Communication path selection for content delivery

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and software for modifying a communication path based on content delivery performance data. In one example, a method of operating a content server that hosts content to be provided to a plurality of end user devices includes identifying latency data for a plurality of end user devices communicating with the content server, and identifying that the one or more end user devices in the plurality of end user devices exceed a latency threshold based on the latency data. The method further includes, in response to identifying that the one or more end user devices in the plurality of end user devices exceed the latency threshold, modifying the communication path between the content server and the one or more end user devices by modifying a domain name system (DNS) configuration for the content server.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a server on an edge network, the method comprising:
 identifying, latency data associated with communication between the server and a first internet service provider (ISP) and communication between the first ISP and a plurality of end user devices on the edge network;   identifying an end user device in the plurality of end user devices that exceeds a latency threshold based on the latency data; and   in response to identifying the end user device in the plurality of end user devices that exceeds the latency threshold:   identifying a second ISP; and   modifying a domain name system (DNS) configuration for the server, such that the communication path from the end user device to the server goes through the second ISP.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the server comprises an origin server. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein modifying the DNS configuration for the server comprises modifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address provided to the end user device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 identifying an additional end user device in the plurality of end user devices; and 
 responsive to identifying the additional end user device, modifying the DNS configuration for the server, such that a second communication path between the server and the additional end user device goes through the second ISP. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein altering the DNS configuration for the server comprises altering an Internet Protocol (IP) address provided to the additional end user device for the server. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein identifying the additional end user device in the plurality of end user devices comprises identifying the additional end user device using the same Internet Service Provider as the end user device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the end user device and the additional end user device comprise end user devices within a range of IP addresses. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the latency data comprises at least timing information for satisfying requests and the latency threshold comprises a predefined latency time for satisfying requests. 
     
     
         29 . A computer apparatus to operate a server on an edge network, the computer apparatus comprising:
 processing instructions that direct the server, when executed by the server, to:
 identify latency data from communication between the server and a first internet service provider (ISP) and communication between the first ISP and the plurality of end user devices; 
 identify an end user device in the plurality of end user devices that exceeds a latency threshold based on the latency data; and 
 in response to identifying the end user device in the plurality of end user device that exceeds the latency threshold:
 identify a second ISP; and 
 modify a domain name system (DNS) configuration for the server, such that a communication path from the end user device to the server goes through the second ISP; and 
 
   non-transitory computer readable media that store the processing instructions.   
     
     
         30 . The computer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the processing instructions to modify the DNS configuration for the server, such that the communication path between the content server and the end user device to the server goes through the second ISP further direct the server to modify an Internet Protocol (IP) address provided to the end user device. 
     
     
         31 . The computer apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the processing instructions further direct the server to:
 identify an additional end user device in the plurality of end user devices; and 
 modify the DNS configuration for the server, such that a second communication path between the server and the additional end user device goes through the second ISP. 
 
     
     
         32 . The computer apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the processing instructions to modify the DNS configuration for the server, such that the second communication path between the server and the additional end user device goes through the second ISP further direct the server to modify an Internet Protocol (IP) address provided to the additional end user device. 
     
     
         33 . The computer apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the processing instructions to identify the additional end user device in the plurality of end user devices direct the server to identify the additional end user device using the same Internet Service Provider as the end user device. 
     
     
         34 . The computer apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the end user device and the additional end user device comprise end user devices within a range of IP addresses. 
     
     
         35 . The computer apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the latency data comprises at least timing information for satisfying content requests and the latency threshold comprises a predefined latency time for satisfying requests. 
     
     
         36 . A system comprising:
 a means for assigning multiple network addresses to a server in an edge network, wherein the server caches content on behalf of an origin;   a means for providing a different one of the multiple network addresses to each of multiple Internet service providers that route requests from other Internet service providers to the server;   a means for identifying a latency of a path taken by a subset of the requests addressed to one of the multiple network addresses, wherein the path includes one of the other Internet service providers;   a means for identifying a latency of one other path taken by one other subset of the requests addressed to one other of the multiple network addresses, wherein the one other path includes the one of the other Internet service providers; and   a means for providing translations for domain name requests associated with the origin and with the one of the other Internet service providers based at least on the latency of the path and the latency of the one other path.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the means for assigning the multiple network addresses to the server in the edge network further comprises a means for assigning at least a first network address and a second network address to the server. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the means for providing the different one of the multiple network addresses to each of the multiple Internet service providers further comprises a means for:
 announcing the first network address to only the first one of the multiple Internet service providers; and 
 announcing the second network address to only the second one of the multiple Internet service providers. 
 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the subset of the requests are addressed to the first network address and wherein the one other subset of the requests are addressed to the second network address. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the multiple network addresses comprise Internet protocol (IP) addresses.