Content Pre-Fetching And CDN Assist Methods In A Wireless Mobile Network

Abstract

The current invention is applicable to a RAN-cache or proxy operating in a wireless mobile network that is functioning as a transparent inline device intercepting wireless mobile protocols such as UMTS, LTE, WIMAX, CDMA etc.), or a traffic off-load device connected to multiple interfaces towards the Core/Internet. The current invention identifies methods for pre-fetching content by emulating portions of a mobile client for gaining connectivity through the mobile-core network, or to use session contexts of other mobile clients in a way not to significantly effect charging and billing for the preloaded content. The pre-load decision of what to pre-load and when to pre-load may be locally derived within the RAN-cache/Proxy device, or in-coordination with a locally connected CDN (Content Delivery Network) device. Other embodiments of the current invention include the RAN-cache/Proxy providing interconnectivity from the locally connected CDN device to other CDN devices through the Mobile Core Network (SGSN/GGSN in UMTS, S-GW/P-GW in LTE etc.).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of pre-fetching content data in a wireless radio access network (RAN) for improving QOE to users, and for reducing delivery time for certain objects, wherein said RAN services a plurality of users, and wherein said RAN comprises a plurality of components, comprising:
 a. inserting a device in said RAN, said device comprising a storage element, control logic and two interface modules, such that said device communicates with a first and a second component;   b. using said control logic in said device to emulate a virtual user to establish a user plane session for the said pre-fetch operations; and   c. using said control logic to act as said virtual user to request content data to be stored in said storage element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said control logic determines what content to pre-fetch and when to pre-fetch said content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-fetch operations are initiated upon receiving requests from an external device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the said virtual user data plane session to pre-fetch content. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising using said virtual user data session to provide a CDN datapath between a local CDN and an external CDN through an operator core network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said virtual user emulation comprises using local configuration information, and emulating, initiating and terminating client requests. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said virtual user emulation comprises initiating a signaling connection in a control plane, and using that connection to establish a virtual user session in said data plane.