BI-DIRECTIONAL CACHING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

Systems and methods for obtaining a high rate for content request originating from end users, the content request being fulfilled by a Cache Farm operatively communicating with the end user's network. The caching systems of the present application utilize a series of small (in terms of disk capacity) Cache Farms, transparent caches or 'injectors' in communication the ISP network border router. The injectors may be clustered together at network access points (NAP). Networks at these NAP's then redirect their traffic to clusters of injectors or Cache Farm over a dedicated high speed 'cross connect'. The network border router is programmed to handle OUTBOUND content requests for its end users, and INBOUND content requests for its content provider customers. For the content that is not located on the injector Cache Farm, the injector Cache Farm will communicate with a Central Cache to determine if the Central Cache has the requested content.