Patents by Inventor William Crowder

William Crowder 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).

  • Patent number: 10742521
    Abstract: A system has multiple service endpoints running on a plurality of devices, wherein each particular service endpoint consumes control resources specifying a configuration for the particular service endpoint. A method includes evaluating a configuration object using first external resource inputs to produce an evaluated configuration object; generating a template, the generating using the evaluated configuration object and second external resource inputs; rendering the template with a set of actual parameter values to produce a localized control resource, the rendering using third external resource inputs; and providing the localized control resource to at least one service endpoint in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 10708145
    Abstract: A device supporting content delivery is configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services include adaptation services with feedback from health services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton, Lewis Robert Varney
  • Patent number: 10701148
    Abstract: A framework supporting content delivery and comprising a plurality of devices, each device configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services, wherein the plurality of CD services comprise: collector services, reducer services, storage services, and control services; and wherein at least some of the plurality of devices run storage services, and wherein the storage services running on the at least some of the plurality of devices comprise at least one storage services network. At least one storage service is configured to provide persistent storage that is locally and/or globally addressable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 10701173
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, operable with a content delivery network (CDN) uses late binding of caching policies; by a caching node in the CDN, in response to a request for content, determining if the content is cached locally. When it is determined that said content is cached locally, then: determining a current cache policy associated with the content; and then determining, based on said current cache policy associated with the content, whether it is acceptable to serve the content that is cached locally; based on said determining, when it is not acceptable to serve the content that is cached locally, obtaining a new version of the content and then serving the new version of the content, otherwise when it is acceptable to serve the content that is cached locally, serving the content that is cached locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Newton, William Crowder
  • Patent number: 10700945
    Abstract: A method, operable in a content delivery network (CDN) having a plurality of content delivery (CD) services, includes making an association between a first property and at least one subnetwork of said content delivery framework; using said association to implement policies associated with said first property within the CDN, wherein the at least one subnetwork is responsible for at least one CD role for said first property; and modifying said association during operation of the CDN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 10701149
    Abstract: A framework supporting content delivery and comprising a plurality of devices, each device configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services, wherein the plurality of CD services comprise: collector services, reducer services, origin services, and control services; and wherein at least some of the plurality of devices run origin services, and wherein the origin services running on the at least some of the plurality of devices comprise at least one origin services network. At least one origin service is configured to provide persistent origin that is locally and/or globally addressable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 10652087
    Abstract: A framework supporting content delivery and comprising a plurality of devices, each device configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services, wherein the plurality of CD services comprise: collector services, reducer services, fill services, and control services; and wherein at least some of the plurality of devices run fill services, and wherein the fill services running on the at least some of the plurality of devices comprise at least one fill services network. At least one the fill service is configured to obtain resources on behalf of other CD services in the CDN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 10645186
    Abstract: A server in a content delivery (CD) network that distributes content on behalf of one or more subscribers. Responsive to a request from a client for a particular resource, if the particular resource is already in a cache on the server, serving the particular to the client from the cache; otherwise if the particular resource is not already cached on the server, when a count value exceeds a first threshold value, obtaining, caching, and serving the particular resource. When the count value is less than a second threshold value, obtaining and serving the particular resource. When the count value is: (i) not less than the second threshold value, and (ii) not greater than the first threshold value, then obtaining the particular resource and selectively caching the particular resource; and serving the particular resource to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Jensen, William Crowder, Christopher Newton, William R. Power
  • Publication number: 20200128068
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, in a content delivery (CD) network that delivers content on behalf of multiple content providers. The method includes, at a server in the CDN, wherein the server is currently processing at least one other request in at least one other session: receiving a connection request from a client, the connection request being associated with a corresponding content request; determining whether handling the content request will cause the server to become overloaded; and, based on the determining in (B) and on information about the content request, conditionally (i) accepting the content request, and (ii) terminating or throttling at least one session on the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: William R. Power, Christopher Newton, Laurence Lipstone, William Crowder
  • Patent number: 10608894
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a service, invalidation information relating to at least one resource. Based on the invalidation information, a staleness trigger of the at least one resource is set as a function of an invalidation period. The at least one resource is considered to be not useable based on the function of the invalidation period and the staleness trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Newton, Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart
  • Patent number: 10523744
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, in a content delivery (CD) network that delivers content on behalf of multiple content providers. The method includes, at a server in the CDN, wherein the server is currently processing at least one other request in at least one other session: receiving a connection request from a client, the connection request being associated with a corresponding content request; determining whether handling the content request will cause the server to become overloaded; and, based on the determining in (B) and on information about the content request, conditionally (i) accepting the content request, and (ii) terminating or throttling at least one session on the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: William R. Power, Christopher Newton, Laurence Lipstone, William Crowder
  • Publication number: 20190327326
    Abstract: A server in a content delivery (CD) network that distributes content on behalf of one or more subscribers. Responsive to a request from a client for a particular resource, if the particular resource is already in a cache on the server, serving the particular to the client from the cache; otherwise if the particular resource is not already cached on the server, when a count value exceeds a first threshold value, obtaining, caching, and serving the particular resource. When the count value is less than a second threshold value, obtaining and serving the particular resource. When the count value is: (i) not less than the second threshold value, and (ii) not greater than the first threshold value, then obtaining the particular resource and selectively caching the particular resource; and serving the particular resource to the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Jensen, William Crowder, Christopher Newton, William R. Power
  • Publication number: 20190327140
    Abstract: A method on a device in a content delivery (CD) network (CDN) that distributes content on behalf of one or more subscribers. In response to receiving configuration information from a subscriber, the configuration information relating to at least one property of the subscriber, generating subscriber-specific platform configuration information for the at least one property. Storing the subscriber-specific platform configuration information in platform configuration storage. Invalidating prior platform configuration information associated with the particular subscriber. Responsive to a request from a CDN component for platform configuration information associated with the particular subscriber: obtaining the subscriber-specific platform configuration information from the platform configuration storage; and providing the subscriber-specific platform configuration information to the CDN component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Laurence Lipstone, Christopher Newton, William Crowder, Vikas Dogra, Kevin Johns
  • Publication number: 20190288931
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, in a content delivery (CD) network, wherein said CD network delivers content on behalf of multiple content providers. The method includes, at a client, requesting one or more parts of a randomly generated test object; in response to said requesting, receiving one or more response objects; generating one or more portions of said randomly generated test object, and comparing the one or more response objects received to at least some of the one or more portions of the object generated. Based on said comparing, when said one or more response objects received do not match said at least some of the one or more portions of the object generated, reporting and logging an error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: William Crowder
  • Patent number: 10313223
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, in a content delivery (CD) network, wherein said CD network delivers content on behalf of multiple content providers. The method includes, at a client, requesting one or more parts of a randomly generated test object; in response to said requesting, receiving one or more response objects; generating one or more portions of said randomly generated test object, and comparing the one or more response objects received to at least some of the one or more portions of the object generated. Based on said comparing, when said one or more response objects received do not match said at least some of the one or more portions of the object generated, reporting and logging an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: William Crowder
  • Publication number: 20190109772
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method in a content delivery (CD) network includes determining at least one pseudo client IP address using first log information and second log information. The first log information being from a rendezvous service in the content delivery (CD) network, and includes at least one resolver IP address associated with at least one first request made at the rendezvous service. The second log information is from at least one probe service in the CD network, and includes at least one client IP address associated with at least one second request to the at least one probe service. The method also includes making an association between (i) the at least one pseudo client IP address and (ii) the at least one resolver IP address; and then, responsive to a name resolution request, the name resolution request including the at least one resolver IP address, the rendezvous service using the at least one pseudo client IP address instead of the resolver IP address to resolve the name.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton, Lewis Robert Varney
  • Publication number: 20190109896
    Abstract: A content delivery (CD) network delivers content on behalf of multiple content providers. A method includes determining that certain content is trending in a first geographic region during a first time period; and, based on the determining, causing the certain content to be prefetched by the CDN in a second geographic region by a given time after said first time period, wherein, during the first time period, the time in the second geographic region is earlier than the time in the first geographic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: William Crowder, Christopher Newton
  • Publication number: 20190109895
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, in a content delivery (CD) network that delivers content on behalf of multiple content providers. The method includes, at a server in the CDN, wherein the server is currently processing at least one other request in at least one other session: receiving a connection request from a client, the connection request being associated with a corresponding content request; determining whether handling the content request will cause the server to become overloaded; and, based on the determining in (B) and on information about the content request, conditionally (i) accepting the content request, and (ii) terminating or throttling at least one session on the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: William R. Power, Christopher Newton, Laurence Lipstone, William Crowder
  • Patent number: 10255229
    Abstract: Provided are computer-implemented methods and systems for performing media resource storage and management. The computer-implemented method and system implemented as a request manager is capable of monitoring requests for media resources in a content delivery network. For each monitored request, the request manager determines whether to generate a multifile for the requested media resource. For example, the request manager can first determine whether the media resource is eligible for multifile generation. If eligible, the request manager then determines whether the media resource has reached a popularity threshold. If the media resource has reached the popularity threshold, the request manager initiates generation of the multifile for the requested media resource. Generally, the generated multifile is stored in a storage system associated with the content delivery network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: William Crowder, Jeffrey Koller, David Fullagar
  • Publication number: 20190081867
    Abstract: A computer in a content delivery network (CDN) may take on one or more roles within the CDN. A particular computer takes on a first at least one role within the CDN; and then, in response to a change in configuration information, takes on a second at least one role within the CDN, the second at least one role being distinct from the first at least one role.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton, Lewis Robert Varney