;
• (3) a comparison module to compare, as the media content is streaming, the one or more characterization parameters generated by said content characterization module against characterization parameters of content entities stored in said cache repository, wherein a stored content entity whose characterization parameters match those of the streaming media content is termed a matched content entity;
• and (4) a routing module to pause streaming from the external content source and route the matched content entity to the client device.

A method for caching content in a gateway network comprising:

• receiving a media content request from a client device connected to the gateway network;
• requesting and receiving the requested media content from an external content source and streaming the requested media content to the client device;
• generating one or more characterization parameters of the media content, as the media content is streaming from the external content source to the client device, wherein the one or more characterization parameters comprises one of a content ID and content fingerprint to identify the streaming media content;
• storing one or more content entities and characterization parameters for at least one of the one or more content entities;
• comparing, as the media content is streaming, the one or more characterization parameters of the media content against characterization parameters of stored content entities, wherein a stored content entity whose characterization parameters match those of the streaming media content is termed a matched content entity;
• pausing streaming from the external content source;
• and
• routing the matched content entity to the client device.