Abstract: A method for routing a data request received by a caching system is described. The caching system includes a router and a cache, and the data request identifies a source platform, a destination platform, and requested data. Where the source and destination platforms correspond to an entry in a list automatically generated by the caching system, the data request is transmitted without determining whether the requested data are stored in the cache.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for replicating a plurality of original packets in a packet flow which follows a first routing path. The packet flow is received with a first device, the first device being included in the first routing path. In the first device, the original packets in the packet flow are identified according to at least one predetermined criterion. In the first device, replicate packets corresponding to the original packets are generated. The original packets are transmitted from the first device along the first routing path. The replicate packets are transmitted from the first device along a second routing path which is different from the first routing path.

Abstract: Techniques for handling objects in a network cache are described. A cost function value is calculated for each of a plurality of data objects. The cost function value relates to at least one metric relating to a total time required to download a corresponding one of the plurality of data objects. Each of the plurality of data objects are handled by the network cache according to its cost function value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a packet is received from a client, and the packet has a destination identifier associated with a server. When the packet is a start packet, the start packet is altered to indicate that the start packet should be forwarded to any replica that duplicates the data content of the server. The destination identifier of the start packet may be stored for later use. The start packet is then sent to the server. When the start packet indicates that the start packet should be forwarded to any replica that duplicates the data content of the server, the start packet is encapsulated and sent to each replica associated with the server. When a first acknowledgement packet associated with the start packet is received a source identifier of the first acknowledgement packet is stored and associated with the stored destination identifier. The first acknowledgement packet is then sent to the client.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for intelligently assigning a portion of a cluster's traffic (e.g., buckets) to a cache system to minimize overloading of such cache system. In general terms, when a new cache system enters a cache cluster and/or starts up, the new cache system's full bucket allocation is not immediately assigned to the new cache system. Instead, only a portion of the full bucket allocation is initially assigned to the new cache system. In one embodiment, the new cache system's bucket assignment is gradually increased until the cache system is handling it's full bucket allocation or it becomes overloaded. The cache system's load is also checked periodically to determine whether it has become overloaded. When the cache system becomes overloaded, buckets are immediately shed from the cache system. In sum, the new cache system's load is adjusted until it is handling an optimum number of buckets.

Abstract: A method for routing a data request received by a caching system is described. The caching system includes a router and a cache, and the data request identifies a source platform, a destination platform, and requested data. Where the source and destination platforms correspond to an entry in a list automatically generated by the caching system, the data request is transmitted without determining whether the requested data are stored in the cache.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for intelligently for intelligently routing a request to a device (e.g., replica or server). A packet is received (e.g., by the client's gateway router) from a client, and the packet has a destination identifier associated with a server. When the packet is a start packet, a tag is added to the start packet to indicate that the start packet should be forwarded to any replica that duplicates the data content of the server. The destination identifier of the start packet is stored for later use. After storing the destination identifier of the start packet and tagging the start packet, the start packet is sent to the server. When the start packet has a tag indicating that the start packet should be forwarded to any replica that duplicates the data content of the server, the start packet is encapsulated and sent to each replica associated with the server. A replica device then receives a start packet sent from the client to the server. The start packet is encapsulated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for caching objects in a network cache. At least two memory queues are provided for storing the objects. Newly cached objects are stored in a first memory queue. Only selected objects are stored in a second memory queue, the selected objects having been accessed at least once while in the first memory queue.

Abstract: Techniques for handling objects in a network cache are described. A cost function value is calculated for each of a plurality of data objects. The cost function value relates to at least one metric relating to a total time required to download a corresponding one of the plurality of data objects. Each of the plurality of data objects are handled by the network cache according to its cost function value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for controlling packet flow to a cache system is disclosed. A packet flow intended for a first destination is received into the cache system. When the packet flow indicates the start of the packet flow or when the packet flow is identified as being owned by the cache system, the packet flow is processed within the cache system. When the packet flow does not indicate the start of the packet flow and the packet flow is not identified as being owned by the cache system, the packet flow is directed back to the first destination.

Abstract: A method for routing a data request received by a caching system is described. The caching system includes a router and a cache, and the data request identifies a source platform, a destination platform, and requested data. Where the source and destination platforms correspond to an entry in a list automatically generated by the caching system, the data request is transmitted without determining whether the requested data are stored in the cache.

Abstract: A method for storing a plurality of multimedia objects in a cache memory is described. First ones of the multimedia objects are written into the cache memory sequentially from the beginning of the cache memory in the order in which they are received. When a first memory amount from a most recently stored one of the first multimedia objects to the end of the cache memory is insufficient to accommodate a new multimedia object, the new multimedia object is written from the beginning of the cache memory, thereby writing over a previously stored one of the first multimedia objects. Second ones of the multimedia objects are then written into the cache memory sequentially following the new multimedia object in the order in which they are received, thereby writing over the first ones of the multimedia objects. This cycle is repeated, thereby maintaining a substantially full cache memory.