Abstract: A method comprises associating at least one cache replacement granularity value with a given one of a plurality of content streams comprising a number of segments, receiving a request for a given segment of the given content stream in a network element, identifying a given portion of the given content stream which contains the given segment, updating a value corresponding to the given portion of the given content stream, and determining whether to store the given portion of the given content stream in a memory of the network element based at least in part on the updated value corresponding to the given portion. The at least one cache replacement granularity value represents a given number of segments, the given content stream being separable into one or more portions based at least in part on the at least one cache replacement granularity value.

Abstract: A cache management system and method and a content distribution system. In one embodiment, the cache management system includes: (1) a content request receiver configured to receive content requests, (2) a popularity lifetime prediction modeler coupled to the content request receiver and configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of the content requests, (3) a database coupled to the popularity lifetime prediction modeler and configured to contain the popularity lifetime prediction models and (4) a popularity lifetime prediction model matcher coupled to the content request receiver and the database and configured to match at least one content request to the popularity lifetime prediction models and control a cache based thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling peer-to-peer connections in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) streaming application for individual Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks over a localized overlay. The system may include a tracker local to a first ISP network configured to select edge peers among local peers of the first ISP network. The selected edge peers have external connections to peers outside the first ISP network in order to transfer sub-streams to or from the first ISP network, and the local peers not selected as edge peers have internal connections to other local peers within the first ISP network to transfer the sub-streams over the localized overlay.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a first request for a first segment of a content stream in a network element from a given one of a plurality of clients, determining in the network element whether the first segment is stored in a memory of the network element, sending a second request for the first segment from the network element to a server responsive to the determining step, receiving a response comprising the first segment in the network element from the server responsive to the second request, and sending the first segment from the network element to the given one of the plurality of clients. The first segment is related to a second segment of the content stream, the relationship being transparent to the network element but being inferable based at least in part on at least one of the first request, the response and one or more prior requests.

Abstract: A method comprises associating at least one cache replacement granularity value with a given one of a plurality of content streams comprising a number of segments, receiving a request for a given segment of the given content stream in a network element, identifying a given portion of the given content stream which contains the given segment, updating a value corresponding to the given portion of the given content stream, and determining whether to store the given portion of the given content stream in a memory of the network element based at least in part on the updated value corresponding to the given portion. The at least one cache replacement granularity value represents a given number of segments, the given content stream being separable into one or more portions based at least in part on the at least one cache replacement granularity value.

Abstract: A chunk request scheduler is provided for HTTP adaptive streaming. Requests for media chunks are scheduled over a network by requesting the media chunks over at least one connection; storing the media chunks in at least one buffer; monitoring a level of the at least one buffer; and selectively switching between at least two predefined download strategies for the request based on the buffer level. Requests for media chunks can also be scheduled over a network by obtaining an ordering of the connections based on a rate of each connection; storing the media chunks in at least one buffer; and requesting the media chunks over the ordered plurality of connections based on a size of the media chunks. For example, audio chunk requests can be scheduled over TCP connections having a lower rate order and video chunk requests can be scheduled over TCP connections having a higher rate order.

Abstract: A method of retrieving content from a network with a host-based network and a name-based network includes receiving, at a network node, a first message including at least one of a first host-based request and a first name-based interest, and transmitting, from the network node, a second message based on the at least one of the first host-based request and the first name-based interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling peer-to-peer connections in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) streaming application for individual Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks over a localized overlay. The system may include a tracker local to a first ISP network configured to select edge peers among local peers of the first ISP network. The selected edge peers have external connections to peers outside the first ISP network in order to transfer sub-streams to or from the first ISP network, and the local peers not selected as edge peers have internal connections to other local peers within the first ISP network to transfer the sub-streams over the localized overlay.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer communication optimizer uses both peer locality and content diversity in a peer group to reduce network usage cost associated with using remote peers in a peer-to-peer system while reducing impact on the download time relative to peer-to-peer protocols operating with locality optimization alone or no localization of peers. The optimizer intercepts control messages in the peer-to-peer system and substitutes peer lists that meet both diversity indicator and network usage cost thresholds. Transparent embodiments operate without requirement to change peer or tracker implementations. Such embodiments include control message redirection, interception, and modification transparent to the client and tracker applications. Other embodiments include proxy designation. Still other embodiments include the use of gateway peers selected as function of diversity of content and network topology.

Abstract: A cache management system and method and a content distribution system. In one embodiment, the cache management system includes: (1) a content request receiver configured to receive content requests, (2) a popularity lifetime prediction modeler coupled to the content request receiver and configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of the content requests, (3) a database coupled to the popularity lifetime prediction modeler and configured to contain the popularity lifetime prediction models and (4) a popularity lifetime prediction model matcher coupled to the content request receiver and the database and configured to match at least one content request to the popularity lifetime prediction models and control a cache based thereon.