Method and Apparatus for Content Caching in a Wireless Communication Network

摘要

The teachings herein describe methods and apparatuses for caching content at the “edge” of a wireless communication network, based on operating one or more RAN caches within the RAN portion of the network under the control of a gateway cache that operates at the packet data network interface level within the CN portion of the network. Each RAN cache operates as subordinate of the gateway cache, based on intercepting content requests from wireless devices operating within the RAN, providing corresponding proxied content requests to the gateway cache, and serving or not serving requested content from the RAN cache in dependence on control signaling from the gateway cache. Such operation permits all decision making to reside in the gateway cache, thereby retaining full visibility for critical billing and lawful intercept functions, while obviating in many instances the need to back haul such content.

主权项

1. A method of content caching in a wireless communication network comprising a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a Core Network (CN), said method comprising:
operating a gateway cache in the CN at a packet data network interface of the CN; operating a RAN cache in the RAN as a subordinate of the gateway cache; wherein operating the RAN cache includes:
intercepting content requests for requested content, said intercepted content requests originating from wireless devices served by a portion of the RAN with which the RAN cache is associated;sending proxied content requests corresponding to the intercepted content requests, to the gateway cache; andfor each given proxied content request sent from the RAN cache to the gateway cache, serving or not serving the requested content from the RAN cache in dependence on receiving control signaling from the gateway cache; andwhen the received control signaling instructs the RAN cache to serve the requested content from the RAN cache, serving the requested content from the RAN cache, tracking content consumption information at the RAN cache for the requested content as served from the RAN cache, and subsequently sending the content consumption information to the gateway cache; and wherein operating the gateway cache includes:
receiving the proxied content requests from the RAN cache; andfor each given proxied content request, determining whether or not to serve the requested content from the RAN cache based on determining whether or not the requested content is in the RAN cache, and further based determining whether delivery of the requested content is restricted from delivery via the RAN cache, either on the basis of the requested content or on the basis of the wireless device that requested the requested content.