Abstract: A method and apparatus stores media content in a variety of storage devices, with at least a portion of the storage devices having different performance characteristics. The system can deliver media to a large number of clients while maintaining a high level of viewing experience for each client by automatically adapting the bit rate of a media being delivered to a client using the client's last mile bit rate variation. The system provides clients with smooth viewing of video without buffering stops. The client does not need a custom video content player to communicate with the system.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between a client and a private data communication network. An encrypted data communication session, such as a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) data communication session, is established between a gateway and the client over a public data communication network. The gateway then sends a programming component to the client for automatic installation and execution thereon. The programming component operates to intercept communications from client applications destined for resources on the private data communication network and to send the intercepted communications to the gateway via the encrypted data communication session instead of to the resources on the private data communication network.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for dynamically redirecting on a client communications of the client with a server to bypass an intermediary that is determined to be unavailable for such communications. An acceleration program on the client establishes a transport layer connection between the client and server, and intercepts communications of the client to the server. The transport layer connection may be established via an intermediary, such as a gateway, proxy or appliance. If the client-side acceleration program determines the intermediary is not available for communicating by the client to the server, the acceleration program automatically establishes a second transport layer connection to the server in order to bypass the intermediary. The acceleration program then transmits the intercepted communications of the client via the second transport layer connection to the server.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using a client agent to manage HTTP authentication cookies. One method includes intercepting, by a client agent executing on a client, a connection request from the client; establishing, by the client agent, a transport layer virtual private network connection with a network appliance; transmitting, by the client agent via the established connection, an HTTP request comprising an authentication cookie; and transmitting, by the client agent via the connection, the connection request.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for dynamically deploying and executing acceleration functionality on a client to improve the performance and delivery of remotely accessed applications. In one embodiment, the client-side acceleration functionality is provided by an acceleration program that performs a transport layer connection pooling technique for improving performance of communications and delivery of a remotely-accessed application. The acceleration program establishes a transport layer connection from the client to the server that can be used by multiple applications on the client, or that is otherwise shared among applications of the client. The acceleration program maintains the transport layer connection open to reduce the number of transport layer connection requests and number of transport layer connections established with the server for an application or multiple applications running on the client.

Abstract: A method for compressing a stream of application layer network traffic communicated over a transport layer connection of a virtual private network connection between a client and a server using an appliance. The appliance intercepts one or more transport layer packets of a stream of application network traffic communicated via a transport layer connection of a virtual private network connection between a client and a server. The appliance accumulates data from a payload of the intercepted transport layer packets, determines data accumulated for transmission should be compressed based on one or more compression trigger, and compresses the accumulated data into a self-contained compression block for transmission.

Abstract: Methods for redirecting, on a client, a communication of the client to a server to upon determining the server is not useable to communicate to the client include the steps of: establishing, by an client agent on a client, a transport layer connection between the client and an intermediary appliance, the intermediary appliance providing access to one or more servers; receiving, by the client agent from the intermediary appliance, address information identifying at least one of the one or more servers available to communicate; determining, by the client agent, the transport layer connection is unusable to communicate; establishing, by the client agent, a second transport layer connection between the client and one of the identified available servers to bypass the appliance. Corresponding systems are also described.

Abstract: Methods for using a client agent to route client requests among a plurality of appliances using transport layer information include the steps of: establishing, by a client agent executing on a client, a first transport layer connection with a first appliance of a plurality of appliances, the first appliance providing access to one or more servers; establishing, by a client agent executing on the client, a second transport layer connection with a second appliance of a plurality of appliances, the second appliance providing access to one or more servers; intercepting, by the client agent, a packet transmitted by the client; selecting, by the client agent, one of the connections to transmit the intercepted packet based on a characteristic of at least one of: the transport layer connections, the plurality of appliances, or the servers; and transmitting the intercepted packet via the selected connection.

Abstract: A method for intercepting, by an agent of a client, communications from the client to be transmitted via a virtual private network connection includes the step of intercepting communications based on identification of an application from which the communication originates. The agent receives information identifying a first application. The agent determines a network communication transmitted by the client originates from the first application and intercepts that communication. The agent transmits the intercepted communication via the virtual private network connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using a client agent to manage HTTP authentication cookies. One method includes intercepting, by a client agent executing on a client, a connection request from the client; establishing, by the client agent, a transport layer virtual private network connection with a network appliance; transmitting, by the client agent via the established connection, an HTTP request comprising an authentication cookie; and transmitting, by the client agent via the connection, the connection request.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for dynamically deploying and executing acceleration functionality on a client to improve the performance and delivery of remotely accessed applications. In one embodiment, the client-side acceleration functionality is provided by an acceleration program that performs a transport layer connection multiplexing technique for improving performance of communications and delivery of a remotely-accessed application. The acceleration program establishes a transport layer connection from the client to the server that can be used by multiple applications on the client, or that is otherwise shared among applications of the client. The acceleration program multiplexes requests from one or more applications via the same transport layer connection maintained by the acceleration program.

Abstract: A device receives, from a client device, a request for a resource that is available from an origin device, and determines whether the resource is cached in a cache server or not cached in the cache server. The device forwards the request to the cache server regardless of whether or not the resource is cached in the cache server, and receives, when the resource is not cached in the cache server, a redirect command from the cache server based on the request. The device forwards the received redirect command to the client device, where the redirect command instructs the client device to obtain the resource from the origin device. The device receives, from the cache server and based on the request, the resource when the resource is cached in the cache server, and forwards the received resource to the client device.

Abstract: A method for intercepting, by an agent of a client, communications from the client to be transmitted via a virtual private network connection includes the step of intercepting communications based on identification of an application from which the communication originates. The agent receives information identifying a first application. The agent determines a network communication transmitted by the client originates from the first application and intercepts that communication. The agent transmits the intercepted communication via the virtual private network connection.

Abstract: An appliance and method for authorizing a level of access of a client to a virtual private network connection, based on a client-side attribute includes the step of establishing, by an appliance, a control connection with a client upon receiving a client request to establish a virtual private network connection with a network. The appliance transmits, via the control connection, a request to the client to evaluate at least one clause of a security string, the at least one clause including an expression associated with a client-side attribute. The client transmits, via the control connection, a response to the appliance comprising a result of evaluating the at least one clause by the client. The appliance assigns the client to an authorization group based on the result of evaluation of the at least one clause.

Abstract: The intranet IP address management solution of the appliance and/or client described herein provides an environment for efficiently assigning, managing and querying virtual private network addresses, referred to as intranet IP (IIP) addresses of virtual private network users, such as a multitude of SSL VPN users on an enterprise network. The appliance provides techniques and policies for assigning previously assigned virtual private network addresses of a user to subsequent sessions of the user as the user logs in multiple times or roams between access points. This technique is referred to IIP stickiness as the appliance attempts to provide the same IIP address to a roaming VPN user. The appliance also provides a configurable user domain naming policy so that one can ping or query the virtual private network address of a user by an easily referenceable host name identifying the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using a client agent to manage HTTP authentication cookies. One method includes intercepting, by a client agent executing on a client, a connection request from the client; establishing, by the client agent, a transport layer virtual private network connection with a network appliance; transmitting, by the client agent via the established connection, an HTTP request comprising an authentication cookie; and transmitting, by the client agent via the connection, the connection request.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between a client and a private data communication network. An encrypted data communication session, such as a-Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) data communication session, is established between a gateway and the client over a public data communication network. The gateway then sends a programming component to the client for automatic installation and execution thereon. The programming component operates to intercept communications from client applications destined for resources on the private data communication network and to send the intercepted communications to the gateway via the encrypted data communication session instead of to the resources on the private data communication network.

Abstract: A device receives, from a client device, a request for a resource that is available from an origin device, and determines whether the resource is cached in a cache server or not cached in the cache server. The device forwards the request to the cache server regardless of whether or not the resource is cached in the cache server, and receives, when the resource is not cached in the cache server, a redirect command from the cache server based on the request. The device forwards the received redirect command to the client device, where the redirect command instructs the client device to obtain the resource from the origin device. The device receives, from the cache server and based on the request, the resource when the resource is cached in the cache server, and forwards the received resource to the client device.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for establishing via an appliance a transport layer protocol connection initiated by a server on a first network to a client connected from a second network to the first network via a secure socket layer virtual private network (SSL VPN) connection. The method includes the step of receiving, by an appliance, a transport layer connection request from a server on a first network to connect to a client connected to the first network via a SSL VPN connection from a second network. The transport layer connection request identifies a client destination internet protocol address and a client destination port on the first network.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between a client and a private data communication network. An encrypted data communication session, such as a—Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) data communication session, is established between a gateway and the client over a public data communication network. The gateway then sends a programming component to the client for automatic installation and execution thereon. The programming component operates to intercept communications from client applications destined for resources on the private data communication network and to send the intercepted communications to the gateway via the encrypted data communication session instead of to the resources on the private data communication network.