Handling long-tail content in a content delivery network (CDN)

摘要

A content delivery network has at least a first tier of servers. A content delivery method includes, at a first server in the first tier of servers, obtaining a request from a client for a resource. If the resource is available at the first server or at a peer of the first server, then the resource is served to the client from the first server. Otherwise, it is determined whether the resource is popular, and if the resource is determined to be popular, then the first server obtains the resource and the first server serves the resource to the client. If the resource is determined not to be popular, the client is directed to a second server, not in the first tier of servers, and the second server serves the resource to the client. The second server may be in a second tier of servers or it may be an origin server.

主权项

1. A method of content delivery in a content delivery network comprising at least a first tier of servers, the method comprising:
(A) at a first server in said first tier of servers, obtaining a request from a client for a resource; (B) if said resource is available at said first server or at a peer of said first server, serving the resource to the client from the first server; (C) otherwise, if said resource is not available at said first server or at a peer of said first server, determining whether said resource is to be served based on popularity of the resource; and (D) when a determination is not made that said resource is to be served based on popularity of the resource, obtaining the resource at said first server and serving the resource to the client from the first server; and (E) when the determination is made that said resource is to be served based on popularity of the resource,
(E)(1) determining whether said resource is popular, and(E)(2) if the resource is determined to be popular, then said first server obtaining said resource and said first server serving the resource to the client, otherwise,(E)(3) if the resource is determined not to be popular, directing said client to a second server, said second server not in said first tier of servers, and(E)(4) said second server serving the resource to the client.