Distributed cache for a wireless communication system

Abstract

In a wireless system comprising a plurality of radio base station, each base station services a portion of the system. A cache is associated with each base station. The cache stores files regularly requested by the remote unit within the coverage area of the corresponding base station. When a base station receives a message from a remote unit, it parses the message to determine if the message comprises a file request. If so, the base station determines whether the file is available from the cache. If available, the base station responds to the request by forwarding the requested file from the cache. If the file is not available, the base station forwards the message to a central controller, which retrieves the file via the Internet from the appropriate content server and provides it to the base station.

1 . A method of wireless data transfer comprising: 
 receiving a message over a wireless link at a wireless base station, wherein the wireless base station is an intermediary between at least one remote unit and an internet service provider, and wherein the wireless base station services a plurality of physically distinct sectors;    caching data in a cache at said wireless base station, wherein the cache is associated with one of the physically distinct sectors;    identifying requested information from said message at said wireless base station;    determining whether said requested information is available from the cache in said wireless base station;    forwarding said requested information from said wireless base station to the remote unit if said requested information is available within said cache; and    forwarding said message to the internet service provider if said requested information is not available from said cache.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting information for storage in said memory based upon usage patterns of requested information received by said wireless base station.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving said message from said wireless base station at said internet service provider;    identifying requested information from said message at said internet service provider;    determining whether said requested information is available from a memory associated with said internet service provider;    forwarding said requested information to said wireless base station if said requested information is available within said memory associated with said internet service provider; and    forwarding said message to a network if said requested information is not available from said memory associated with said internet service provider.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless base station provides service to a limited portion of a wireless system.  
   
   
       5 . A wireless system comprising: 
 a plurality of wireless base stations, each of said plurality of wireless base stations servicing remote units located within a corresponding limited physical coverage area, and wherein the limited physical coverage area comprises a plurality of physically distinct sectors;    an internet service provider coupled to each of said plurality of wireless base stations, wherein the wireless base station is an intermediary between the remote units and an internet service provider;    a network coupled to said internet service provider and coupled to each of said plurality of wireless base stations via said internet service provider; and    a cache in a first wireless base station of said plurality of wireless base stations and storing digital data retrieved over said network, and wherein the cache is dedicated for use by users in one of the physically distinct sectors;    wherein when said first wireless base station receives a message from a wireless user requesting a file and said file is stored within said cache, said first wireless base station identifies said file from said message, retrieves said file from said cache and forwards said file to said wireless user, wherein the first wireless base station caches data in the cache.    
   
   
       6 . The wireless system of  claim 5  wherein each of said plurality of wireless base stations provides service to said limited physical coverage area via the use of a satellite link.  
   
   
       7 . The wireless system of  claim 5  further comprising a usage pattern algorithm for identifying said digital data to be stored in said cache.  
   
   
       8 . The wireless system of  claim 5  further comprising an anticipatory caching algorithm for identifying said digital data to be stored in said cache.  
   
   
       9 . The wireless system of  claim 5  wherein said file is an embedded Internet object.  
   
   
       10 . A system comprising: 
 a wireless base station adapted to service at least one remote unit located within a corresponding limited physical coverage area, wherein the wireless base station is coupled to an internet service provider, wherein the wireless base station comprises a cache for storing digital data provided by the internet service provider, wherein when the wireless base station receives a message from a wireless user requesting a file and the file is stored within the cache, the wireless base station identifies the file from the message, retrieves the file from the cache and forwards the file to the wireless user, wherein the wireless base station is adapted to cache data in the cache, and wherein caching includes obtaining one or more files that are independent of requests by the remote unit and that relate to a selected demographic of users that are serviced by the wireless base station.    
   
   
       11 . The wireless system of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless base stations is located within the corresponding limited physical coverage area.  
   
   
       12 . The wireless system of  claim 10 , further comprising a usage pattern algorithm for identifying the digital data to be stored in the cache.  
   
   
       13 . The wireless system of  claim 10 , further comprising an anticipatory caching algorithm for identifying the digital data to be stored in the cache.  
   
   
       14 . A system comprising: 
 two wireless base stations, wherein each of the base stations are adapted to service at least one remote unit located within a corresponding limited physical coverage area, wherein the wireless base stations share a cache for storing digital data provided by an internet service provider, wherein when the wireless base stations are configured to receive messages from wireless users requesting files, the wireless base stations being configured to identify at least one file from the message and being configured to retrieve the file from the cache and forward the file to the wireless user, wherein the wireless base station is adapted to cache data in the cache, and wherein caching includes obtaining one or more files that are independent of requests by the remote unit and that relate to a selected demographic of users that are serviced by the wireless base station.    
   
   
       15 . A method of wireless data transfer comprising: 
 receiving a message over a wireless link at a wireless base station, wherein the wireless base station is an intermediary between at least one remote unit and an internet service provider, and wherein the wireless base station services a plurality of physically distinct sectors;    anticipatory caching data in a cache at said wireless base station, wherein the cached data includes embedded objects from a newspaper;    identifying requested information from said message at said wireless base station;    determining whether said requested information is available from the cache in said wireless base station;    forwarding said requested information from said wireless base station to the remote unit if said requested information is available within said cache; and    forwarding said message to the internet service provider if said requested information is not available from said cache.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising selecting information for storage in said memory based upon usage patterns of requested information received by said wireless base station.