Managing tracking information entries in resource cache components

[0001] Generally described, computing devices and communication networks can be utilized to exchange information. In a common application, a computing device can request content from another computing device via the communication network. For example, a user at a personal computing device can utilize a software browser application to request a Web page from a server computing device via the Internet. In such embodiments, the user computing device can be referred to as a client computing device and the server computing device can be referred to as a content provider.

[0002] Content providers are generally motivated to provide requested content to client computing devices often with consideration of efficient transmission of the requested content to the client computing device and/or consideration of a cost associated with the transmission of the content. For larger scale implementations, a content provider may receive content requests from a high volume of client computing devices, which can place a strain on the content provider's computing resources. Additionally, the content requested by the client computing devices may be made up of a number of distinct components (e.g., identifiable resources), which can further place additional strain on the content provider's computing resources.

[0003] With reference to an illustrative example, a requested Web page, or original content, may be associated with a number of additional resources, such as images or videos, which are to be displayed with, or as part of, the Web page. In one specific embodiment, the additional resources of the Web page are identified by a number of embedded resource identifiers, such as uniform resource locators (“URLs”). In turn, software on the client computing devices typically processes embedded resource identifiers to generate requests for the content. Often, the resource identifiers associated with the embedded resources reference a computing device associated with the content provider such that the client computing device would transmit the request for the additional resources to the referenced content provider computing device. Accordingly, in order to satisfy a content request, the content provider(s) (or any service provider on behalf of the content provider(s)) would provide client computing devices data associated with the Web page and/or the data associated with the embedded resources.

[0004] Some content providers attempt to facilitate the delivery of requested content, such as Web pages and/or resources identified in Web pages, through the utilization of a network storage provider or a content delivery network (“CDN”) service provider. A network storage provider and a CDN server provider each typically maintain a number of computing devices, such as resource cache components, in a communication network that can maintain content from various content providers. In turn, content providers can instruct, or otherwise suggest to, client computing devices to request some, or all, of the content provider's content from the network storage provider's or CDN service provider's computing devices.

[0005] In some scenarios, resources that have been provided to storage service providers or CDN providers can be updated by the content provider (or other party) or otherwise are considered by the content provider to no longer be valid. In such scenarios, storage providers and CDN service providers receive the updated resource (or notification of an invalid resource) and manage each of the cache server components that are distributing the previously provided version of the resource. Because of the distributed nature of content providers, storage service providers, and CDN service providers, CDN service providers are often required to implement some type of functionality to manage the invalidation of previously provided resources with updated resources. In one embodiment, resource cache components can associate a time to refresh with the resources maintained at the resource cache components. Upon expiration of the time to refresh, the resource cache component requests the resource from the origin source (e.g., a content provider or a network storage provider) and replaces the previous version of the resource with an updated version of the resource or otherwise resets the time to refresh parameters. However, management of resources utilizing time to refresh parameters can be inefficient. In one aspect, associating shorter time to refresh parameters to resources can become burdensome by the increased frequency of update requests transmitted by the resource cache components. In another aspect, associating longer time to refresh parameters can increase the likelihood that the resource cache components continue to distribute invalid, expired or incorrect resources before obtaining the updated resources from the origin source.

[0017] Generally described, the present disclosure is directed to managing of content, such as resources, maintained and provided by content delivery network (“CDN”) service providers. Specifically, aspects of the disclosure will be described with regard to the management of content stored by CDN service providers in one or more resource cache component to facilitate the invalidation of specific resources. In a specific embodiment, a network storage provider serves as the origin source, or origin server, of the resources maintained in the resource cache components of the CDN service provider. Accordingly, various embodiments will be described related to the management of resources maintained in the resource cache components of a CDN server provider upon the receipt of updated resource, or the updating of resources, by a network storage component.

[0018] Although the present disclosure will be described with regard to illustrative examples and embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed embodiments and examples should not be construed as limiting. Further, although the present disclosure will be described with relation to both CDN service providers and network storage providers, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the present disclosure may be implemented by different entities or less than all the identified entities. Still further, various embodiments will be described for the management of resources. The various embodiments may be practiced in combination or individually and the embodiments should not be construed as requiring any particular combination or excluding any combination unless specifically identified in the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrative of content delivery environment 100 for the managing registration of content with a CDN service provider and subsequent processing of content requests. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the content delivery environment 100 includes a number of client computing devices 102 (generally referred to as clients) for requesting content from a content provider, a network storage provider 110, and/or a CDN service provider 106. The client computing devices 102 can correspond to a wide variety of computing devices including personal computing devices, laptop computing devices, hand-held computing devices, terminal computing devices, mobile devices, wireless devices, various electronic devices and appliances and the like. In an illustrative embodiment, the client computing devices 102 include necessary hardware and software components for establishing communications over a communication network 108, such as a wide area network or local area network. For example, the client computing devices 102 may be equipped with networking equipment and browser software applications that facilitate communications via the Internet or an intranet. Additionally, although not illustrated in FIG. 1, each client computing device 102 utilizes some type of local DNS resolver component, such as a DNS nameserver, that generates the DNS queries attributed to the client computing device. In one embodiment, the local DNS resolver component may be provide by an enterprise network to which the client computing device 102 belongs. In another embodiment, the local DNS resolver component may be provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that provides the communication network connection to the client computing device 102.

[0020] The content delivery environment 100 can also include a content provider 104 in communication with the one or more client computing devices 102 via the communication network 108. The content provider 104 illustrated in FIG. 1 corresponds to a logical association of one or more computing devices associated with a content provider. Specifically, the content provider 104 can include a web server component 112 corresponding to one or more server computing devices for obtaining and processing requests for content (such as Web pages) from the client computing devices 102. The content provider 104 can further include an origin server component 114 and associated storage component 116 corresponding to one or more computing devices for obtaining and processing requests for network resources. One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the content provider 104 can be associated with various additional computing resources, such additional computing devices for administration of content and resources, DNS nameservers, and the like. For example, as further illustrated in FIG. 1, the content provider 104 can be associated with one or more DNS nameserver components 118 that would receive DNS queries associated with the domain of the content provider 104 and be authoritative to resolve client computing device DNS queries corresponding to a domain of the content provider 104 (e.g., return an IP address responsive to the DNS query). A DNS nameserver component is considered to be authoritative to a DNS query if the DNS nameserver can completely resolve the query by providing a responsive IP address.

[0021] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the content delivery environment 100 can further include a CDN service provider 106 in communication with the one or more client computing devices 102, the content provider 104, and the network storage provider 110 via the communication network 108. The CDN service provider 106 illustrated in FIG. 1 corresponds to a logical association of one or more computing devices associated with a CDN service provider. Specifically, the CDN service provider 106 can include a number of Point of Presence (“POP”) locations 120, 126, 132 that correspond to nodes on the communication network 108. Each POP 120, 126, 132 includes a content management component 122, 128, 134 for managing resources provided by the content provider 104 or network storage provider as will be described below. Each POP 120, 126, 132 also includes a resource cache component 124, 130, 136 made up of a number of cache server computing devices for storing resources from content providers or network storage providers and transmitting various requested resources to various client computers. Although not illustrated, each POP can also include additional hardware and software component for facilitating the processing of resource requests from client, such as DNS components for processing DNS queries and load balancing or load sharing software/hardware components for managing resource requests.

[0022] In an illustrative embodiment, the content management component 122, 128, 134 and resource cache component 124, 130, 136 are considered to be logically grouped, regardless of whether the components, or portions of the components, are physically separate. Additionally, although the POPs 120, 126, 132 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as logically associated with the CDN service provider 106, the POPs will be geographically distributed throughout the communication network 108 in a manner to best serve various demographics of client computing devices 102. Additionally, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the CDN service provider 106 can be associated with various additional computing resources, such additional computing devices for administration of content and resources, client request distribution process, and the like.

[0023] With further continued reference to FIG. 1, the content delivery environment 100 can also include a network storage provider 110 in communication with the one or more client computing devices 102, the CDN service provider 106, and the content provider 104 via the communication network 108. The network storage provider 110 illustrated in FIG. 1 also corresponds to a logical association of one or more computing devices associated with a network storage provider. Specifically, the network storage provider 110 can include a number of network storage provider Point of Presence (“NSP POP”) locations 138, 144, 150 that correspond to nodes on the communication network 108. In some embodiments, the NSP POP 138, 144, 150 can include a storage management (“SM”) component 140, 146, 152 for processing resource cache component consistency check requests, transmitting update information to the resource cache components, distributing resources to various resource cache components, or processing registrations for resources provided by resource cache components. The functionality implemented by the SM components 140, 146, 152 may vary according to the content management functionality implemented by the storage service provider 110 or the CDN service provider 106.

[0024] Each NSP POP 138, 144, 150 also includes a storage component 142, 148, 154 made up of a number of storage devices for storing resources from content providers which will be processed by the network storage provider 110 and transmitted to various client computers. The storage components 142, 148, 154 may further include additional software and/or hardware components that facilitate communications including, but not limited to, load balancing or load sharing software/hardware components. In an illustrative embodiment, the storage components 142, 148, 154 are considered to be logically grouped, regardless of whether the components, or portions of the components, are physically separate. Additionally, the network storage provider 110 may include a stand alone SM component 156 that provides CDN service provider recommendations to content providers 104, such as via a Web service.

[0025] Additionally, although the NSP POPs 138, 144, 150 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as logically associated with the network storage provider 110, the NSP POPs will be geographically distributed throughout the communication network 108 in a manner to best serve various demographics of client computing devices 102. Additionally, the network storage provider 110 can be associated with various additional computing resources, such additional computing devices for administration of content and resources, DNS nameservers, and the like. For example, the network storage provider 110 can be associated with one or more DNS nameserver components that are operative to receive DNS queries related to registered domain names associated with the network storage provider 110. The one or more DNS nameservers can be authoritative to resolve client computing device DNS queries corresponding to the registered domain names of the network storage provider 110. As similarly set forth above, a DNS nameserver component is considered to be authoritative to a DNS query if the DNS nameserver can resolve the query by providing a responsive IP address. Even further, the components of the network storage provider 110 and components of the CDN service provider 106 can be managed by the same or different entities.

[0026] One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the components and configurations provided in FIG. 1 are illustrative in nature. Accordingly, additional or alternative components and/or configurations, especially regarding the additional components, systems and subsystems for facilitating communications may be utilized.

[0027] With reference now to FIGS. 2-6, an embodiment illustrating the interaction between various components of the content delivery environment 100 of FIG. 1 will be described. For purposes of the example, however, the illustration has been simplified such that many of the components utilized to facilitate communications are not shown. One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that such components can be utilized and that additional interactions would accordingly occur without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 2A, an illustrative interaction for registration of a content provider 104 with the network storage provider 110 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the storage provider content registration process begins with registration of the content provider 104 with the network storage provider 110. In an illustrative embodiment, the content provider 104 utilizes a registration application program interface (“API”) to register with the network storage provider 110 such that the network storage provider 110 can provide content on behalf of the content provider 104. The registration API includes the identification of the origin server 114 of the content provider 104 that will provide requested resources to the network storage provider 110. In addition or alternatively, the registration API includes the content to be stored by the network storage provider 110 on behalf of the content provider 104.

[0029] One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that upon storage of the content by the network storage provider 110, the content provider 104 can begin to direct requests for content from client computing devices 102 to the network storage provider 110. Specifically, in accordance with DNS routing principles, a client computing device DNS request corresponding to a resource identifier would eventually be directed toward a storage component 140, 144, 148 of a NSP POP 138, 142, 146 associated with the network storage provider 110 (e.g., resolved to an IP address corresponding to a storage component).

[0030] In an illustrative embodiment, upon receiving the registration API, the network storage provider 110 obtains and processes the content provider registration information. In an illustrative embodiment, the network storage provider 110 can then generate additional information that will be used by the client computing devices 102 as part of the content requests. The additional information can include, without limitation, content provider identifiers, such as content provider identification codes, storage provider identifiers, such as storage provider identification codes, executable code for processing resource identifiers, such as script-based instructions, and the like. One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that various types of additional information may be generated by the network storage provider 110 and that the additional information may be embodied in any one of a variety of formats.

[0031] The network storage provider 110 returns an identification of applicable domains for the network storage provider (unless it has been previously provided) and any additional information to the content provider 104. In turn, the content provider 104 can then process the stored content with content provider specific information. In one example, the content provider 104 translates resource identifiers originally directed toward a domain of the origin server 114 to a domain corresponding to the network storage provider 110. The modified URLs are embedded into requested content in a manner such that DNS queries for the modified URLs are received by a DNS nameserver corresponding to the network storage provider 110 and not a DNS server corresponding to the content provider 104.

[0032] Generally, the identification of the resources originally directed to the content provider 104 will be in the form of a resource identifier that can be processed by the client computing device 102, such as through a browser software application. In an illustrative embodiment, the resource identifiers can be in the form of a uniform resource locator (“URL”). Because the resource identifiers are included in the requested content directed to the content provider, the resource identifiers can be referred to generally as the “content provider URL.” For purposes of an illustrative example, the content provider URL can identify a domain of the content provider 104 (e.g., contentprovider.com), a name of the resource to be requested (e.g., “resource.xxx”) and a path where the resource will be found (e.g., “path”). In this illustrative example, the content provider URL has the form of:

[0033] http://www.contentprovider.com/path/resource.xxx

[0034] During an illustrative translation process, the content provider URL is modified such that requests for the resources associated with the modified URLs resolve to a POP associated with the network storage provider 110. In one embodiment, the modified URL identifies the domain of the network storage provider 110 (e.g., “storageprovider.com”), the same name of the resource to be requested (e.g., “resource.xxx”) and the same path where the resource will be found (e.g., “path”). Additionally, the modified URL can include additional processing information (e.g., “additional information”). The modified URL would have the form of:

[0035] http://additional information.storageprovider.com/path/resource.xxx

[0036] In another embodiment, the information associated with the network storage provider 110 is included in the modified URL, such as through prepending or other techniques, such that the modified URL can maintain all of the information associated with the original URL. In this embodiment, the modified URL would have the form of:

• • [0037] http://additional information.storageprovider.com/www.contentprovider.com/path/resource.xxx

[0038] After completion of the registration and translation processes illustrated in FIG. 2A, a client computing device 102 subsequently generates a content request that is received and processed by the content provider 104, such as through the Web server 112. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the request for content can be in accordance with common network protocols, such as the hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”). Upon receipt of the content request, the content provider 104 identifies the appropriate responsive content. In an illustrative embodiment, the requested content can correspond to a Web page that is displayed on the client computing device 102 via the processing of information, such as hypertext markup language (“HTML”), extensible markup language (“XML”), and the like. The requested content can also include a number of embedded resource identifiers, described above, that corresponds to resource objects that should be obtained by the client computing device 102 as part of the processing of the requested content. The embedded resource identifiers will generally in the form of the modified URLs, described above.

[0039] With reference now to FIG. 2B, upon receipt of the requested content, the client computing device 102, such as through a browser software application, begins processing any of the markup code included in the content and attempts to acquire the resources identified by the embedded resource identifiers (e.g., the embedded, modified URLs). Although not illustrated in FIG. 2B (or will be described in detail), the acquisition of the identified resources begins with the issuance of DNS queries by the client computing device 102 that are resolved by identifying an IP address corresponding to a CDN service provider POP that will attempt to provide the subsequently requested content. For purposes of illustration in FIG. 2B, it is assumed that the client computing device 102 has been provided the IP address of POP I 120. Accordingly, the client computing device 102 can begin issuing content requests, such as requests corresponding to the hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”), to POP I 120, which in turn are processed by the resource cache component 124. If a requested resource is maintained by the resource cache component 124, the resource cache component can provide the requested resource to the client computing device 102.

[0040] Alternatively, if the resource cache component 124 does not maintain the requested resource, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the resource cache component transmits a resource request to the origin source identified in the resource request, such as in a URL corresponding to the resource request or via information maintained by the resource cache component. For purposes of illustration, it is assume that storage service provider 110 operates as the origin source, or origin server, for the requested resource on behalf of the content provider 104. The storage service provider 110, or NSP POP, processes the resource request and provides the requesting resource cache component with the requested resource. The resource cache component 124 can then provide the client computing device 102 with the requested resource. Additionally, the resource cache component 124 can maintain, or cache, the requested resource for processing subsequent requests for the resource without requiring the resource cache component to request the resource from the storage service provider 110.

[0041] Turning now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an embodiment for the management of resources provided by the network storage provider 110 will be described. With reference to FIG. 3A, after receipt of the resource from the network storage provider 110 (FIG. 2B), the resource cache component 124 stores the resource and makes the resource available to delivery to any client subsequently requesting the resource. Additionally, the cache management component 122 updates tracking information associated with resources maintained in the resource cache component 124. In an illustrative embodiment, the tracking information can correspond to an inode data structure. One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that an inode data structure corresponds to a data structure utilized to store information about an object, such as file or resource. Such information can be referred to as metadata. Each resource is associated with an inode number that uniquely corresponds to the resource (or a grouping of resources) among other resources maintained in the resource cache component. The cache management component maintains inode numbers in which the information about a resource can be accessed by reference to its corresponding inode number. For example, the inode numbers can be maintained in a table or an array format. In another example, the inode numbers can be maintained in a tree structure format, such as a radix tree or Patricia Trie.

[0042] In this illustrative embodiment, the information associated with each inode corresponds to expiration criteria, the satisfaction of which is indicative that the inode can no longer be considered valid. Examples of expiration can include, but are not limited to, a time of day, a total time expired since storing the resource (or refreshing a count), occurrence of other identifiable events, and the like. The expiration data may be specified by the cache management component 122 as the resource is received. Additionally, the expiration data may also be specified, at least in part, by the network storage provider 110. Further, the expiration data may be dynamically updated by the cache management component 122 or network storage provider (or other component) based on communication network bandwidth, a number of pending requests received by the network storage provider 110, a number of requests being transmitted by the cache management component 122, and the like.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, based on monitoring and analyzing expiration criteria and determining that the expiration criteria has been satisfied, the cache management component 122 can transmit a consistency check request to the network storage provider 110. In an illustrative embodiment, the consistency check request corresponds to a request to determine whether invalidity information maintained by the network storage provider 110 is indicative that the corresponding resource should be invalidated.

[0044] In a specific embodiment, the network storage provider maintains invalidity information identifying resource validity. The network storage provider 110 transmits the results of the consistency check to the cache management component 122. The results of the consistency check can include information indicating that the inode is no longer valid. Additionally, or alternatively, the results of the consistency check can include information that is processed by the cache management component 122 to determine whether the inode is valid. For example, the results of the consistency check can correspond to blocks of data used to update the information stored in the inode data structure. Accordingly, a determination of whether the information identifying the inode as valid or invalid would not be available until after the processing and incorporation of such update information.

[0045] With reference now to FIG. 3B, the cache management component 122 processes the consistency check information to determine whether the inode is to be considered valid or invalid. If the inode is considered to be valid, the cache management component 122 does not need to perform additional activity with regard to the requested resource. Accordingly, the cache management component 122 can either rest the expiration criteria or otherwise obtain, or generate, updated expiration criteria. Alternatively, if the inode is determined to be invalid, the cache management component 122 determines that the corresponding resource, or set of resources, is also invalid. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the cache management component transmits a request for an updated resource. The request can then be processed by the network storage component, which provides the updated resource, or set of resources. The resource management component can then process the incoming updated resources in a manner as described with regard to FIG. 2A.

[0046] Turning now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an embodiment for the management of resources provided by the network storage provider 110 will be described. Similar to the interaction described with regard to FIG. 3A, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, after receipt of the resource from the network storage provider 110 (FIG. 2B), the resource cache component 124 stores the resource and makes the resource available to delivery to any client subsequently requesting the resource. Additionally, the cache management component 122 updates tracking information associated with resources maintained in the resource cache component 124. As also previously described with regard to FIG. 3A, the tracking information can correspond to an inode data structure organized such that the cache management component 122 maintains inode numbers for stored resources. Additionally, the cache management component 122 maintains the inode information in a tree structure format, such as a radix tree or Patricia Trie.

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 4A, upon the determination that one or more resources are invalid, the network storage provider 110 updates an index, or other mapping, of the inodes. Specifically, the network storage provider 110 identifies that inodes corresponding to resources that are invalid or otherwise need to be updated, generally referred to as the update information. The storage network provider then transmits the update information to the cache management component 122. Upon receipt, the cache management component 122 can process the update information and utilize the tree structure format, such as the radix tree or Patricia Trie, identify invalid inodes.

[0048] With reference now to FIG. 4B, the cache management component 122 can utilize the inode information to process the resources maintained in the resource cache component 124. If the inode is considered to be valid, the cache management component 122 does not need to perform additional activity with regard to the requested resource. Accordingly, the cache management component 122 can either rest the expiration criteria or otherwise obtain, or generate, updated expiration criteria. Alternatively, if the inode is determined to be invalid, the cache management component 122 determines that the corresponding resource, or set of resources, is also invalid. Accordingly, in one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B, the cache management component transmits a request for an updated resource. The request can then be processed by the network storage component, which provides the updated resource, or set of resources. The resource management component can then process the incoming updated resources in a manner as described with regard to FIG. 2A. Alternatively, the cache management component 122 can process the determination of invalidity of the inode without transmitting the request for the updated resource.

[0049] With reference now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, in one embodiment, the cache management component 122 can also be utilized to further distribute information regarding the invalidation of inodes. The interaction described with regard to FIGS. 5A and 5B can be implemented in conjunction with either the interaction described with regard to FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIGS. 4A and 4B, or any other interaction in which inodes are identified as invalid (or the corresponding resource). With reference to FIG. 5A, in an illustrative embodiment, the inode data structure can be utilized to identify other resource cache components that may also be maintained the previous version of the resource that has been identified as invalid. Accordingly, the cache management component 122 utilizes the information stored in the inode data structure to identify one or more resource cache components that have the resource. In an illustrative embodiment, the CDN service provider 106 may maintain master lists or partial master lists of commonly maintained resources among the various POPs. For example, the CDN service provider 106 may facilitate the synchronization of inode information across multiple cache management components. Additionally, or alternatively, the various cache management components may utilize peer-to-peer distribution techniques to exchange information related to inode information. For example, the cache management components may implement a Gossip protocol, or other communication protocol, for the distribution of information across a distributed network, such as the network of POPs associated with the CDN service provider 106. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, cache management component 122 utilizes the information maintained in the inode data structure to transmit invalid resource notifications to other cache management components 128. Although only a single transmission is illustrated, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that a single cache management component can transmit multiple invalid resource notifications or utilize one of various peer-to-peer distribution models.

[0050] With reference now to FIG. 5B, the receiving cache management component 128 can then component transmits a request for an updated resource. The request can then be processed by the network storage component, which provides the updated resource, or set of resources. The resource management component 128 can then process the incoming updated resources in a manner as described with regard to FIG. 2A. Alternatively, the cache management component 128 may be configured in a manner such that updates are received from the network storage provider 110 only by a designated resource cache component 122. In this embodiment, the cache management component 128 would not need to update any inode information.

[0051] With reference now to FIGS. 6A-6D, illustrative flow diagram related to the management of resources in a resource cache component will be described. The various routines will be described with regard to implementation by a cache management component or resource cache component. It will be appreciate that both the cache management component and resource cache component logically correspond to a POP provided by a CDN service provider 106. Accordingly, any particular functionality associated with one of the components could be implemented by the other component, by multiple components or by another component associated with a POP or any component distributed across a communication network 108. Further, although the various routines will be described as being implemented by an illustrative cache management component, the present disclosure should not be construed as requiring a resource cache component to implement all, of specific subsets, of the routines illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D.

[0052] With reference to FIG. 6A, a request processing routine 600 implemented by a cache management component will be described. At block 602, the cache management component obtains a resource request. In an illustrative embodiment, the resource request can be transmitted by a client computing device 102. As previously described, the resource request may correspond to a set of resources, such as from a Web page. At decision block 604, a test is conducted to determine whether the requested resource is available at the resource cache component. A determination of whether the resource is available can correspond to a determination of whether a matching resource is currently stored and accessible. Additionally, if the requested resource is stored and accessible, the determination can further include a determination of whether the resource remains valid (such as by timestamp). If so, the resource request is processed at block 600 by transmitting the requested resource to the client device 102.

[0053] Alternatively, if the requested resource is not available at the resource cache component, at block 608, the resource cache component (or cache management component) transmits a request for the resource from an origin source. In an illustrative embodiment, the origin source can include other resource cache components provide by the CDN service provider 106. Additionally, the origin source can correspond to one or more NSP POPs provided by a network storage provider 110. Still further, the origin source can correspond to one or more storage locations provided by, otherwise associated with, a content provider 104. At block 610, the resource cache component obtains the requested resource from the origin source. At block 612, the cache management component updates the tracking information utilized to manage the resources stored in the resource cache component. As previously described, the tracking information can be captured by the incorporation of an inode data structure in which one or more resources are represented by an inode number. In an illustrative embodiment, the information maintained in the inode data structure can be provided by the network storage provider 110, generated, or otherwise determined, by the cache management component, or obtained from another source. At block 614, the resource request is processed at block 600 by transmitting the requested resource to the client device 102. The routine 600 terminates.

[0054] With reference now to FIG. 6B, a resource management routine 620 implemented by a cache management component will be described. In an illustrative embodiment, routine 620 can be utilized to manage resources utilizing tracking information, such as an inode data structure, that includes expiration criteria in a manner illustrated with regard to FIGS. 3A and 3B. At block 622, the cache management component evaluates tracking information expiration criteria. In an illustrative embodiment, the evaluation of the tracking information will depend on the type of expiration criteria, such as timestamps, total time or inferential references. Based on a determination that the expiration criteria have been satisfied for at least one inode, at block 624, the cache management component transmits a consistency check request to the origin source, such as the network storage provider 110. As previously described, in an illustrative embodiment, the consistency check request corresponds to a request to determine whether invalidity information maintained by the network storage provider 110 is indicative that the corresponding resource should be invalidated.

[0055] At block 626, the cache management component obtains the consistency check information from a corresponding origin source. At block 628, the cache management component processes the returned consistency check information to identify inode numbers that should be considered to be invalid (or invalid entries). As previously described, the results of the consistency check can include information indicating that the inode is no longer valid. Additionally, or alternatively, the results of the consistency check can include information that is processed by the cache management component 122 to determine whether the inode is valid. For example, the results of the consistency check can correspond to blocks of data used to update the information stored in the inode data structure. Accordingly, a determination of whether the information identifying the inode as valid or invalid would not be available until after the processing and incorporation of such update information. In an alternative embodiment, the cache management component may determine that the satisfaction of the expiration criteria is sufficient to consider the resource invalid. In such an embodiment, the consistency check request would not need to be transmitted.

[0056] For invalid tracking information entries, the resource cache component can process the previously maintained resource in a number of ways. In one embodiment, at block 630, the resource cache component can transmit requests for updated resources. The requests for the updated resources can be transmitted to the origin source from which the previous version of the resource was obtained. Alternatively, the consistency check information, or other information maintained in the inode data structure, can identify one or more different origin sources for the resource to be updated. At block 632, the resource cache component obtains the updated sources from the corresponding origin source. At block 634, the cache management component updates the tracking information. In an illustrative embodiment, the updating of the tracking information can include resetting the expiration criteria, substituting new expiration criteria and the like. Additionally, although blocks 630-634 relate to obtaining updated versions of an invalid resource, in different embodiments, the cache management component or resource cache component can designate the resource as stale, invalid, corrupt, unavailable or include warnings that the information may not be accurate.

[0057] At decision block 636, a test is conducted to determine whether cache management component should notify other resource cache components associated with other POPs. In an illustrative embodiment, one or more entries in the inode data structure can include information identifying one or more POPs that are believed to store the corresponding resource. If the inode data structure, or other information, does not identify another cache management component, the routine 620 proceeds to block 640. Alternatively, if the inode data structure includes information identifying one or more cache management components to notify of the invalid entry, at block 638, the cache management component transmits an invalid entry notification to the identified cache management components. As previously described, the identification of the cache management components identified in the inode data structures may be provided by the network storage provider 110 or CDN service provider 106. Additionally, the identification of cache management components can also be facilitated through peer-to-peer distribution models. At block 640, the routine 620 terminates.

[0058] With reference now to FIG. 6C, a resource management routine 650 implemented by a cache management component will be described. In an illustrative embodiment, routine 650 can be utilized to manage resources utilizing tracking information, such as an inode data structure, and update information provided by an origin source, such as network storage provider 110, management component of a CDN service provider 106, or other third party. Such an embodiment was illustrated with regard to FIGS. 4A and 4B. At block 652, the cache management component obtains the update information from a corresponding origin source. In an illustrative embodiment, the update information identifies inodes that are determined to be invalid without requiring the transmission of the consistency check. At block 654, the cache management component processes the returned update information to identify inode numbers that should be considered to be invalid (or invalid entries). As previously described, the inode data structure can be maintained in a tree structure that facilitates the identification of invalid entries.

[0059] For invalid tracking information entries, the resource cache component can process the previously maintained resource in a number of ways. In one embodiment, at block 656, the resource cache component can transmit requests for updated resources. The requests for the updated resources can be transmitted to the origin source from which the previous version of the resource was obtained. Alternatively, the update information, or other information maintained in the inode data structure, can identify one or more different origin sources for the resource to be updated. At block 658, the resource cache component obtains the updated sources from the corresponding origin source.

[0060] At block 660, the cache management component updates the tracking information. In an illustrative embodiment, the updating of the tracking information can include resetting the expiration criteria, substituting new expiration criteria and the like. Additionally, although blocks 656-660 relate to obtaining updated versions of an invalid resource, in different embodiments, the cache management component or resource cache component can designate the resource as stale, invalid, corrupt, unavailable or include warnings that the information may not be accurate. At decision block 662, a test is conducted to determine whether cache management component should notify other resource cache components associated with other POPs. In an illustrative embodiment, one or more entries in the inode data structure can include information identifying one or more POPs that are believed to store the corresponding resource. If the inode data structure, or other information, does not identify another cache management component, the routine 650 proceeds to block 666. Alternatively, if the inode data structure includes information identifying one or more cache management components to notify of the invalid entry, at block 638, the cache management component transmits an invalid entry notification to the identified cache management components. Additionally, the identification of cache management components can also be facilitated through peer-to-peer distribution models. At block 666, the routine 650 terminates.

[0061] With reference now to FIG. 6D, a resource management routine 680 implemented by a cache management component will be described. In an illustrative embodiment, routine 680 can be utilized to manage resources utilizing tracking information, such as an inode data structure, based on an invalid tracking information notification received from another cache management component. An embodiment of this interaction was illustrated with regard to FIGS. 5A and 5B. At block 682, the cache management component obtains the invalid tracking information entry notification from another cache management component. At block 684, the cache management component processes the invalid tracking information notification to identify inode numbers that should be considered to be invalid (or invalid entries).

[0062] For invalid tracking information entries, the resource cache component can process the previously maintained resource in a number of ways. In one embodiment, at block 686, the resource cache component can transmit requests for updated resources. The requests for the updated resources can be transmitted to the origin source from which the previous version of the resource was obtained. Alternatively, the invalid entry notification information, or other information maintained in the inode data structure, can identify one or more different origin sources for the resource to be updated. At block 688, the resource cache component obtains the updated sources from the corresponding origin source. At block 690, the cache management component updates the tracking information. In an illustrative embodiment, the updating of the tracking information can include resetting the expiration criteria, substituting new expiration criteria and the like. Additionally, although blocks 686-690 relate to obtaining updated versions of an invalid resource, in different embodiments, the cache management component or resource cache component can designate the resource as stale, invalid, corrupt, unavailable or include warnings that the information may not be accurate.

[0063] At decision block 690, a test is conducted to determine whether cache management component should notify other resource cache components associated with other POPs. In an illustrative embodiment, one or more entries in the inode data structure can include information identifying one or more POPs that are believed to store the corresponding resource. If the inode data structure, or other information, does not identify another cache management component, the routine 680 proceeds to block 696. Alternatively, if the inode data structure includes information identifying one or more cache management components to notify of the invalid entry, at block 694, the cache management component transmits an invalid entry notification to the identified cache management components. As previously described, the identification of the cache management components identified in the inode data structures may be provided by the network storage provider 110 or CDN service provider 106. Additionally, the identification of cache management components can also be facilitated through peer-to-peer distribution models. At block 696, the routine 680 terminates.

[0064] With reference now to FIGS. 7-8, another embodiment illustrating the interaction between various components of the content delivery environment 100 of FIG. 1 will be described. Specifically, FIGS. 7-8 illustrate an embodiment in which a network storage provider distributes resources to selected resource cache components without requiring a previous request. Additionally, the network storage provider 110 can transmit updates to the previously transmitted resources. For purposes of the example, however, the illustration has been simplified such that many of the components utilized to facilitate communications are not shown. One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that such components can be utilized and that additional interactions would accordingly occur without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure

[0065] Referring to FIG. 7A, the storage service provider 110, such as via a SM component, obtains a resource such as from a content provider 104. The network storage provider 110 then identifies a target set of resource cache components that may receive the received resource or a set of resources. In an illustrative embodiment, network storage provider 110 may select all of the resource cache components associated with a CDN service provider 106. Alternatively, the network storage provider 110 may select a subset of resource cache components based on various criteria, such as geographic location, time zone, geopolitical criteria, geographic borders, usage criteria, resource utilization (real time or historical), criteria submitted by the resource cache components (including registration information) and the like. The network storage provider 110 then transmits the resource or set of resources to the selected resource cache components. In an illustrative embodiment, the selected resource cache components can process the received resource by either storing at least a subset of the resources in the resource cache component or otherwise rejecting some portion of the resources. For example, the resource cache component may be configured to accept unsolicited resource if processing/capacity resources are below a threshold level.

[0066] With reference now to FIG. 7B, after distribution of the resource to the selected set of resource cache components, network storage provider 110 obtains updated resources from the content provider 104 or otherwise determines that the previously distributed resources are invalid. The network storage provider 110 can then transmit the updated resource to one or more resource cache components previously known to have the previous version of the resource. In one embodiment, the network storage provider 110 can transmit the updated resource to the same set of resource cache components. In another embodiment, the network storage provider 110 may select a subset of the resource cache components that previously received the resource. For example, the network storage provider 110 may exclude any resource cache component that did not accept the previous version of the resource.

[0067] Turning now to FIG. 8, a routine 800 implemented by a network storage provider, such as via an SM component, will be described. It will be appreciate that any particular functionality associated with one of the components could be implemented by the other component illustrated in the content delivery environment 100, such as component associated with the CDN service provider 106 or components associated with a content provider 104. Additionally, the method may be implemented multiple components associated with the network source provider 108, by another component associated with a NSP POP or any component distributed across a communication network 108. At block 802, the network storage provider 110 obtains one or more resources for storage as an origin source. An illustrative registration of the network storage provider 110 was previously discussed with regard to FIG. 2A. At block 804, the network storage provider 110 identifies a set of resource cache component for distributing resources. In an illustrative embodiment, the set of resource cache components can include one or more resource cache components. Additionally, as previously described, the network storage provider 110 can select the set of resource cache components utilizing various organizational criteria. At block 806, the network storage provider 110 transmits one or more resources to the selected set of resource cache components. The network storage provider 110 can also associate additional sorting criteria in selecting the resources that are transmitted to the set of resource cache components. For example, resources can be selected based on popularity of resource, frequency of selection, estimated costs, service level agreements, and the like.

[0068] At block 808, the network storage provider 110 obtains updated resources. For example, the network storage provider 110 may obtain the updated resource from content provider 104. In another example, the network storage provider 110 may process or analyze the resource to determine that the resource is no longer valid or to update one or more parameters/values associated with the resource. At block 810, the network storage provider 110 transmits the updated resource to the set of resource cache components. As previously described, the network storage provider 110 may select only a subset of the set of resource cache components based on additional criteria. At block 812, the routine 800 terminates.

[0069] With reference now to FIGS. 9-10, another embodiment illustrating the interaction between various components of the content delivery environment 100 of FIG. 1 will be described. Specifically, FIGS. 9-10 illustrate an embodiment in which the network storage provider 110 provides a notification service in which various resource cache components can register and receive notifications for the request of updated resources from the network storage component 110. For purposes of the example, however, the illustration has been simplified such that many of the components utilized to facilitate communications are not shown. One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that such components can be utilized and that additional interactions would accordingly occur without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0070] With reference to FIG. 9A, a client computing device 102 subsequently generates a content request that is received and processed by the content provider 104, such as through the Web server 112. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the request for content can be in accordance with common network protocols, such as the hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”). Upon receipt of the content request, the content provider 104 identifies the appropriate responsive content. In an illustrative embodiment, the requested content can correspond to a Web page that is displayed on the client computing device 102 via the processing of information, such as hypertext markup language (“HTML”), extensible markup language (“XML”), and the like. The requested content can also include a number of embedded resource identifiers, described above, that corresponds to resource objects that should be obtained by the client computing device 102 as part of the processing of the requested content. The embedded resource identifiers will generally in the form of the modified URLs, described above.

[0071] Upon receipt of the requested content, the client computing device 102, such as through a browser software application, begins processing any of the markup code included in the content and attempts to acquire the resources identified by the embedded resource identifiers (e.g., the embedded, modified URLs). Although not illustrated in FIG. 9A (or will be described in detail), the acquisition of the identified resources begins with the issuance of DNS queries by the client computing device 102 that are resolved by identifying an IP address corresponding to a CDN service provider POP that will attempt to provide the subsequently requested content. For purposes of illustration in FIG. 9A, it is assumed that the client computing device 102 has been provided the IP address of POP I 120. Accordingly, the client computing device 102 can begin issuing content requests, such as requests corresponding to the hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”), to POP I 120, which in turn are processed by resource cache component 124. If a requested resource is maintained by the resource cache component 124, the resource cache component can provide the requested resource to the client computing device 102.

[0072] Alternatively, if the resource cache component 124 does not maintain the requested resource, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, the resource cache component transmits a resource request to the origin source identified in the resource request, such as in a URL corresponding to the resource request or via information maintained by the resource cache component. For purposes of illustration, it is assume that storage service provider 110 operates as the origin source, or origin server, for the requested resource on behalf of the content provider 104. The storage service provider 110, or NSP POP, processes the resource request and provides the requesting resource cache component with the requested resource. In this illustrative embodiment, the cache management component 122 or resource cache component 124 can include a registration request to the network storage provider 110. The registration request corresponds to a request to receive notification if the requested resource is updated. In one embodiment, the registration request can be included as part of the resource request or be automatically interpreted with receipt of a resource request. Alternatively, the registration request may be implemented as a separate transaction. The resource cache component 124 can then provide the client computing device 102 with the requested resource.

[0073] With reference now to FIGS. 9B and 9C, after the distribution of the resource to the resource cache component 122, the network storage provider 110, such as via an SM component, identifies one or more resources to be updated. For example, the network storage provider 110 may obtain updated resources from the content provider 104 or otherwise determine that the previously distributed resources are invalid. As illustrated in FIG. 9 Based on the determination of an updated resource, the network storage provider 110 identifies the resource cache components (or cache management components) that have previously registered to receive notifications. The network storage provider then transmits the notifications to the registered resource cache components. With reference to FIG. 9C, based on the processing of the notification, the resource cache component then transmits an updated resource request to the network storage provider 110. The network storage provider 110 can then transmit the updated resource to the resource cache component responsive to the updated resource request.

[0074] In one embodiment, upon receipt and processing of the notification from the network storage provider, the resource cache component (or cache management component) can also distribute additional notifications to peer resource cache components. With reference to FIGS. 9D and 9E, in an illustrative embodiment, the resource cache component can maintain tracking, such as the inode data structure previously described, to identify other resource cache components that may also be maintained the previous version of the resource that has been identified as invalid. Accordingly, the cache management component 122 utilizes the information to identify one or more resource cache components that have the resource.

[0075] With reference now to FIG. 9B, the receiving cache management component 128 can then component transmits a request for an updated resource. The request can then be processed by the network storage component, which provides the updated resource, or set of resources. The resource management component 128 can then process the incoming updated resources in a manner as described with regard to FIG. 9a. Alternatively, the cache management component 128 may be configured in a manner such that updates are received from the network storage provider 110 only by a designated resource cache component 122. In this embodiment, the cache management component 128 would not need to update any additional tracking information.

[0076] Referring now to FIG. 10, a routine 1000 implemented by a network storage provider, such as via an SM component, will be described. It will be appreciate that any particular functionality associated with one of the components could be implemented by the other component, by multiple components or by another component associated with a NSP POP or any component distributed across a communication network 108. At block 1002, the network storage provider 110 obtains one or more resource requests from resource cache components. Based on the resource requests (or based on a separate request), at block 1004, the network storage provider registers resource cache components to receive notifications regarding the invalidity of the requested resources.

[0077] At block 1006, the network storage provider 110 transmits the requested resource to the identified set of resource cache components response to the resource requests. At block 1008, the network storage provider 110 obtains updated resources. For example, the network storage provider 110 may obtain the updated resource from content provider 104. In another example, the network storage provider 110 may process or analyze the resource to determine that the resource is no longer valid or to update one or more parameters/values associated with the resource. At block 1010, the network storage provider 110 transmits the updated resource notification to the set of resource cache components that previously registered with the network service provider 110. The receiving resource cache components can then request the updated resource from the network storage provider. At block 1012, the routine 1010 terminates.

[0078] One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the various embodiments described with regard to FIGS. 2-6, 7-8, and 9-10 may be practiced independently by the network storage provider 100 and CDN service provider 106. Additionally, a network storage provider 110 or CDN service provider 106 may combine one or more of the embodiments based on particular financial costs, the number of NSP POPs or CDN POPs, financial criteria, service level criteria and the like.

[0079] While illustrative embodiments have been disclosed and discussed, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that additional or alternative embodiments may be implemented within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, although many embodiments have been indicated as illustrative, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the illustrative embodiments do not need to be combined or implemented together. As such, some illustrative embodiments do not need to be utilized or implemented in accordance with the scope of variations to the present disclosure.

[0080] Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. Moreover, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey utilization of the conjunction “or” in enumerating a list of elements does not limit the selection of only a single element and can include the combination of two or more elements.

[0081] Any process descriptions, elements, or blocks in the flow diagrams described herein and/or depicted in the attached figures should be understood as potentially representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments described herein in which elements or functions may be deleted, executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. It will further be appreciated that the data and/or components described above may be stored on a computer-readable medium and loaded into memory of the computing device using a drive mechanism associated with a computer-readable medium storing the computer executable components, such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or network interface. Further, the component and/or data can be included in a single device or distributed in any manner. Accordingly, general purpose computing devices may be configured to implement the processes, algorithms and methodology of the present disclosure with the processing and/or execution of the various data and/or components described above. Alternatively, some or all of the methods described herein may alternatively be embodied in specialized computer hardware. In addition, the components referred to herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof.

[0082] It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.