Patents by Inventor Eric C. Friedrich

Eric C. Friedrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260128981
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for improved cache localization. Network path data received from a plurality of routing advertisements for a communication network is aggregated, the communication network comprising a plurality of content delivery network (CDN) caches. Link utilization for a plurality of links in the communication network relating to the plurality of CDN caches is determined, and a connectivity table reflecting, for each of a plurality of routes in the communication network, one or more characteristics of the routes is generated. Communication between a requesting client and a first CDN cache, of the plurality of CDN caches, is routed based on the connectivity table and the determined link utilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2024
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Inventors: Eric C. FRIEDRICH, Joseph D. HIGGINS, Bradley A. TARNO, Tiffeny E. CHEN, Anthony D. DEGLIOMINI, Richard J. STEIN
  • Publication number: 20260032182
    Abstract: Techniques relating to caching a content object are disclosed. These techniques include transmitting, from a requestor to a first server, a revalidation request relating to a content object, and receiving, at the requestor from the first server, a response to the revalidation request indicating that the content object is not modified. The response is received at the requestor based on the first server determining that metadata describing one or more characteristics of the content object is stored in a cache associated with the first server and that the content object is not stored in the cache, and in response determining whether to retrieve content object data from any server based on analyzing a metric relating to retrieving the content object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: Eric C. FRIEDRICH, Eric R. KLEIN, Jeffrey Edwin GRUBB
  • Patent number: 12432285
    Abstract: Techniques relating to caching a content object are disclosed. These techniques include transmitting, from a requestor to a first server, a revalidation request relating to a content object, and receiving, at the requestor from the first server, a response to the revalidation request indicating that the content object is not modified. The response is received at the requestor based on the first server determining that metadata describing one or more characteristics of the content object is stored in a cache associated with the first server and that the content object is not stored in the cache, and in response determining whether to retrieve content object data from any server based on analyzing a metric relating to retrieving the content object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Friedrich, Eric R. Klein, Jeffrey Edwin Grubb
  • Patent number: 12143443
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a CDN where anycast routing is used to identify a load balancer for selecting a cache in the CDN to use to deliver a requested object to a user. In one embodiment, the user performs a DNS lookup to identify an anycast IP address for a plurality of load balancers in the CDN. The user can then initiate anycast routing using the anycast IP address to automatically identify a load balancer. Once the identified balancer selects the cache, the load balancer can close the anycast connection with the user device and use a redirect to provide the user device with a unicast path to the selected cache. The user device can then establish a unicast connection with the cache to retrieve (e.g., stream) the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Friedrich, Robert G. Colantuoni
  • Publication number: 20240236203
    Abstract: Techniques relating to caching a content object are disclosed. These techniques include transmitting, from a requestor to a first server, a revalidation request relating to a content object, and receiving, at the requestor from the first server, a response to the revalidation request indicating that the content object is not modified. The response is received at the requestor based on the first server determining that metadata describing one or more characteristics of the content object is stored in a cache associated with the first server and that the content object is not stored in the cache, and in response determining whether to retrieve content object data from any server based on analyzing a metric relating to retrieving the content object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Eric C. FRIEDRICH, Eric R. KLEIN, Jeffrey Edwin GRUBB
  • Patent number: 11943315
    Abstract: Techniques relating to caching a content object are disclosed. These techniques include receiving, at a first server from a requestor, a revalidation request relating to a content object. The techniques further include determining that metadata describing one or more characteristics of the content object is stored in a cache associated with the first server and that the content object is not stored in the cache, and in response: determining, at the first server, whether to retrieve content object data from any server based on analyzing a metric relating to retrieving the content object, and transmitting from the first server to the requestor, based on analyzing the metadata, a response to the revalidation request indicating that the content object is not modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Friedrich, Eric R. Klein, Jeffrey Edwin Grubb
  • Patent number: 11882197
    Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a CDN that uses revalidation to force edge servers to refresh their cached objects (i.e., download new copies of the objects from the origin data center). Revalidation can be used by edge servers to determine whether an object currently cached at the edge servers has been updated or changed in the origin data center. The embodiments herein leverage revalidation to perform a forced refresh to force the edge servers to refresh their cached object, regardless whether those cached objects match the objects stored in the origin data center. A forced refresh can be used when there is a network connection that may have caused the cached objects to become corrupted. Moreover, the forced refresh can be performed in batches so as not to overwhelm the network and computing resources in the CDN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Friedrich, Luis A. Cruz, Robert Gerard Colantuoni, Jeffrey Edwin Grubb
  • Publication number: 20230362240
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a CDN where anycast routing is used to identify a load balancer for selecting a cache in the CDN to use to deliver a requested object to a user. In one embodiment, the user performs a DNS lookup to identify an anycast IP address for a plurality of load balancers in the CDN. The user can then initiate anycast routing using the anycast IP address to automatically identify a load balancer. Once the identified balancer selects the cache, the load balancer can close the anycast connection with the user device and use a redirect to provide the user device with a unicast path to the selected cache. The user device can then establish a unicast connection with the cache to retrieve (e.g., stream) the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Eric C. FRIEDRICH, Robert G. COLANTUONI
  • Patent number: 11706292
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a CDN where anycast routing is used to identify a load balancer for selecting a cache in the CDN to use to deliver a requested object to a user. In one embodiment, the user performs a DNS lookup to identify an anycast IP address for a plurality of load balancers in the CDN. The user can then initiate anycast routing using the anycast IP address to automatically identify the closest load balancer. Once the identified balancer selects the cache, the load balancer can close the anycast connection with the user device and use an HTTP redirect to provide the user device with a unicast path to the selected cache. The user device can then establish a unicast connection with the cache to retrieve (e.g., stream) the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Friedrich, Robert G. Colantuoni
  • Publication number: 20230137435
    Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a CDN that uses revalidation to force edge servers to refresh their cached objects (i.e., download new copies of the objects from the origin data center). Revalidation can be used by edge servers to determine whether an object currently cached at the edge servers has been updated or changed in the origin data center. The embodiments herein leverage revalidation to perform a forced refresh to force the edge servers to refresh their cached object, regardless whether those cached objects match the objects stored in the origin data center. A forced refresh can be used when there is a network connection that may have caused the cached objects to become corrupted. Moreover, the forced refresh can be performed in batches so as not to overwhelm the network and computing resources in the CDN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Eric C. FRIEDRICH, Luis A. CRUZ, Robert Gerard COLANTUONI, Jeffrey Edwin GRUBB
  • Patent number: 11563824
    Abstract: Techniques relating to caching a content object are disclosed. A first server receives a revalidation request, relating to a content object, from a requestor. It is determined that metadata, relating to the content object, is stored in a cache associated with the first server. In response, the first server determines not to retrieve the content object from a second server. The content object is not stored in the cache. A response to the revalidation request, indicating that the content object is not modified, is transmitted from the first server to the requestor, based on analyzing the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Friedrich, Eric R. Klein, Jeffrey Edwin Grubb
  • Patent number: 11496597
    Abstract: A method is performed at a mobile core, including assigning a first cache servicing a client device in response to a first request for a media content item based at least in part on a first IP address of the client device associated with a first edge location. The method further includes providing a first portion of the media content item from the first cache. The method additionally includes triggering a plurality of caches at edge locations proximate to the first edge location to retrieve a second portion of the media content item. The method also includes receiving a continuation request from the client device with a second IP address associated with a second edge location. The method further includes selecting a second cache from the plurality of caches based at least in part on the second IP address and continuing providing the media content item from the second cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rajiv Asati, Humberto Jose La Roche, Eric C. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11438433
    Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a CDN that uses revalidation to force edge servers to refresh their cached objects (i.e., download new copies of the objects from the origin data center). Revalidation can be used by edge servers to determine whether an object currently cached at the edge servers has been updated or changed in the origin data center. The embodiments herein leverage revalidation to perform a forced refresh to force the edge servers to refresh their cached object, regardless whether those cached objects match the objects stored in the origin data center. A forced refresh can be used when there is a network connection that may have caused the cached objects to become corrupted. Moreover, the forced refresh can be performed in batches so as not to overwhelm the network and computing resources in the CDN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Friedrich, Luis A. Cruz, Robert Gerard Colantuoni, Jeffrey Edwin Grubb
  • Patent number: 11368505
    Abstract: Techniques for improved media streaming are provided. A request for a variant list for streaming media content is received from a requesting entity, where the request includes a predefined flag. A set of predefined rules corresponding to the predefined flag is identified. The variant list is pruned based on the set of predefined rules, and the pruned variant list is transmitted to the requesting entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Klein, William B. May, Jr., Jeffrey Edwin Grubb, Aashish J. Shah, Eric C. Friedrich, Joseph S. Rice, Joseph A. Inzerillo, Christopher J. Zucker, Joseph C. Hart
  • Publication number: 20220150320
    Abstract: Techniques relating to caching a content object are disclosed. A first server receives a revalidation request, relating to a content object, from a requestor. It is determined that metadata, relating to the content object, is stored in a cache associated with the first server. In response, the first server determines not to retrieve the content object from a second server. The content object is not stored in the cache. A response to the revalidation request, indicating that the content object is not modified, is transmitted from the first server to the requestor, based on analyzing the metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Eric C. FRIEDRICH, Eric R. KLEIN, Jeffrey Edwin GRUBB
  • Publication number: 20220086207
    Abstract: Techniques for improved media streaming are provided. A request for a variant list for streaming media content is received from a requesting entity, where the request includes a predefined flag. A set of predefined rules corresponding to the predefined flag is identified. The variant list is pruned based on the set of predefined rules, and the pruned variant list is transmitted to the requesting entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Eric R. KLEIN, William B. MAY, JR., Jeffrey Edwin GRUBB, Aashish J. SHAH, Eric C. FRIEDRICH, Joseph S. RICE, Joseph A. INZERILLO, Christopher J. ZUCKER, Joseph C. HART
  • Publication number: 20210352157
    Abstract: A method is performed at a mobile core, including assigning a first cache servicing a client device in response to a first request for a media content item based at least in part on a first IP address of the client device associated with a first edge location. The method further includes providing a first portion of the media content item from the first cache. The method additionally includes triggering a plurality of caches at edge locations proximate to the first edge location to retrieve a second portion of the media content item. The method also includes receiving a continuation request from the client device with a second IP address associated with a second edge location. The method further includes selecting a second cache from the plurality of caches based at least in part on the second IP address and continuing providing the media content item from the second cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Rajiv Asati, Humberto Jose La Roche, Eric C. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11038979
    Abstract: A method is performed at a mobile core, including assigning a first cache servicing a client device in response to a first request for a media content item based at least in part on a first IP address of the client device associated with a first edge location. The method further includes providing a first portion of the media content item from the first cache. The method additionally includes triggering a plurality of caches at edge locations proximate to the first edge location to retrieve a second portion of the media content item. The method also includes receiving a continuation request from the client device with a second IP address associated with a second edge location. The method further includes selecting a second cache from the plurality of caches based at least in part on the second IP address and continuing providing the media content item from the second cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rajiv Asati, Humberto Jose La Roche, Eric C. Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20200153927
    Abstract: A method is performed at a mobile core, including assigning a first cache servicing a client device in response to a first request for a media content item based at least in part on a first IP address of the client device associated with a first edge location. The method further includes providing a first portion of the media content item from the first cache. The method additionally includes triggering a plurality of caches at edge locations proximate to the first edge location to retrieve a second portion of the media content item. The method also includes receiving a continuation request from the client device with a second IP address associated with a second edge location. The method further includes selecting a second cache from the plurality of caches based at least in part on the second IP address and continuing providing the media content item from the second cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Rajiv Asati, Humberto Jose La Roche, Eric C. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 10423481
    Abstract: A system can include a reconciliation engine configured to evaluate metadata in a given manifest file of a plurality of manifest files generated for redundant copies of a given media asset. The metadata describes a condition of a given chunk of media content in one of the redundant copies of the given media asset. The system can also include a manifest modification function configured to modify the given manifest file for the given chunk of media content in response to the reconciliation engine detecting that the given chunk of media content is damaged based on the evaluation of the metadata associated with the given chunk of media content in the given manifest file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol E. Iturralde, Eric C. Friedrich, Matthew F. Caulfield, Kevin S. Kirkup, Keith Millar, Gareth J. Bowen