Level 3 Communications, LLC

Verizon Digital Media Services Inc.

Edgecast Networks, Inc.

Level 3 Cdn International, Inc.

Ted Middleton

Jeffrey G Koller

Maksim Yevmenkin

Mark Brady

Paul Ernest Stolorz

Michael S Warren

David Pfitzner

John K Salmon

Aric Hagberg

Alexander A Kazerani

Hani Batla

Dennis Au

Paul E Stolorz

David Pfilzner

A network includes a first tier of servers, a second tier of servers and a third tier of servers. The first tier of servers comprises a plurality of primary servers capable of responding to requests. The plurality of primary servers includes at least one dynamic server having a load share characteristic that is dynamically altered during a first period in time and at least one static server having a constant load share characteristic during the first period in time. The second tier of servers includes at least two first layer overflow servers. Each of the first layer overflow servers is configured to provide response duties in the event that one or more of the primary servers is unavailable or overloaded. The third tier of servers comprising at least two second layer overflow servers. Each of the second layer overflow servers is configured to provide response duties in the event that one or more of the primary servers is unavailable or overloaded and one or more of the first layer overflow servers is unavailable or overloaded.

Multi-tiered server network

Some embodiments provide a capacity exchange whereby capacity from different content delivery networks (CDNs) can be bought, sold, and traded. The capacity exchange is part of an 'Open CDN' platform. The Open CDN platform federates the independent operation of CDNs and other operators of and service providers to distributed platforms participating in the Open CDN platform so that each participant can (1) dynamically scale its capacity without incurring additional infrastructure costs, (2) expand its service into previously untapped geographic regions without physically establishing points of presence (POPs) at those geographic regions, and (3) reduce sunk costs associated with unused capacity of already deployed infrastructure by selling that unused capacity to other participants that are in need of additional capacity. The Open CDN platform includes one or more APIs for facilitating intercommunication between the federation participants by performing configuration mapping, command interoperability, traffic management, and reporting aggregation.

Capacity exchange for the open content delivery network

A method includes monitoring the operational status of at least some name servers in a name server network. Based on the monitoring, when an error or anomalous condition is detected at a particular name server, creating a policy to indicate the status of the particular name server. The policy is taken into account when resolving hostnames using the name server network.

Detecting anomalous conditions in a name server network

Some embodiments provide a monitoring system for a distributed platform. The monitoring system dynamically controls the monitoring and reporting function of client applications running on user devices using a plurality of configurations. The system distributes different configurations to different client applications to control the monitoring and reporting of each client application independently. The system distributes different configurations to the same client application at different times in order to dynamically reconfigure the reporting function of that client application. The system compiles metrics from the client applications in order to generate custom performance reports for different content providers and identify performance issues. In response to a detected issue, the system can automatically reconfigure affected client applications to better diagnose the issue with increased reporting. The system can also issue alerts for others to take corrective action. The system can also self-heal by commanding operation of the affected client applications.

Dynamic reconfigurable client side beaconing

Capacity sharing in a federation of distributed platforms

A method, operable in a framework wherein resources of a content provider may be delivered to clients from at least two distinct content delivery networks (CDNs). Responsive to a client request, one of the CDNs is selected, the selection being based at least in part on one or more policies set by the content provider. The client is provided with information associated with the selected CDN. The information may be a domain name such as a CNAME for the selected CDN. The policies may include a load share policy that specifies a relative load share for each CDN, and the selecting may attempt to satisfy the load share policy. Updated content provider policies may be obtained, at regular intervals.

Distributing requests across multiple content delivery networks based on subscriber policy

Some embodiments provide a capacity exchange whereby capacity from different content delivery networks (CDNs) can be bought, sold, and traded. The capacity exchange is part of an 'Open CDN' platform. The Open CDN platform federates the independent operation of CDNs and other operators and service providers to distributed platforms participating in the Open CDN platform. The Open CDN platform includes one or more APIs for facilitating intercommunication between the federation participants by performing configuration mapping, command interoperability, traffic management, and reporting aggregation.

Intercommunication in the open content delivery network federation

In a framework wherein resources of a content provider may be delivered to clients from different domains, a method distributes the requests based on content-provider policies. In some cases, the domains include at least two distinct content delivery network (CDN) domains. The domains may include a content provider domain. Responsive to a request, either the content provider domain or one of the two CDN domains is selected, the selection being based at least in part on one or more policies set by the content provider.

Policy-based content delivery network selection

A framework for delivery of Internet content includes a subscriber server network; and at least one domain name server constructed and adapted to provide policy-based domain name service, wherein, in response to a request to resolve a hostname, the domain name server resolves the hostname to at least one address corresponding a server in the subscriber server network based on at least one policy consideration. The framework may include a content delivery network, distinct from the subscriber server network, wherein, in response to a request to resolve a hostname, the domain name server provides at least one addresses of a server in the content delivery network based at least on the location of the requestor and other policy considerations. An address returned by the domain name server is selected based on one or more of: (a) geographic policies; (b) load share policies; (c) overflow policies; and (d) network aware policies.

Growing community of inventors

Moorpark, CA, United States of America

Ted Middleton