Network controlled client caching system and method

A communication network to which a user terminal is connected for exchanging delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content, the communication network comprising:

• a network cache configured to store the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content;
• and
• a pre-caching logic module disposed within the network cache and in communication with a user cache located outside the communication network at the user terminal, wherein the user cache is controlled only by the user terminal, and wherein the pre-caching logic module is configured to,
• gather network information related to a status of the communication network,
• receive user terminal information from the user cache, wherein the user terminal information contains information about conditions determined by the user terminal that affect when transfer of the delay-tolerant data content or the in-advance data content should occur, and
• decide when to transfer the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content from the network cache to the user cache based on the network information and the user terminal information.

A network cache in a communication network to which a user terminal is connected for exchanging delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content, the network cache comprising:

• a storage device configured to store the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content;
• and
• a pre-caching logic module in communication with the storage device and configured to,
• gather network information related to a status of the communication network,
• receive user terminal information from a user cache in communication with the pre-caching logic module and located outside the communication network at the user terminal, wherein the user cache is controlled only by the user terminal and the user terminal information contains information about conditions determined by the user terminal that affect when transfer of the delay-tolerant data content or the in-advance data content should occur, and
• decide when to transfer the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content from the network cache to the user cache based on the network information and the user terminal information.

A method for exchanging delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content between a user terminal and a communication network with which the user terminal communicates, the method comprising:

• storing the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content into a user cache located outside the communication network in the user terminal, wherein the user cache is controlled only by the user terminal;
• gathering at the network cache network information related to a status of the communication network;
• receiving user terminal information at the network cache from the user cache, wherein the user terminal information contains information about conditions determined by the user terminal that affect when transfer of the delay-tolerant data content or the in-advance data content should occur;
• and
• deciding when to transfer the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content from the user cache to the network cache based on a determination by the network cache using both the network information and the user terminal information.

A user cache in a user terminal connected to a communication network for exchanging delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content, wherein the user cache is located outside of the communication network and is controlled only by the user terminal, the user cache comprising:

• a user interface configured to receive input from a user of the user terminal regarding the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content;
• a storage device configured to store the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content;
• an application interface configured to interact with an application stored on the user terminal;
• a cache controller connected to the application interface and the storage device for controlling the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content;
• and
• a communication function module connected to the cache controller and to a network cache and configured to send information related to the user terminal and to receive the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content, wherein the information related to the user terminal contains the input from the user of the user terminal regarding the delay-tolerant data content or the in-advance data content and information about conditions determined by the user terminal that affect when transfer of the delay-tolerant data content or the in-advance data content should occur.