Caching large video objects with multiple, unknown and varying anchor points

摘要

In a method for caching video object portions, a request for stand-­alone content in a video object (202, Figure 2) is received 502, the content neither being cached nor adjacent a cached video portion, and a first portion of the video object is cached 504. A value (e.g., relating to popularity, age, etc) is assigned 506 to the first video object portion. A subsequent request for content in the video object is received 508, the subsequent request corresponding to access to the first video object portion and a second, uncached portion (such as segment 212, Figure 2) of the video object. The value of the first video object portion is updated 510. Then, for the second video object portion, an amount to cache and a value are determined 512, e.g. based on video object value, available storage, or the size of the second portion. Thus, a method of partial caching of large video objects is provided, increasing the cumulative hit rate of edge caches and lowering traffic; only popular video segments may be cached, and already-cached video chunks may be split or divided (306e, 306f: Figure 3). The subsequent request may ascertain overlaps with cached data.