METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRE-FETCHING DATA IN A MOBILE NETWORK ENVIRONMENT USING EDGE DATA STORAGE

摘要

A method and apparatus in which a mobile network advantageously communicates data requests to neighboring data stores so that they may pre-fetch the data. In particular, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol is advantageously established whereby a local data store in a mobile network notifies neighboring data stores of data requests, and whereby the neighboring data stores advantageously pre-fetch the data that may be required, thereby advantageously avoiding cascading cache misses. Such notifications may advantageously reduce the number of cache misses, which in turn may advantageously reduce the latency to download data as the user moves around within the mobile network and changes data sources. Specifically, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol for communicating data requests between local storage centers in a network supporting mobile users is provided.