Dynamic binding for use in content distribution

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for dynamic binding in the context of content delivery. For example, the methods and systems may be implemented as a dynamic binding process that maps a content provider to a first set of content servers in a content distribution network. The dynamic binding process may then facilitate the content to be received from the content provider so that the content can be distributed by the first set of content servers in the content distribution network. The dynamic binding process further monitors network traffic associated with the content from the content provider and determines at least one metric associated with the network traffic. Additionally, the dynamic binding process can remap the content provider to a second set of content servers in the content distribution network based on at least one of the metrics.

1 . A method comprising:
 mapping a content provider to a first set of content servers in a content distribution network;   receiving content from the content provider, the content to be distributed by the first set of content servers in the content distribution network;   monitoring network traffic associated with the content from the content provider;   determining at least one metric associated with the network traffic;   remapping the content provider to a second set of content servers in the content distribution network based on the at least one metric.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of content servers includes servers in multiple geographic locations. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metric includes central processing unit (CPU) overhead, latency, content size, library size and content popularity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising generating a composite metric composed of the at least one metric. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein remapping the content provider to the second set of content servers comprises remapping when the composite metric is greater than a threshold. 
     
     
         6 . A system comprising:
 an electronic dynamic binding system including:
 a traffic monitor configured to monitor network traffic associated with content from a content provider mapped to a number of content servers serving the content; 
 a metric determination module configured to compute at least one metric associated with the network traffic; 
 a threshold adjustment module configured to adjust the number of content servers mapped to the content provider; and 
 a binding map identifying the content servers mapped to the content provider. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the electronic dynamic binding system further includes a cold node protection module configured to gradually allow content requests to a content server that is bound to a content provider. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the binding map identifies a maximum set of content servers that can be bound to the content provider. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the threshold adjustment module provides hysteresis when adjusting the number of content servers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the metric determination module determines one or more metrics selected from a group including central processing unit overhead, latency, content size, library size and popularity. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the binding map is hierarchical. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause a computer to perform a process, the process comprising:
 associating one or more server clusters with a content provider, the one or more server clusters each having one or more servers configured to distribute content from the content provider;   associating at least one server from the first set of one or more server clusters with the content provider;   distributing the content from the first set of one or more server clusters in response to requests for the content;   monitoring network traffic generated in response to the requests;   determining one or more network metrics;   adjusting the number of content servers configured to distribute the content from the content provider based on the one or more network metrics.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable media of  claim 12  wherein the server clusters are geographically distributed. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the server clusters are selected based on locations of clients of the content provider. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more network metrics include central processing unit overhead, latency, content size, library size and content popularity. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the process further comprises gradually increasing content requests to a content server that is newly associated with the content provider. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the process further comprises generating a composite value that is a combination of the one or more metrics.