Abstract: A computer implemented cache management system and method is provided for use with a service provider configured to communicate with one or more client devices and with a content provider. The system includes a cache hierarchy comprising multiple cache levels that maintain at least some resources for the content provider, and one or more request managers for processing client requests for resources and retrieving the resources from the cache hierarchy. In response to a resource request, the request manager selects a cache level from the cache hierarchy based on a popularity associated with the requested resource, and attempts to retrieve the resource from the selected cache level while bypassing cache level(s) inferior to the selected level.

Abstract: An edge system receives requests from user devices to retrieves files from an origin server. Instead of retrieving the files as fast as possible, the edge system throttles the retrieval of files to a rate that just exceeds the speed at which the file is played by a browser or media player. The edge system determines an appropriate retrieval rate based on the contents of the file itself. For example, a manifest file associated with the file can indicate a time it takes to play back content and a bitrate of the content. Thus, the edge server can use this information to retrieve a file from an origin server at a rate that is just fast enough to minimize playback interruption. The retrieval rate determined by the edge server therefore does not rely on how fast or slow the user device retrieves the file from the edge server.

Abstract: A computer implemented cache management system and method is provided for use with a service provider configured to communicate with one or more client devices and with a content provider. The system includes a cache hierarchy comprising multiple cache levels that maintain at least some resources for the content provider, and one or more request managers for processing client requests for resources and retrieving the resources from the cache hierarchy. In response to a resource request, the request manager selects a cache level from the cache hierarchy based on a popularity associated with the requested resource, and attempts to retrieve the resource from the selected cache level while bypassing cache level(s) inferior to the selected level.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing cached data in a network environment. In one example, the techniques include receiving a client request for a data group, determining that a cached copy of the requested data group that is stored in the persistent cache storage is no longer valid relative to a current copy of the data group stored at a remote data source system, obtaining from the remote data source system information about differences between the cached copy and the current copy and instructions associated with the identified differences, modifying, by the configured server computing system, the cached copy to include the identified differences in accordance with the received instructions, and providing, by the configured server computing system, the modified cached copy of the requested data group to the client in response to the client request.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable delivery of streaming content while inhibiting or preventing removal, blocking, or skipping of portions within that streaming content. A content delivery system can generate a manifest indicating content portions that form the streaming content. Each content portion can be identified in the manifest using a concealed identifier, which conceals the actual identifier of the content portion from the client to inhibit or prevent the client from automatically removing or modifying the content portion. On receiving a request for a content portion, the content delivery system can convert the concealed identifier into the actual identifier, and return the appropriate content portion to the client. In some instances, the specific identifiers included within a concealed manifest may be modified or adapted based on monitoring information of the client device, to ensure clients view given portions of streaming content.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing cached data in a network environment. In one example, the techniques include receiving a client request for a data group, determining that a cached copy of the requested data group that is stored in the persistent cache storage is no longer valid relative to a current copy of the data group stored at a remote data source system, obtaining from the remote data source system information about differences between the cached copy and the current copy and instructions associated with the identified differences, modifying, by the configured server computing system, the cached copy to include the identified differences in accordance with the received instructions, and providing, by the configured server computing system, the modified cached copy of the requested data group to the client in response to the client request.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing preloading of data for client computing systems. A client computing system may provide one or more persistent data storage caches on local storage, such as to support a particular software program executing on the client computing system (e.g., a Web browser program, with the persistent data storage cache designed to store browser cookies and other data for later access by the Web browser program). Additional data may be stored in such a persistent data storage cache by preloading those data groups before they are requested by the client computing system (e.g., based on interactions of a user of the client computing system with an executing program on the client computing system). Particular data groups to preload may be selected in various manners, including to provide a specified type of minimum functionality to a client computing system based on the preloaded data groups.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing preloading of data for client computing systems. A client computing system may provide one or more persistent data storage caches on local storage, such as to support a particular software program executing on the client computing system (e.g., a Web browser program, with the persistent data storage cache designed to store browser cookies and other data for later access by the Web browser program). Additional data may be stored in such a persistent data storage cache by preloading those data groups before they are requested by the client computing system (e.g., based on interactions of a user of the client computing system with an executing program on the client computing system). Particular data groups to preload may be selected in various manners, including to provide a specified type of minimum functionality to a client computing system based on the preloaded data groups.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing data transmissions between computing systems based at least in part on using a streaming transport protocol. At least some such data transmissions may be performed using HTTP, with one or more underlying transport protocols used to implement the HTTP-based data transmissions. HTTP-based data transmissions performed using an underlying streaming transport protocol, for example, may send data without performing error detection for reliability and without ensuring ordered delivery of the sent data. In addition, one or more HTTP-based data transmissions may be initiated using an underlying streaming transport protocol, but subsequent data transmissions may switch to using a different underlying transport protocol (e.g., TCP) or different transmission technique that is performed without using data streaming.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a DNS query to identify and implement pre-processing information by a DNS server component in anticipation of a corresponding content request from a client computing device are provided. The pre-processing information can correspond to identification of content to be preloaded or other actions to be implemented by one or more computing devices in association with an anticipated client content request. Based on identification of the content or future actions, a DNS server component can provide the pre-processing information to one or more computing devices, such as computing devices of a CDN service provider and/or an original content provider, in advance of a corresponding request for content from the client computing device in order to improve performance associated with responding to the client request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a DNS query to identify and implement pre-processing information by a DNS server component in anticipation of a corresponding content request from a client computing device are provided. The pre-processing information can correspond to identification of content to be preloaded or other actions to be implemented by one or more computing devices in association with an anticipated client content request. Based on identification of the content or future actions, a DNS server component can provide the pre-processing information to one or more computing devices, such as computing devices of a CDN service provider and/or an original content provider, in advance of a corresponding request for content from the client computing device in order to improve performance associated with responding to the client request.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing data transmissions between computing systems based at least in part on using a streaming transport protocol. At least some such data transmissions may be performed using HTTP, with one or more underlying transport protocols used to implement the HTTP-based data transmissions. HTTP-based data transmissions performed using an underlying streaming transport protocol, for example, may send data without performing error detection for reliability and without ensuring ordered delivery of the sent data. In addition, one or more HTTP-based data transmissions may be initiated using an underlying streaming transport protocol, but subsequent data transmissions may switch to using a different underlying transport protocol (e.g., TCP) or different transmission technique that is performed without using data streaming.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing data transmissions between computing systems based at least in part on using a streaming transport protocol. At least some such data transmissions may be performed using HTTP, with one or more underlying transport protocols used to implement the HTTP-based data transmissions. HTTP-based data transmissions performed using an underlying streaming transport protocol, for example, may send data without performing error detection for reliability and without ensuring ordered delivery of the sent data. In addition, one or more HTTP-based data transmissions may be initiated using an underlying streaming transport protocol, but subsequent data transmissions may switch to using a different underlying transport protocol (e.g., TCP) or different transmission technique that is performed without using data streaming.