Cache management system and method and content distribution system incorporating the same

A cache management method, comprising:

• receiving requests for a unit of content;
• generating popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of said requests, wherein at least one of said popularity lifetime prediction models for predicting a future popularity of said unit of content is determined based on a peak rate of requesting said unit of content after an introduction of said unit of content, a decay factor, and a base determined for said unit of content;
• and
• associating at least one request for the unit of content with said popularity lifetime prediction models, and controlling a cache based on the at least one popularity lifetime prediction model and at least one of the following stimuli:
• notification of upcoming content availability, and
• notification of upcoming promotions of content.

A content distribution system, comprising:

• mass storage;
• a cache coupled to said mass storage;
• and
• a cache management system associated with said cache and including:
• a content request receiver configured to receive requests for a unit of content,
• a popularity lifetime prediction modeler configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content contained in said mass storage based on at least some of said requests, wherein at least one of said popularity lifetime prediction models for predicting a future popularity of said unit of content is determined based on a peak rate of requesting said unit of content after an introduction of said unit of content, a decay factor, and a base determined for said unit of content, and
• a popularity lifetime prediction model processor configured to associate at least one request for the unit of content with said popularity lifetime prediction models, and to control said cache based on the at least one popularity lifetime prediction model and at least one of the following stimuli:
• notification of upcoming content availability, and
• notification of upcoming promotions of content.