AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`In re Application of:
`
`Leighton, F. Thomson
`
`11/515,171
`
`September 1, 2006
`
`2444
`
`6177
`
`CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM USING AN
`
`ALTERNATIVE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM
`
`(DNS) AND CONTENT SERVERS
`
`Serial No.
`
`Filing Date:
`
`Group Art Unit:
`
`Confirmation Number:
`
`Title:
`
`Mail Stop Issue Fee
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`PO. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 223 13— 1450
`
`RULE 312 AMENDMENT
`
`The Examiner is thanked for the indication of allowed subject matter. In a final
`
`reView of the allowed claims, the undersigned noticed several minor errors or formatting
`
`issues that are addressed herein.
`
`Please amend the application as follows
`
`IN THE CLAIMS
`
`Please amend claims 6, 42, 48—49 and 63 as set forth below.
`
`A complete claim listing begins on the next page.
`
`- 1 -
`
`MIT 2010
`MIT 2010
`Limelight v. MIT
`Limelight V. MIT
`IPR2017-00249
`|PR2017-00249
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`1—5.
`
`(cancelled)
`
`6.
`
`(currently amended) A computer—implemented method of delivering text,
`
`graphics, images, downloads, audio or video on behalf of multiple content providers,
`
`comprising:
`
`operating content delivery network (CDN) content servers in multiple locations,
`
`each location with connectivity to one or more networks;
`
`operating multiple CDN name servers;
`
`receiving a first domain name service (DNS) query at a first CDN name server, the
`
`first DNS query including a data string of the form “stringl string2 string3”, where:
`
`string3 is a generic top level domain (gTLD),
`
`string2 is separated from stringé Mg; by a period and is a name
`
`maintained by a service provider that operates the CDN content servers and the
`
`CDN name servers, and
`
`stringl is separated from string—2 Mg; by a period and comprises one or
`
`more sub—strings, where each sub—string is comprised of one of: letters, numbers,
`
`and combinations of letters and numbers, and any pair of sub—strings in stringl are
`
`separated by a period;
`
`having the first CDN name server respond to the first DNS query by sending a
`
`response that includes a first set of one or more IP addresses, where a first end user request
`
`for content directed to one of the IP addresses of the first set causes the service provider to
`
`deliver the content to a first end user from a first CDN content server;
`
`receiving a second DNS query at a second CDN name server, the second DNS
`
`query also including the same data string that is received by the first CDN name server;
`
`and
`
`having the second CDN name server respond to the second DNS query by sending
`
`a response that includes a second set of one or more IP addresses, wherein a second end
`
`user request for content directed to one of the IP addresses of the second set causes the
`
`service provider to deliver the content to a second end user from a second CDN content
`
`server;
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`the second set of one or more IP addresses differing from the first set of one or
`
`more IP addresses based on where the first and second DNS queries originate.
`
`7.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the
`
`CDN name servers are deployed at the multiple locations, and wherein the first and second
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`DNS queries are received from respective first and second local DNS name servers.
`
`8.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 7 wherein the first
`
`CDN name server is closer to the first local DNS name server than is the second CDN
`
`name SCI'VCI'.
`
`9.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the first
`
`CDN content server is closer to the first end user than is the second CDN content server.
`
`10
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 7 wherein the first
`
`CDN content server is closer to the first local DNS name server than is the second CDN
`
`content server.
`
`ll.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the first
`
`CDN content server is reachable through an IP address in the first set of IP addresses.
`
`12.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim ll wherein the IP
`
`address of the first CDN content server is among the first set of IP addresses.
`
`13.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein a
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`location of the multiple locations is a network exchange point or a network access point.
`
`14.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the
`
`multiple locations are part of a network associated with the service provider.
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`15.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the
`
`multiple CDN name servers are an authority for string2.string3.
`
`16.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the
`
`portion string2.string3 of the data string is used by the service provider for two or more
`
`content providers that use the CDN content servers to deliver their respective content.
`
`17.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the
`
`content requested by the first end user and the content requested by the second end user are
`
`one of the following: (a) the same content, (b) different content from the same content
`
`provider, and (c) different content from different content providers.
`
`18.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein a sub—
`
`string of stringl is associated with one or more CDN name servers that comprise a level of
`
`a DNS hierarchy.
`
`19.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 18 wherein a first
`
`sub—string of stringl is associated with one or more CDN name servers in a first level of a
`
`DNS hierarchy, and wherein a second substring of stringl is associated with one or more
`
`name servers in a second level of the DNS hierarchy.
`
`20.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 9 wherein the first
`
`CDN content server is not overloaded.
`
`21.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 20 wherein the
`
`first CDN content server is likely to have the content requested by the first end user.
`
`22.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 10 wherein the
`
`first CDN content server is not overloaded.
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`23.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 22 wherein the
`
`first CDN content server is likely to have the content requested by the first end user.
`
`24.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the
`
`content requested by the first end user is associated with the data string.
`
`25.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 24 wherein the
`
`data string is located in a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the content requested by
`
`the first end user.
`
`26.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 25 wherein the
`
`URL includes, in addition to the data string, a content provider domain name.
`
`27.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 26 where the data
`
`string is positioned in front of the content provider domain name within the URL.
`
`28.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 27 wherein the
`
`content provider domain name is retained in the URL to facilitate retrieval of the content
`
`by a CDN content server.
`
`29.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 28 wherein the
`
`content provider domain name is used to retrieve the content from a content provider
`
`SCI'VCI' upon a glVCl’l OCCUI’I‘CI’ICC.
`
`30.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 29 wherein the
`
`given occurrence is that the content is not available from the CDN content server.
`
`3 1.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 where the data
`
`string includes a value that encodes information about the content.
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`32.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 where the data
`
`string includes a value that identifies a type of content.
`
`33.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the
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`content requested by the first end user is an embedded object.
`
`34.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 33 wherein the
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`embedded object is contained in a markup language page.
`
`35.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 further
`
`including serving the content requested by the first end user from the first CDN content
`
`SCI'VCI'.
`
`36.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 35 wherein the
`
`content requested by the first end user is one of: an object, a media stream, and a piece of
`
`software.
`
`37.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 35 wherein the
`
`object is part of a web page.
`
`38.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 6 wherein the data
`
`string is a virtual global host name.
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`39.
`
`(previously presented) A computer—implemented method of content
`
`delivery operative in a content delivery network (CDN) for multiple content providers, the
`
`CDN comprising collections of CDN content servers, and a CDN name service having
`
`multiple CDN name servers, comprising:
`
`receiving, at the CDN name service, first and second DNS queries, wherein the first
`
`DNS query includes a name that points to the CDN, wherein the second DNS query also
`
`includes the name, wherein the name includes a character string having a first portion, a
`
`second portion, and a third portion, wherein the first portion is a generic top level domain,
`
`and the second portion is separated from the first portion by a period and is an identifier
`
`maintained by a service provider that operates the CDN name service; and
`
`returning, by the CDN name service, a response to each of the first and second
`
`DNS queries, where a response to the first DNS query is provided by a first CDN name
`
`server and leads to a first subset of CDN content servers, and where a response to the
`
`second DNS query is provided by a second CDN name server and leads to a second subset
`
`of CDN content servers, the second CDN name server being distinct from the first CDN
`
`name server, where information within the responses to the first and second DNS queries
`
`varies based on where the respective first and second DNS queries originate.
`
`40.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 wherein the
`
`first DNS query results from a request for a first content object, and the second DNS query
`
`results from a request for a second content object, wherein the first and second content
`
`objects are one of: (a) the same content, (b) different content from the same content
`
`provider, and (c) different content from different content providers.
`
`41.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 wherein the
`
`name that points to the CDN is a virtual global host name.
`
`42.
`
`(currently amended) The method as described in claim 39 wherein th_e first
`
`portion of the character string is an end portion, the second portion of the character string
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`is a next—to—end portion, and the third portion of the character string is a next portion,
`
`where the third portion is separated from the second portion by a period.
`
`43.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 wherein the
`
`third portion includes information associated with one or more CDN name servers of the
`
`CDN name service.
`
`44.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 43 wherein the
`
`one or more CDN name servers of the CDN name service identified by the information
`
`comprise a level of a DNS hierarchy.
`
`45.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 44 wherein the
`
`DNS hierarchy includes first and second levels.
`
`46.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 wherein the
`
`first DNS query is received from a first local name server at a first location, and the second
`
`DNS query is received from a second local name server at a second location, where the
`
`second location is distinct from the first location.
`
`47.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 46 where the
`
`response to the first DNS query comprises one or more IP addresses.
`
`48.
`
`(currently amended) The method as described in claim 47 wherein the one
`
`or more IP addresses are IP addresses of associated with the first subset of CDN content
`
`SCI'VCI'S .
`
`49.
`
`(currently amended) The method as described in claim 45 fl wherein the
`
`IP addresses of associated with the first subset of CDN content servers include an IP
`
`address of associated with a CDN content server that is co—located with the first local CDN
`
`name SCI'VCI'.
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`50.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 49 wherein a
`
`content request includes the name that points to the CDN.
`
`51.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 wherein the
`
`name that points to the CDN is in a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for a content object
`
`of a content provider.
`
`52.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 51 wherein the
`
`URL also includes information associated with the content provider that publishes the
`
`content object.
`
`53.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 52 wherein the
`
`information is a content provider domain name.
`
`54.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 53 where the name
`
`that points to the CDN is positioned in front of the content provider domain name within
`
`the URL.
`
`55.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 wherein the
`
`CDN name service comprises the first CDN name server and the second CDN name
`
`server, the first CDN name server being located in proximity to the first subset of CDN
`
`content servers, the second CDN name server being located in proximity to the second
`
`subset of CDN content servers.
`
`5 6.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 55 wherein the
`
`first and second CDN name servers are located in a second level of a DNS hierarchy
`
`having at least first and second levels.
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`57.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 56 wherein the
`
`first level of the DNS hierarchy includes at least one other CDN name server that receives
`
`the first query and, in response, returns an IP address or the first or second CDN name
`
`server in the second level.
`
`5 8.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 where the name
`
`that points to the CDN includes a value that encodes information about a content object.
`
`59.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 where the
`
`name that points to the CDN includes value that identifies a type of content object.
`
`60.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 39 further
`
`including serving a content object from a content server in either the first subset of CDN
`
`content servers or the second subset of CDN content servers.
`
`61.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 60 wherein the
`
`content object is one of: a web object, a media stream, and a piece of software.
`
`62.
`
`(previously presented) The method as described in claim 61 wherein the
`
`web object is part of a web page.
`
`-10-
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`63.
`
`(currently amended) A system for content delivery operated by a content
`
`delivery network (CDN) service provider for multiple content providers, comprising:
`
`a plurality of CDN content servers organized into sets; and
`
`a CDN name service having a set of CDN name servers, the CDN name service
`
`receiving first and second DNS queries and returning a response to each of the first and
`
`second DNS queries;
`
`Where the first DNS query includes a name that points to the CDN, the name of the
`
`form “stringl string2 string3”, Where:
`
`string3 is a generic top level domain (gTLD),
`
`string2 is separated from stringé Mg; by a period and is a name
`
`maintained by the CDN service provider, and
`
`stringl is separated from string—2 Mg; by a period and comprises one or
`
`more sub—strings, Where each sub—string is comprised of one of: letters, numbers,
`
`and combinations of letters and numbers, and any pair of sub—strings in stringl are
`
`separated by a period;
`
`Where the second DNS query also includes the name;
`
`Where a response to the first DNS query leads to a first subset of CDN content
`
`servers;
`
`Where a response to the second DNS query leads to a second subset of CDN
`
`content servers; and
`
`Where information Within the responses to the first and second DNS queries varies
`
`based on Where the respective first and second DNS queries originate.
`
`-11-
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`REMARKS
`
`PATENT
`
`Claims 6 and 63 have been amended solely to correct the formatting of the
`
`“string3” and “string2” references.
`
`In this regard, the Examiner will note that in several
`
`places the allowed claims inadvertently included a space in—between the word “string” and
`
`the respective number. The undersigned apologizes for this error.
`
`In claim 42, the word “the” was inadvertently omitted. It is added.
`
`Dependent claim 49 should have depended from claim 48, not claim 45. In
`
`addition, the phrase “first local name server” should have read “first CDN name server.”
`
`These errors have been corrected.
`
`Dependent claim 48 has been amended to ensure that claims 48—49 now have
`
`consistent wording.
`
`Entry of these amendments is requested at the Examiner’s convenience to improve
`
`the readability of the claims and to address these minor error and/or formatting issues. No
`
`new matter has been included.
`
`The Statement of Reasons for Allowance on page 6 refers to “independent claims
`
`1, 39 and 63.” It is believed that this sentence was meant to say “independent claims 6, 39
`
`and 63.” On page 7, there was a reference to “Claims 6—63l” which was intended to refer
`
`to “Claims 6-63.”
`
`The undersigned concurs with the Examiner’ s Statement of Reasons for Allowance
`
`regarding the “claimed limitations” but would add the self—evident comment that the
`
`limitations are “expressed in independent claims [6], 39 and 63” is somewhat different
`
`ways.
`
`-12-
`
`

`

`AKAM-013C
`
`PATENT
`
`The Issue Fee is being paid separately.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/DaVid H. Judson/
`
`By: —
`David H. Judson, Reg. No. 30,467
`
`ATTORNEYS FOR APPLICANT
`
`January 12, 2010
`
`-13-
`
`