Peer-to-peer network content object information caching

Abstract

In a peer-to-peer network system, a local node communicates with a remote node on which detailed information about content objects resides and optionally, the content objects reside. The local node uses caching, message request resizing and predictive message requesting to speed response time to user requests and internal control node requests.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method, comprising:
 identifying anticipated content object information in advance of a predicted request to a local node for the anticipated content object information;   determining if a likelihood that the anticipated content object information will be requested meets or exceeds a threshold;   if the likelihood meets or exceeds the threshold, requesting the anticipated content object information from a remote node and storing the anticipated content object information in a cache memory of the local node; and   in response to an actual request to the local node for certain content object information, fulfilling the actual request at least in part using the anticipated content object information previously stored in the cache memory of the local node.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the identifying anticipated content object information further includes reviewing past requests and identifying a pattern. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22  further including storing a history of the past requests in the cache memory of the local node. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22  wherein the identifying a pattern includes identifying a repeated sequence of user requests. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the requesting the anticipated content object information from the remote node includes resizing a current request for base content object information so as to add additional content object information to the base content object information. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the resizing the current request includes adding additional content object information consecutive in ordering with the base content object information. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the resizing the current request includes determining if the base content object information is from a hierarchically ordered set of content object information entries and adding additional content object information lower in the hierarchy of the hierarchically ordered set of content object information entries. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the content object information is content object information provided according to Content Directory Services (CDS) of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the requesting the anticipated content object information from the remote node further includes receiving the anticipated content object from the remote node when the anticipated content object is determined to be found in the remote node or receiving the anticipated content object information from a second remote node when the anticipated content object information is determined to be found in the second remote node through a reference to the second remote node from the first remote node. 
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the storing the anticipated content object information in the cache memory of the local node includes:
 determining if the cache memory of the local node is full; and   if the cache memory of the local node is full:
 identifying one content object information entry in the cache memory of the local node that is less likely to be accessed than another content object information entry in the cache memory of the local node; and 
 storing the anticipated content object information in place of the identified content object information entry. 
   
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the identifying the one content object information entry in the cache memory that is less likely to be accessed than the other content object information entry in the cache memory of the local node includes:
 determining how recently each content object information entry has been accessed; and   identifying a least recently accessed content object information entry as the identified one content object information entry.   
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the identifying the one content object information entry in the cache memory that is less likely to be accessed than the other content object information entry in the cache memory of the local node includes:
 determining how frequently each content object information entry in the cache memory of the local node has been accessed; and   identifying a least frequently accessed content object information entry as the identified one content object information entry.   
   
   
       33 . A method, comprising:
 identifying anticipated content object information in advance of a predicted request to a local node;   determining if the anticipated content object information is stored in a cache memory of the local node;   if not stored in the cache memory of the local node, receiving the anticipated content object information from a remote node so as to mirror an original entry in the remote node and storing the anticipated content object information in the cache memory of the local node;   in response to an actual request to the local node for explicit content object information, fulfilling the request using the anticipated content object information stored in the cache memory of the local node; and   in response to an indication of at least a likelihood the original entry has changed prior to the actual request, invalidating the anticipated content object information.   
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the invalidating the anticipated content object information further includes setting a timer when the anticipated content object information is first received from the remote node and determining when the timer setting has expired. 
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the invalidating the anticipated content object information further includes querying the remote node for a status regarding changed entries. 
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the invalidating the anticipated content object information further includes registering with the remote node for receiving notification from the remote node of changed entries. 
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the content object information is provided according to Content Directory Services (CDS) of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network. 
   
   
       38 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a cache in a local node for storing items; and   a processor configured to:
 identify anticipated content object information in advance of a predicted request to the local node for the anticipated content object information; 
 determine if a likelihood that the anticipated content object information will be requested meets or exceeds a threshold; 
 if the likelihood meets or exceeds the threshold, request the anticipated content object information from a remote node and store the anticipated content object information in the cache of the local node; and 
 in response to an actual request to the local node for certain content object information, fulfill the actual request at least in part using the anticipated content object information previously stored in the cache of the local node. 
   
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the processor is further configured to set a timer when the anticipated content object information is first received from the remote node and determining when the timer setting has expired. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the processor is further configured to query the remote node for a status regarding changed entries. 
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein registering with the remote node to receive notification from the remote node of changed entries. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the content object information is provided according to Content Directory Services (CDS) of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network. 
   
   
       43 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, if executed by a device, cause the device to perform a method comprising:
 identifying anticipated content object information in advance of a predicted request to a local node for the anticipated content object information;   determining if a likelihood that the anticipated content object information will be requested meets or exceeds a threshold;   if the likelihood meets or exceeds the threshold, requesting the anticipated content object information from a remote node and storing the anticipated content object information in a cache memory of the local node; and   in response to an actual request to the local node for certain content object information, fulfilling the actual request at least in part using the anticipated content object information previously stored in the cache memory of the local node.   
   
   
       44 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43  wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying anticipated content object information in advance of a predicted request to a local node;   determining if the anticipated content object information is stored in a cache memory of a local node;   if not stored in the cache memory of the local node, receiving the anticipated content object information from a remote node so as to mirror an original entry in the remote node and storing the anticipated content object information in the cache memory of the local node;   in response to an actual request to the local node for explicit content object information, fulfilling the request using the anticipated content object information stored in the cache memory of the local node; and   in response to an indication of at least a likelihood the original entry has changed prior to the actual request, invalidating the anticipated content object information.   
   
   
       45 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for identifying anticipated content object information in advance of a predicted request to a local node for the anticipated content object information;   means for determining if a likelihood that the anticipated content object information will be requested meets or exceeds a threshold;   if the likelihood meets or exceeds the threshold, means for requesting the anticipated content object information from a remote node and means for storing the anticipated content object information in a cache memory of the local node; and   in response to an actual request to the local node for certain content object information, means for fulfilling the actual request at least in part using the anticipated content object information previously stored in the cache memory of the local node.