David Boxall wrote: > > What century is this?
The Internet is based on point to point communications. There are multicast protocols but they don't get a lot of use. ISPs use caching proxy applications like Squid to supply files that are sourced once upstream to multiple end users. It seems to me that it would be possible to improve the satellite performance significantly via the use of a smart, distributed version of Squid, something like this: Satellite endpoints run "DSquid" software and have a large local storage, I guess a few Tb would do it. There will be a cost/benefit trade-off. A 2Tb disk costs about $100 and holds like 200 HD movies. The satellite continuously broadcasts what goes into the central DSquid cache using some kind of smart algorithm based frequency of access across the user base. The endpoints continuously choose what to keep and what to discard based on "what's trending" recommendations from the central proxy and local usage history. This might mean, for example, that a popular movie, a large Windows update, or a distance education resource might be already pre-downloaded into your local cache when decide you want it. The broadcast stream has zero marginal cost so could of be free to all the satellites users. This wouldn't solve all the deficiencies but it would make much more efficient use of an expensive resource. It just needs a bit of smart design work. Does anyone know if this kind of system is available, in use anywhere, considered or considered too hard? Jim _______________________________________________ Link mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
