Content Delivery Networks Research Articles

QIoTChain: Quantum IoT‐blockchain fusion for advanced data protection in Industry 4.0

AbstractThe modern world has its foundation built on data. Data is generated all the time, and many aspects of the society and economy are built upon it. In today's world, data is employed in better decision‐making, innovation, and improving the efficiency of systems. It becomes essential to protect it from being tampered with or misused. Encryptions based on cryptographic systems are used in mainstream data protection these days. There have been newer iterations of mechanisms based on new techniques using blockchain and the zero trust model and even systems that employ fog computing along with content delivery networks. The advent of computation through quantum technologies also helped in developing data security with post‐quantum mechanisms. The critical conditions for the working of these mechanisms hinder their adoption primarily. This also leads current systems to lack one or more of these technologies. Thus, the importance of a unified system that can employ quantum technologies effectively becomes prominent and requires a definitive investigation. In this article, a Quantum‐IoT‐based data protection scheme that can be of value to Industry 4.0 is analyzed. Light is also shed on innovations in quantum computing that can help solve not just current problems but also the future.

Whole slide images as non-fungible tokens: A decentralized approach to secure, scalable data storage and access

BackgroundDistributed ledger technology (DLT) enables the creation of tamper-resistant, decentralized, and secure digital ledgers. A non-fungible token (NFT) represents a record on-chain associated with a digital or physical asset, such as a whole-slide image (WSI). The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) represents an off-chain network, hypermedia, and file sharing peer-to-peer protocol for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system. Today, we need cheaper, more efficient, highly scalable, and transparent solutions for WSI data storage and access of medical records and medical imaging data. MethodsWSIs were created from non-human tissues and H&E-stained sections were scanned on a Philips Ultrafast WSI scanner at 40× magnification objective lens (1 μm/pixel). TIFF images were stored on IPFS, while NFTs were minted on the Ethereum blockchain network in ERC-1155 standard. WSI-NFTs were stored on MetaMask and OpenSea was used to display the WSI-NFT collection. Filebase storage application programing interface (API) were used to create dedicated gateways and content delivery networks (CDN). ResultsA total of 10 WSI-NFTs were minted on the Ethereum blockchain network, found on our collection “Whole Slide Images as Non-fungible Tokens Project” on Open Sea: https://opensea.io/collection/untitled-collection-126765644. WSI TIFF files ranged in size from 1.6 to 2.2 GB and were stored on IPFS and pinned on 3 separate nodes. Under optimal conditions, and using a dedicated CDN, WSI reached retrieved at speeds of over 10 mb/s, however, download speeds and WSI retrieval times varied significantly depending on the file and gateway used. Overall, the public IPFS gateway resulted in variably poorer WSI download retrieval performance compared to gateways provided by Filebase storage API. ConclusionWhole-slide images, as the most complex and substantial data files in healthcare, demand innovative solutions. In this technical report, we identify pitfalls in IPFS, and demonstrate proof-of-concept using a 3-layer architecture for scalable, decentralized storage, and access. Optimized through dedicated gateways and CDNs, which can be effectively applied to all medical data and imaging modalities across the healthcare sector. DLT and off-chain network solutions present numerous opportunities for advancements in clinical care, education, and research. Such approaches uphold the principles of equitable healthcare data ownership, security, and democratization, and are poised to drive significant innovation.

Can We Save the Public Internet?

The goal of this short document is to explain why recent developments in the Internet's infrastructure are problematic. As context, we note that the Internet was originally designed to provide a simple universal service - global end-to-end packet delivery - on which a wide variety of end-user applications could be built. The early Internet supported this packet-delivery service via an interconnected collection of commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that we will refer to collectively as the "public Internet." The Internet has fulfilled its packet-delivery mission far beyond all expectations and is now the dominant global communications infrastructure. By providing a level playing field on which new applications could be deployed, the Internet has enabled a degree of innovation that no one could have foreseen. To improve performance for some common applications, "enhancements" such as caching (as in content-delivery networks) have been gradually added to the Internet. The resulting performance improvements are so significant that such enhancements are now effectively necessary to meet current content delivery demands. Despite these tangible benefits, this document argues that the way these enhancements are currently deployed seriously undermines the sustainability of the public Internet and could lead to an Internet infrastructure that reaches fewer people and is largely concentrated among only a few large-scale providers. We wrote this document because we fear that these developments are now decidedly tipping the Internet's playing field towards those who can deploy these enhancements at massive scale, which in turn will limit the degree to which the future Internet can support unfettered innovation. This document begins by explaining our concerns but goes on to articulate how this unfortunate fate can be avoided. To provide more depth for those who seek it, we provide a separate addendum with further detail.

Blockchain-Enabled On-Path Caching for Efficient and Reliable Content Delivery in Information-Centric Networks

As the demand for online content continues to grow, traditional Content Distribution Networks (CDNs) are facing significant challenges in terms of scalability and performance. Information-Centric Networking (ICN) is a promising new approach to content delivery that aims to address these issues by placing content at the center of the network architecture. One of the key features of ICNs is on-path caching, which allows content to be cached at intermediate routers along the path from the source to the destination. On-path caching in ICNs still faces some challenges, such as the scalability of the cache and the management of cache consistency. To address these challenges, this paper proposes several alternative caching schemes that can be integrated into ICNs using blockchain technology. These schemes include Bloom filters, content-based routing, and hybrid caching, which combine the advantages of off-path and on-path cachings. The proposed blockchain-enabled on-path caching mechanism ensures the integrity and authenticity of cached content, and smart contracts automate the caching process and incentivize caching nodes. To evaluate the performance of these caching alternatives, the authors conduct experiments using real-world datasets. The results show that on-path caching can significantly reduce network congestion and improve content delivery efficiency. The Bloom filter caching scheme achieved a cache hit rate of over 90% while reducing the cache size by up to 80% compared to traditional caching. The content-based routing scheme also achieved high cache hit rates while maintaining low latency.

A Hierarchical Optimized Resource Utilization based Content Placement (HORCP) model for cloud Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) have grown in popularity as a result of the ongoing development of the Internet and its applications. The workload on streaming media service systems can be significantly decreased with the help of the cooperative edge-cloud computing architecture. In the traditional works, a different types of content placement and routing algorithms are developed for improving the content delivery of cloud systems with reduced delay and cost. But, the majority of existing algorithms facing complexities in terms of increased resource usage, ineffective delivery, and high system designing complexity. Therefore, the proposed work aims to develop a new framework, named as, Hierarchical Optimized Resource Utilization based Content Placement (HORCP) model for cloud CDNs. Here, the Chaotic Krill Herd Optimization (CKHO) method is used to optimize the resource usage for content placement. Then, a Hierarchical Probability Routing (HPR) model is employed to enable a dependable end-to-end data transmission with an optimized routing path. The performance of the proposed HORCP model is validated and compared by using several performance metrics. The obtained results are also compared with current state-of-the-art methodologies in order to show the superiority of the proposed HORCP model. By using the HORCP mechanism, the overall memory usage of the network is reduced to 80%, CPU usage is reduced to 20%, response is minimized to 2 s, and total congestion cost with respect to the network load level is reduced to 100.

A novel cost-based replica server placement for optimal service quality in cloud-based content delivery network

<span lang="EN-US">Replica server placement is one of the crucial concerns for a given geographic diversity associated with placement problems in content delivery network (CDN). After reviewing the existing literatures, it is noted that studies are more for solving placement problem in conventional CDN and not much over cloud-based CDN architectures, which some few studies are reported towards replica selection are much in its nascent stages of development. Moreover, such models are not benchmarked or practically assessed to prove its effectiveness. Hence, the proposed study introduces a novel design of computational framework associated with cloud-based CDN which can facilitate cost-effective replica server management for enhanced service delivery. Implemented using analytical research methodology, the simulated study outcome shows that proposed scheme offers reduced cost, reduced resource dependencies, reduced latency, and faster processing time in contrast to existing models of replica server placement.</span>

Pemanfaatan layanan cloud computing dan docker container untuk meningkatkan kinerja aplikasi web

This research aims to analyze and implement the utilization of Content Delivery Networks (CDN) and cloud computing services in web applications using Nginx Proxy Manager and Docker containers. This research uses experimental methods and case studies to analyze the performance of web applications before and after using CDN services and implementing the application in a cloud computing environment using Docker containers. Next, Nginx Proxy Manager is used to provide a user-friendly interface for configuring and managing Nginx proxy servers. Docker containers are used to manage web applications and proxy servers. In the CDN and cloud computing environment, Cloudflare Google Cloud Platform will be used as service providers. The results of this research indicate a significant improvement in the security and reliability of web applications after implementing CDN services and adopting a cloud computing environment. Additionally, this research provides insight into how to use Nginx Proxy Manager and Docker container to manage web applications efficiently and effectively in a cloud computing environment.

A Survey on CDN Vulnerability to DoS Attacks

Content Delivery Networks (CDN), or ”content distribution networks” have been introduced to improve performance, scalability, and security of data distributed through the web. To reduce the response time of a web page when certain content is requested, the CDN redirects requests from users’ browsers to geographically distributed surrogate nodes, thus having a positive impact on the response time and network load. As a side effect, the surrogate servers manage possible attacks, especially denial of service attacks, by distributing the considerable amount of traffic generated by malicious activities among different data centers. Some CDNs provide additional services to normalize traffic and filter intrusion attacks, thus further mitigating the effects of possible unpleasant scenarios. Despite the presence of these native protective mechanisms, a malicious user can undermine the stability of a CDN by generating a disproportionate amount of traffic within a CDN thanks to endless cycles of requests circulating between nodes of the same network or between several distinct networks. We refer in particular to Forwarding Loops Attacks, a collection of techniques that can alter the regular forwarding process inside CDNs. In this paper, we analyze the vulnerability of some commercial CDNs to this type of attacks and then propose some possible useful defensive strategies.

Content moderation through removal of service: Content delivery networks and extremist websites

AbstractConsiderable attention has been paid by researchers to social media platforms, especially the ‘big companies’, and increasingly also messaging applications, and how effectively they moderate extremist and terrorist content on their services. Much less attention has yet been paid to if and how infrastructure and service providers, further down ‘the tech stack’, deal with extremism and terrorism. Content Delivery Networks (CDN) such as Cloudflare play an underestimated role in moderating the presence of extremist and terrorist content online as it is impossible for these websites to operate without DDoS protection. This is evidenced by the takedown of a wide range websites such as The Daily Stormer, 8chan, a variety of Taliban websites and more recently the organised harassment site Kiwifarms following refusal of service by Cloudflare. However, it is unclear whether there is any formal process of content review conducted by the company when it decides to refuse services. This article aims to first provide an analysis of what extremist and terrorist websites make use of Cloudflare's services as well as other CDNs, and how many of them have been subject to takedown following refusal of service. Following this the article analyses CDNs' terms of service and how current and upcoming internet regulation applies to these CDNs.

Data traffic reduction for D2D communications in 5G networks using a multilink approach

With the increase in the number of devices connected to the network and the increase in data rates, data traffic has also increased dramatically. This increase in traffic can lead to the development of network resources, increase in energy consumption and decrease in service quality. When compared to other forms of communication, video traffic is the most prevalent among mobile users and plays a significant influence in the expansion of network traffic. In recent years, networks containing content storage devices have caught the interest of academics due to users' exceptional desire to view live video feeds. In these gadgets, video content is pre-stored on edge gadgets (smart gadgets and small stations) for quick delivery. Device-to-device (D2D) communication technology, in which users receive their requests through a high-speed link and another device near them without a central station, is one of the proposed solutions to minimize traffic in 5G networks. The main areas of research in this field include the two approaches of traffic reduction and content storage. The multi-link communication approach is used in this study to evaluate the effectiveness of the system, and the findings contradict the results of previous research in this field. The proposed approach performs better than traffic reduction in similar systems without multicast support. First, there are 60% to 350% more links. Second, the average rate across the entire system increases by approximately 40% to 50%. Third: The number of satisfied recipients (satisfied users in the network) increases by about 90%. Therefore, the results of the findings show a significant improvement in how the content is distributed when the user shares it with multiple recipients. So that if we store the most visited files among users with different zeta coefficients in a content delivery network, we can make significant improvements in the system in terms of the number of possible links, the average rate in the system and the number of satisfied users, and ultimately reduce the traffic in Create a system.

Leveraging artificial intelligence and mutual authentication to optimize content caching in edge data centers

Available online Edge data centers are designed to meet the stringent QoE requirements of delay-sensitive and computationally intensive services in Content Delivery Network (CDN) and 5G networks. The primary purpose of this paper was to formulate and solve the problem of optimizing many control variables jointly: (i) what contents to store by taking into consideration edge capacity, and (ii) what contents to recommend to each Internet of Everything (IoE) item, based on identity and access management (IAM). In reactive caching policy, we proposed a new Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) scheme founded upon the Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and one-way hash function for access control. More interestingly, we use Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), Fuzzy C-Means (FCM), Random Forest (RF) and Pearson Correlation (PC) to improve the accuracy and latency of traditional data filtering models. The intelligent recommendation engine we propose is designed to be implemented by cloud for caching and prefetching contents at the edge. The experimental results validate the theoretical guarantees of the proposed solution and its ability to achieve significant performance gains compared to common baseline models.

ПОКРАЩЕННЯ ПАРАМЕТРІВ ЯКОСТІ ОБСЛУГОВУВАННЯ QOS В CDN МЕРЕЖІ ЗА РАХУНОК ВИКОРИСТАННЯ МОДУЛЯ EDGE COMPUTE

The main methods and principles of building content delivery networks and the peculiarities of their work are considered. An Edge Compute module proposed for use in content delivery networks to improve quality of service. A simulation modeling of the Edge Compute module, which works based on developed algorithm in the content delivery network (CDN) was performed. Based on the obtained simulation results, graphical dependencies of the efficiency of using Edge Compute module depending on the load and the number of requests from clients are presented. The results confirm the effectiveness of using the module when the number of requests are increasing. At the same time when the number of requests increases the delay time remains within satisfactory limits.

Extraction and Prediction of User Communication Behaviors From DNS Query Logs Based on Nonnegative Tensor Factorization

Owing to the critical role of the domain name system (DNS), its query log data are utilized for various network monitoring purposes. With the diversification of network services, these data have become increasingly complex, making mining useful information challenging. DNS query log data can be considered as the superposition of two types of communication patterns: groups of domains accessed simultaneously (e.g., ad servers and content delivery network (CDN) servers) and time-series access patterns based on user behavior characteristics (e.g., access trends during the night). However, previous studies have not focused on extracting both access patterns hidden in the data. This study proposes a method that extracts both patterns of accessed domains and temporal access patterns as user communication behaviors from DNS query log data and predicts future accesses based on these patterns. The proposed method first aggregates similar fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) associated with the same service. We then present temporal regularized nonnegative tensor factorization (TR-NTF) that extracts both access patterns from a third-order tensor expressing DNS query log data and enables prediction. We evaluate the proposed method using synthetic and actual data and demonstrate that it successfully extracts hidden communication patterns and achieves sufficient prediction accuracy.

XDN-Based Network Framework Design to Communicate Interaction in Virtual Concerts with Metaverse Platforms

In the trend of transforming existing systems and services into non-face-to-face models, the concert industry is also showing movements toward transitioning to virtual formats. Physical concerts in the real world require venues that can accommodate hundreds to tens of thousands of spectators, but non-face-to-face methods that can accommodate large audiences face various limitations. Moreover, to elevate the satisfaction level of virtual concert attendees to that of real-world concerts, it is important to implement interaction between performers and audiences. Modern metaverse platforms apply cutting-edge network technologies to accommodate numerous users within a single channel. Many researchers are adopting network technologies such as SDN (software-defined networking) and CDN (content delivery network) to set up a virtual concert that can accommodate large audiences. In this paper, we propose a network framework to be designed for the composition of virtual concerts. In particular, we separate a channel dedicated to interaction in order to provide an immersive experience of exchanging interactions between performers and audiences. As massive audiences transmitting interaction data to the performer in a 1:N format can lead to problems with acceptance and latency, this study introduces a concept of a channel form called ‘Zone’ and proposes an interaction data channel network framework that does not compromise immersion. The proposed framework supports tasks for effectively transmitting interaction data using network technologies for metaverse platforms such as XDN and clustering algorithms such as fuzzy c-means. We also suggest a CDN-based architecture that can ensure low latency for performers to transmit interaction data to the audience.

Practical Models of Interconnections Between Content Delivery Networks and Internet Service Providers

Practical Models of Interconnections Between Content Delivery Networks and Internet Service Providers

Peer-to-Peer Conferencing using Blockchain, WebRTC and SIP


 The owner of the centralized video platform has more control over uploaded content than the content producer does. But the other Blockchain-based decentralized video services are attempting to reduce ad pressure and get rid of middlemen. The article suggests a combination of a safe encryption technique and an access control mechanism created "with technology" to create a successful decentralized video streaming platform built on the Blockchain. Peer-to-peer (P2P) overlays are one of the complicated network applications and services that have been migrated to the Web as a result of the increasing support for Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) standard in modern browsers for real-time communications. The expansion of access networks’ bandwidth also makes it possible for end users to start their own content businesses. This paper presents a preliminary proposal of metrics and technologies to move toward a decentralized cooperative architecture for large-scale, real-time live stream content de- livery based on WebRTC, without the requirement of a Content Delivery Network (CDN) infrastructure. The paper takes into account the light of the aforementioned aspects [6].

A Link-Layer Virtual Networking Solution for Cloud-Native Network Function Virtualisation Ecosystems: L2S-M

Microservices have become promising candidates for the deployment of network and vertical functions in the fifth generation of mobile networks. However, microservice platforms like Kubernetes use a flat networking approach towards the connectivity of virtualised workloads, which prevents the deployment of network functions on isolated network segments (for example, the components of an IP Telephony system or a content distribution network). This paper presents L2S-M, a solution that enables the connectivity of Kubernetes microservices over isolated link-layer virtual networks, regardless of the compute nodes where workloads are actually deployed. L2S-M uses software-defined networking (SDN) to fulfil this purpose. Furthermore, the L2S-M design is flexible to support the connectivity of Kubernetes workloads across different Kubernetes clusters. We validate the functional behaviour of our solution in a moderately complex Smart Campus scenario, where L2S-M is used to deploy a content distribution network, showing its potential for the deployment of network services in distributed and heterogeneous environments.

A DASH server-side delay-based representation switching solution to improve the quality of experience for low-latency live video streaming

This work addresses the integration of real-time transmission systems, including IP cameras and production systems (like OBS or vMix), that use protocols such as RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) or SRT (Secure Reliable Transport), with content distribution technology based on LL-DASH (Low Latency DASH -Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP-), taking advantage of the fact that DASH offers significant well-known advantages for content distribution over the Internet and via CDNs (Content Delivery Networks). Considering the limitations of the LL-DASH standard regarding the adaptation to network conditions, this paper proposes a new solution called Server-Side Representation Switching (SSRS). SSRS uses an approach based on the server measuring the delay in the requests made by clients, whose variation may be due to a decrease in bandwidth, as occurs in Wi-Fi networks with a high number of clients. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed solution, a testbed has been developed that allows the performance evaluation of both the LL-DASH system and the solution based on server-side decision-making. In addition, the developed solution has been compared with known algorithms (L2A and LoL+) integrated into the Dash.js player. The results show that the Server-Side Representation Switching solution offers a good trade-off between the transmitted quality and the final delay measured at the client, compared to the other algorithms evaluated. Moreover, it holds the advantage of being straightforward to implement and does not require any modifications to the players used.• Networks • Network performance evaluation • Network performance analysis.

Dynamic User Routing, Paid and Free Users, Web applications, Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Abstract: This research paper introduces a novel approach for efficient routing between paid and free users in web applications by harnessing the capabilities of a Content Delivery Network (CDN). The primary objective of this study is to optimize user experience and resource allocation based on user type, aiming to deliver personalized content while maximizing resource utilization. The proposed routing mechanism dynamically directs users to the appropriate pages or content based on their subscription status, leveraging the integration of a CDN into the web application architecture. The paper thoroughly explores the implementation details, emphasizing the seamless interaction between the CDN and user authentication mechanisms, and investigates the routing algorithms employed to intelligently determine the most suitable content delivery path for each user type. Through comprehensive experimentation and evaluation, the research demonstrates the efficiency and scalability of the proposed approach. Various user scenarios are considered, and factors such as response time, resource utilization, and content availability are evaluated. The experimental results showcase the significant enhancement of the overall user experience achieved through the dynamic user routing mechanism, providing tailored content delivery while effectively managing resource allocation. The findings of this research contribute to the field of web application development, particularly in managing different user types and delivering personalized content. By effectively leveraging CDNs and implementing dynamic routing strategies, web applications can optimize user satisfaction, ensure efficient resource utilization, and accommodate varying user subscription models. This research offers valuable insights and practical implications for designing and implementing usercentric web applications that deliver customized experiences and efficiently allocate resources based on user types. The paper delves into the implementation details, highlighting the key components and functionalities of the proposed solution. It explores the integration of the CDN into the web application architecture, emphasizing the seamless interaction between the CDN and user authentication mechanisms. Additionally, it investigates the routing algorithms employed to intelligently determine the appropriate content delivery path for each user type.

Data Trusted Sharing Delivery: A Blockchain-Assisted Software-Defined Content Delivery Network

The 6G wireless network aims to forge new spectrum, high technical standards of high time and phase synchronization accuracy, and 100% geographic coverage to connect trillions of devices flexibly and efficiently in the future. However, as connectivity increases and applications become novel, it is a challenge to ensure the privacy and security of networks and applications. Blockchain is seen as a promising technology that can improve efficiency, reduce costs, mitigate security and privacy threats, and establish a trusted data-sharing environment. This paper presents a trusted framework based on block chain technology from the perspective of how to build a trusted software-defined content delivery network. As the peer node of blockchain, SDN (Software Defined Network) controller establishes trust between different regions and a wide range of participants, realizing peer autonomy and flexible business orchestration. The two main purposes of the architecture are to enhance the security of network communications and establish trust relationships between entities in different domains. It includes trusted communication based on routing sandbox, service choreography based on block chain, proxy server selection strategy based on MPC (model predictive control) and optimization consensus based on PBFT. Some simulation experiments verify the effectiveness of the theoretical method.