Network Connection Handoff

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media may be configured for transferring of state data of a network connection established by a first device. In an example, a front end device of a cache cluster may establish a network connection with a client device and generate state data associated with the network connection. The front end device may receive a content request from the client device via the network connection and select one of a plurality of back end devices to provide the content item.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a first back-end device and from a user device, a content request;   sending, by the first back-end device and to a front-end device, the content request;   receiving, by the first back-end device and from the front-end device, a network address of a second back-end device; and   causing, by the first back-end device, the second back-end device to service the content request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the content request comprises establishing, by the first back-end device, a network connection with the user device; and
 wherein causing the second back-end device to service the content request comprises causing the second back-end device to service the content request via the established network connection.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the content request comprises establishing, by the first back-end device, a network connection with the user device; and
 wherein causing the second back-end device to service the content request comprises sending, to the second back-end device, the content request, transmission control protocol (TCP) information associated with the network connection, and instructions for the second back-end device to initiate a TCP handoff.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the content request comprises establishing, by the first back-end device and by using a virtual network address, a network connection with the user device; and
 wherein causing the second back-end device to service the content request comprises causing the second back-end device to service, using the virtual network address, the content request.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the front-end device comprises a router; and
 wherein at least one of the first back-end device or the second back-end device comprises an edge cache.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first back-end device, the second back-end device, and the front-end device each share a same virtual network address; and
 wherein receiving the content request comprises receiving the content request via the same virtual network address.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the first back-end device and from the second back-end device, a content item associated with the content request;   storing, by the first back-end device, a local copy of the content item;   receiving, by the first back-end device and from another user device, a second content request for the content item; and   servicing, by the first back-end device, the second content request.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a front-end device and from a first back-end device of a plurality of back-end devices, a content request from a user device;   selecting, by the front-end device and from the plurality of back-end devices, a second back-end device to service the content request; and   sending, by the front-end device and to the first back-end device, a network address of the second back-end device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein selecting the second back-end device comprises:
 receiving load information from one or more of the plurality of back-end devices; and   selecting, based on the load information, the second back-end device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the front-end device comprises a router; and
 wherein at last one of the first back-end device or the second back-end device comprises an edge cache.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of back-end devices each share a same virtual network address; and
 wherein the first back-end device received the content request via the same virtual network address.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the front-end device and from the second back-end device, a content item associated with the content request;   storing, by the front-end device, a local copy of the content item;   receiving, by the front-end device and from another user device, a second content request for the content item; and   servicing, by the front-end device, the second content request.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the front-end device and from a third back-end device of a plurality of back-end devices, a second content request from a second user device;   selecting, by the front-end device and from the plurality of back-end devices, a fourth back-end device to service the second content request; and   sending, by the front-end device and to the fourth back-end device, an instruction to service the second content request via an established network connection between the second user device and the third back-end device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the front-end device and from a third back-end device of a plurality of back-end devices, a second content request from a second user device;   selecting, by the front-end device and from the plurality of back-end devices, a fourth back-end device to service the second content request; and   sending, by the front-end device and to the fourth back-end device, an instruction to service the second content request by initiating a transmission control protocol (TCP) handoff between the second user device and the third back-end device.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a first back-end device and from a second back-end device:
 a content request from a user device; 
 information associated with an established network connection between the second back-end device and the user device; and 
 instructions to service the content request via the established network connection; and 
   causing, by the first back-end device, based on the instructions, and at the user device, output of a content item associated with the content request.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein receiving the information associated with the established network connection comprises receiving transmission control protocol (TCP) information associated with the established network connection; and
 wherein receiving the instructions comprises receiving instructions to initiate a TCP handoff from the second back-end device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein receiving the information associated with the established network connection comprises receiving a virtual network address associated with the established network connection; and
 wherein receiving the instructions comprises receiving instructions to service, using the virtual network address, the content request.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at last one of the first back-end device or the second back-end device comprises an edge cache. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first back-end device and the second back-end device each share a same virtual network address. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the first back-end device and from another user device, a second content request for the content item; and   servicing, by the first back-end device, the second content request.