Patent Publication Number: US-8533143-B2

Title: Rule-based content handling

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/421,084, filed Apr. 9, 2009, titled “Rule-Based Content Request Handling,” which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Application Ser. No. 12/421,084 claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/043,663, filed Apr. 9, 2008, titled “Content Distribution and Delivery in a Network,” which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments presently disclosed generally relate to handling requests for content. More specifically, embodiments herein relate to applying customer rules to user attributes to determine whether a user is permitted to receive requested content. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Internet use has grown quickly in recent history and indications are that Internet use will continue to grow. Users access the internet to view all types of content. Today, users can view live presentations of events, such as sporting events. The providers of such content typically want to have some level of control over who views the content. For example, the provider of a live sporting event feed may want to block users in certain geographical areas for licensing purposes. 
     Typically providers of Internet content are separate entities from the network providers that provide the infrastructure to distribute the content. To reach a very large audience, content providers typically purchase the services of a content delivery network provider, which generally has a large network infrastructure for distributing the content. However, because content providers typically don&#39;t have control over distribution, the providers typically have limited control in how, or to whom, the content is distributed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments presently disclosed generally relate to content distribution and delivery in a network. More specifically, embodiments herein relate to a rule-based content request handling architecture. 
     Various embodiments of a system provide for coordinated generation and execution of rule-based business logic between a content provider and a content distributor. A rule specification utility is provided (e.g., by the content distributor) that allows the content provider to specify rules that the content distributor implements in business logic. The content provider can use default rules and/or specify other rules that dictate how user requests are to be handled based on a number of attribute values associated with requests. 
     In an embodiment of a system, a rule generation tool generates rules based on rule specifications. The rule generator formats the specified rules into one or more computer-readable programs setting forth the business logic to carry out the rules. In one embodiment, the business logic includes one or more data driven hierarchical decision nodes. Business logic is deployed to a number of content delivery network regions where it is applied to content requests. 
     In some embodiments rules can be applied to a number of types of attributes, including semi-static attributes, real-time attributes and address-independent attributes. At least some of the attribute values are determined based on an IP address of a content requester. Semi-static attributes are generally attributes for which values can be established in association with Internet protocol addresses in advance and resolved at the time of the request. Real-time attributes are attributes for which the values are established at the time of the request. Address-independent attributes are attributes of the request for which the value is independent of the IP address identified in the request. 
     In some embodiments, semi-static attributes include, but are not limited to country, city, zip code and autonomous system. Real-time attributes include, but are not limited to, IP address, file type, protocol, encryption and token. Address-independent attributes include time (e.g., time of receipt of request), date, day of week, or system variables. In various embodiments, a mapping of numerous IP addresses and/or IP address ranges to semi-static attribute values is generated and deployed to regional request authorization servers. 
     An embodiment of a computer implemented method for handling content requests includes receiving rules specifications setting forth rules for handling content requests, encoding the rules specifications into rule-based business logic executable by a computer to handle content requests according to the rules specifications, generating an Internet protocol (IP) address map that associates a plurality of Internet addresses to respective sets of one or more semi-static attribute values, and deploying the rule-based business logic and the IP address map to a plurality of regional request authorization servers. 
     The method may further include, upon receipt of a content request from a specified IP address, in which the request includes a set of one or more real-time attribute values, determining a set of one or more semi-static attribute values from the IP address map based on the specified IP address, and applying the rule-based business logic to at least the determined set of one or more semi-static attribute values and the set of one or more real-time attribute values to render a handling decision indicating how to respond to the content request. 
     In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method, applying the rule-based business logic further includes applying the rule-based business logic to one or more address-independent attribute values selected from a group comprising date, time, and day of week. The handling decision may be selected from a group comprising allowing, denying, or redirecting the request. If the selected decision is redirecting the request, the decision may further specify alternate content. The set of semi-static attributes may include continent, country, state, city, zip code, designated market area, metropolitan statistical area, connection type, line speed, IP routing number, and autonomous system number. The set of real-time attributes may include the specified IP address, a protocol, a resource, a directory, a file, a file type and a token. The token can specify one or more other attributes. 
     An embodiment of a computer program product includes computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause a computer to carry out a process. The process includes receiving a content request including a first set of attribute values, using at least one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values to determine a second set of attribute values, traversing a hierarchy of decision nodes, wherein each decision node implements business logic based on one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values or the second set of attribute values, and generating a decision from a last node in the hierarchy, wherein the decision dictates how to respond to the content request. 
     In an embodiment of the computer-program product, yielding a decision includes generating a response selected from a group comprising an allowance of the content request, a denial of the content request and a redirection of the content request. The process may further include receiving rule specifications, and generating computer-executable business logic based on the rule specifications. Receiving the content request may occur at an edge server, and wherein the process may further include reading the first set of attribute values from the content request, formatting the first set of attribute values, and sending the first set of attribute values to a request authorization server associated with the edge server. 
     An embodiment of a system for handling a content request includes at least one edge server computer configured with content, an administration server computer in communication with the edge server computer, an agent executing on the at least one edge server computer, the agent operable to determine a first plurality of attribute values based on a content request and transmit the first plurality of attribute values to the administration server computer, wherein the first plurality of attribute values comprise an Internet protocol (IP) address, and a request authorization server executing on the administration server computer, the request authorization server operable to receive the first plurality of attribute values and determine a second plurality of attribute values based on the IP address, the request authorization server further including rule-based business logic executable to determine a response to the content request based on one or more of the attribute values from the first plurality of attribute values and the second plurality of attribute values. 
     In an embodiment of the one of the attribute values read by the agent may be a token embedded in a uniform resource identifier of the content request. The business logic can include a hierarchy of data driven decision nodes, wherein each node makes a decision based on one attribute type. One or more of the decision nodes may make a determination based on a customer identifier, and subsequent decision nodes may implement rules specified by a corresponding customer identified in the first plurality of attribute values. The determined response to the content request may be selected from a group including allowance of the request, denial of the request and redirection of the request. The rule-based business logic may be based on rules specifications from a content provider providing the content. 
     The system may further include a rule generator operable to receive rules specifications, generate the rule-based business logic and deploy the rule-based business logic to the request authorization server. The system may further include a provisioning tool operable to receive IP address attribute values, generate an IP address attribute map and deploy the IP address attribute map to the request authorization server. The request authorization server may determine the second plurality of attribute values by indexing into the IP address attribute map using the IP address from the first plurality of attribute values. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example network environment suitable for distributing content with rule-based content request handling according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a system in terms of functional modules operable to handle content requests according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example scenario involving handling a content request by applying rules to various attribute types. 
         FIG. 4  is an example hierarchical exception based decision tree that may be used to handle content requests in a rule-based manner according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an example process for configuring components to perform rule-based handling of content requests. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an example process for executing rule-based business logic in response to receiving a content request to determine how to handle the request. 
         FIG. 7  is an example block diagram of a computer system configured with a rule-based content request handling application and process according to embodiments herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments presently disclosed generally relate to content distribution and delivery in a network. More specifically, embodiments herein relate to a rule-based content request handling architecture. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example network environment  100  suitable for carrying out rule-based content request handling according to various embodiments. A content provider maintains a content provider network  102 , which may include one or more web page servers  104  and one or more content origin servers  106 . A content delivery network (CDN)  108  includes infrastructure for hosting content from the content provider. In the environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , the content provider may be a customer of the CDN  108  provider, whereby the CDN  108  provider agrees to host content from the content provider. 
     For example, in various embodiments, content  110  may be propagated from the content origin server  106  of the content provider network  102  to one or more content distribution servers  112  of the CDN  108 . The content  110  can be hosted from one or more content distribution servers  112 . Alternatively, or in addition, at least some of the content  110  may be stored on, and hosted by, one or more edge servers  114 . For example, content may be delivered to the edge servers  114  from the origin server  106  or the distribution server  112 . Edge servers  114  may be strategically located within the CDN  108  to provide for geographic proximity to end users, load balancing, or to enhance other performance measures. 
     A computer end user (not shown) uses a computer  116  to access various network resources such as resources of the content provider network  102  or the CDN  108 . Typically, the computer  116  executes a network browser application, such as Internet Explorer™ or Firefox™, for accessing network resources. The computer  116  may also execute a streaming media player, such as Flash Media Player™ or Quicktime™ Through the applications running on computer  116  the user can view, listen to, and otherwise experience content, such as, but not limited to, video, audio, multimedia, images, photographs, web pages, text and others. 
     For a number of reasons, the content provider may wish to specify how, or whether, content is accessible to the end user. The content provider may wish to specify such accessibility, if any, based on a number of attributes associated with the end user. For example, the content provider may provide a live streaming webcast of a sporting event, which is hosted by the CDN  108 . Due to licensing agreements, the content provider may want the live webcast to be accessible only to end users in certain geographic areas. Of course, the end-user of computer  116  may or may not reside within those geographic areas. As another example, a content provider may wish to provide an alternate content item, such as a video clip, if content requested by the end user is unavailable. 
     To accommodate such content accessibility desires, the CDN  108  includes utilities and functionality whereby content accessibility rules can be defined and business logic generated to handle requests in specified ways. Such rules are typically based on IP addresses of the computers (e.g., computer  116 ) that issue the content requests, as well as attributes associated with the IP addresses. Rules can specify how to handle a request based on a number of attributes, which can be determined at the time of a request based on the IP address. In this regard, the CDN  108  includes IP address correlation data that characterizes different attributes associated with numerous IP addresses that could be the source of requests, so that rules can be applied based on IP address attributes. 
     For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the CDN  108  includes a rule generator server  118  operable to receive rule specifications from, for example, an administration computer  120  of the content provider network  102 . The rule generator server  118  includes a functional module operable to provide a user interface to the user of computer  120 . The user of computer  120 , such as a network administrator, can specify content accessibility rules through the user interface. The rule generator server  118  includes functionality for interpreting rule specifications and editing, reformatting or encoding rule specifications into software implemented business logic  122 . 
     In one embodiment, the rule generator server  118  is a network operations computer, which an administrator of the CDN  108  can use to process the rules specifications. In this regard, the functional modules of the rule generator server  118  may provide another user interface through which a user can view the specified rules, edit them and/or reformat them. The rule generator server  118  allows for manual and/or automated generation of rule-based computer executable business logic  122 . In one embodiment, the rule-based computer executable business logic  122  is represented in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a provisioning tool  124  is provided to generate IP address attribute map entries  126  that associate each of many IP addresses to a set of attributes. The provisioning tool  124  may obtain raw IP address attribute data from a repository  128  and format the data into a parse-able and indexible format. 
     In accordance with various embodiments, the business logic  122  from the rule generator server  118  and IP address attribute map entries  126  are deployed on one or more request authorization server (RAS) computers  130  in the CDN  108 . Each RAS computer  130  is geographically proximate to one or more respective edge servers  114 . RAS computers  130  include functionality to apply the business logic  122  to attribute values related to content requests received from end-user devices, such as computer  116 , in order to generate rule-based responses to those requests. The following figures and description further describe particular embodiments of the various processes and systems shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram illustrating modules in a system  200  operable to carry out rule-based handling of content requests according to various embodiments. The system  200  can be thought of as including a configuration portion or process and a real-time content request handling portion or process. The configuration portion generates and deploys rule-based business logic and formatted IP address attribute data to request authorization servers (RAS&#39;s). The real-time request handling portion applies the rule-based business logic to attribute values associated with real-time content requests to make decisions about how to handle content requests. The various functional modules displayed in the system of  FIG. 2  may be implemented in the devices and networks shown in the environment of  FIG. 1 . 
     As part of the configuration process, a rule generator  202  receives rules specifications  204  from a customer, such as a content provider. The rule generator  202  is configured to generate computer executable rule-based business logic based on the rules specifications. The rule-based business logic may be in the form of one or more Extensible Markup Language (XML) programs  206 . The business logic may be implemented by way of a hierarchy of data driven decision nodes. Through the rule generator  202 , decision nodes may be mapped to rules specified by the customer. 
     As another part of the configuration process, a provisioning tool  208  receives and processes raw IP address attribute data  210 . In one embodiment, the raw IP address attribute data  210  is obtained from a commercially available source, such as Quova™. The IP address attribute data maps IP addresses, either individually or in ranges, to a number of semi-static attribute values associated with the IP addresses. For example, the attribute data may include the country, city, zip code and autonomous system number in which each IP address resides. The attribute data may also include the continent, state, designated market area, metropolitan statistical area, connection type, line speed and IP routing type associated with the IP addresses. 
     The term semi-static is used to indicate that the attribute values may change from time to time, but such change is relatively infrequent for any particular IP address. For example, the semi-static attribute values may change only every few years for a given IP address. However, the raw IP attribute data  210  may change more or less frequently, such as weekly or monthly. In one implementation, in the case of Quova™ data, the IP address attribute data is retrieved weekly, but typically only a small percentage of IP addresses have changes associated with them. The raw IP address attribute data  210  is stored in a data store  212 , where it can be processed by the provisioning tool  208 . 
     The provisioning tool  208  typically formats the raw IP address attribute data  210  so that the data is indexible by IP address. In some embodiments, the provisioning tool  208  generates an IP address attribute map, such as is discussed below, which is a data structure that can be indexed by IP address to retrieve attribute values associated with the IP address. After formatting, the IP address attribute map  214  is provisioned on an administrative server  216 . Similarly, the rule-based business logic  206  is provisioned onto a request authorization server  218  of the administrative server  216 . 
     When a content request is processed, content is downloaded from the customer content origin server  220  (or a CDN distribution server) to an edge server  222  being administered by administration server  216  if the requested content is not on the edge server  222 . The edge server  222  includes a software agent  224 , which is operable to gather attribute data from content requests received at the edge server  222 . The agent  224  is configured to identify selected attribute values of one or more attribute types, package (e.g., format) the attribute values, and send them to the RAS  218 . 
     The request authorization server (RAS)  218  is configured to apply the rule-based business logic  206  to attribute values associated with content requests. As such, during operation, as requests are received, the RAS  218  uses attribute values determined in part from the request, to decide how to handle the request. Handling the request may involve allowing the content request, denying the content request or redirecting the content request. 
     For example, an end user&#39;s browser application  226  may generate a request  228  for content when the user selects a hyperlink referencing the associated content from a web page hosted on a customer managed web server  230 . The request  228  may be in a GET request, in the case of HTTP. The request  228  is sent to, and received by, the customer managed web server  230 . The response from the web server  230  includes a uniform resource identifier (URI) that references the location of the desired content item. A token may be embedded in the URI. An example URI that may be generated is shown below: 
     rtmp://mediacorpfs.fplive.net/mediacorp/drama/george_and_carla.flv 
     Parts of the URI above are exemplary attribute values that may be used by the RAS  218  in handling the content request. For example “rtmp” designates a protocol, which is a possible attribute type. As another example, “mediacorp” is a customer identifier (ID), which is another possible attribute type. As yet another example, “fly” is the file type, which is yet another possible attribute type. All of the foregoing attribute values may be used in the decision as to how to handle the request. 
     As mentioned, in some embodiments, the customer can include a token in the URI. The URI shown above does not have an embedded token. The example URI below has an embedded token: 
     rtmp://mediacorpfs.fplive.net/mediacorp/drama/george_and_carla.flv? token=F71A05E224B90016. 
     In the example URI above, the token value F71A05E224B90016 has been inserted. The token value may be a hashed or encrypted value that can be decoded or decrypted by the RAS  218 . The token may specify one or more attribute values, such as a time constraint, a secret code, a coupon, or others. 
     After receiving the URI  232 , the browser application  226  generates another content request  234  to the edge server  222 . The selection of the edge server  222  may occur based on a domain name system (DNS) query, in which the destination of URI  232  is resolved to the IP address of the edge server  222 . When the edge server  222  receives the content request  234 , the agent  224  parses the request  234  and extracts attribute values which the agent  224  is configured to gather. 
     For example, in some embodiments the agent  224  may be configured to gather the IP address, customer ID, protocol, file type and resource. These, and other, types of attributes may be referred to as real-time attributes. Other types of real-time attributes are, for example, directory and resource. The agent  224  packages the real-time attribute values it receives and communicates them to the RAS  218  in request  236 . The RAS  218  uses the IP address to determine more attributes by indexing into the IP address attribute map  214  with the IP address from the agent  224 . 
     Using the real-time attributes and the semi-static attributes, and perhaps other attributes, the RAS  218  applies the business logic to determine how to handle the content request  234 . In various embodiments, the application of the business logic involves traversing a hierarchy of data driven decision nodes.  FIG. 4  illustrates an example embodiment of a hierarchy of decision nodes and is discussed in detail below. 
     After the RAS  218  applies the business logic, a rule-based decision  238  is generated back to the agent  224 . The rule-based decision  238  is incorporated into a response  240  back to the end-user browser  226 . As discussed in detail below, the response  240  could be one of a number of different types of responses. 
     In one embodiment of the system  200 , the rule generator  202  and the provision tool  208  operate on server computers centrally located in a CDN and the edge server computer  222  and the administration server computer  216  are located at another region of the CDN. In this embodiment, there may be multiple regions of the CDN in which each region has a cluster of one or more edge server computers and an administration server computer. The rule generator  202  and the provision tool  208  are operable to deploy their respective logic and data to the various regional administration computers. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example approach for rule-based handling of content requests. In the illustrated scenario, three general types of attribute values are used to decide how to handle a content request  302 : real-time attribute values  304 , semi-static attribute values  306 , and address-independent attribute values  308 . In general, the attribute values are determined at the time of receipt of the content request. Some of the values are address-dependent and others of the attribute values are not address-dependent. 
     For example, real-time attribute values  304  include IP address, protocol, customer identifier (ID), requested resource, server, file type, token, and/or others, which depend on the received request and are established at the time of the request, or shortly after receipt of the request  302 . When the request  302  is received, real-time attributes  304  are extracted, for example by an edge server agent  224  ( FIG. 2 ), from the request  302  and packaged into a format that is parse-able by the hierarchical decision process  314 . 
     Semi-static attributes  306 , such as country, city, zip code, autonomous system (AS), and/or others, are determined based on the IP address  310 . Therefore, the semi-static attribute values  306  depend upon the request, but they are not considered real-time attributes because they are established prior to the generation of the request and looked up at the time of the request. The semi-static attributes  306  are looked up in an IP address map  312  that maps IP addresses, or address ranges, to one or more respective semi-static attribute values. The IP address  310  is used as an index or key to look up attribute values in the map  312 . In the particular scenario illustrated, the IP address  310  is determined to be in the IP address range 2 in the map  312 . 
     The address-independent attribute values  308  include, but are not limited to current time, date or day of week when the request  302  is received. Time is the current time of day, which is not set by the IP address specified in the request. As such, time is independent of the IP address. As discussed herein, current time, date, and/or day of week can be used to compare with a time period, which may be provided in a token in the request  302 . Other address-independent attribute values could be system attribute values that are not set or determined based on the IP address. 
     The real-time attribute values  304 , semi-static attribute values  306  and address-independent attribute values  308  are input to a hierarchical decision process  314  executing on a RAS. In various embodiments, the hierarchical decision process  314  is data driven. In such embodiments, at each node in the hierarchy, one or more of the attribute values input to that node, are tested against predetermined values, to thereby determine the output of the node or another node to execute. The hierarchical decision process  314  ultimately issues a handling decision  316 , dictating how the content request is to be handled, and therefore, the contents or format of the reply to the content request. 
     The handling decision  316  is input to a reply module  318 . Reply module  318  generates a reply  320  in response to the request  302 . The reply  320  may include a response code as well as other information. For example, the reply  320  may include a code indicating whether or not the request for content is allowed, or whether the request is redirected to alternative content. 
       FIG. 4  is a tree diagram illustrating a hierarchy  400  of decision nodes in a particular scenario. As discussed above, the RAS is configured with a hierarchy of data driven decision nodes for carrying out the business logic. The decision nodes shown in  FIG. 4  are arranged in a way to carry out example rule-based business logic. In one embodiment, the nodes are implemented as software objects in C++. In general, one or more attribute values are input to each node. Each node switches on one of the attributes to determine the output path. If the attribute that is switched on is not among the input attributes or if there is no specific switch route for the attribute value, the output path is a default path. Accordingly, every node has a default path. 
     In the particular scenario shown in  FIG. 4 , attribute values  402  are input to a top level node, which is a customer node  404 . Customer node  404  switches on a customer ID attribute. In this embodiment, the customer ID corresponds to the content provider who provides content for distribution via the CDN. By switching on the customer ID, any decisions made after the customer node can be configured by the customer. In other words, the rule-based business logic can be formatted such that decision nodes after a customer node are based on the rules specifications from the customer. 
     For example, in the illustrated scenario, if customer  1  is identified in the attribute values  402 , control is passed to a country node  406 A, which executes business logic in accordance with the rules specified by customer  1 . In the particular scenario of  FIG. 4 , if the attribute values  402  identify the United States as the country, control is passed to an allow node  408 A. Allow node  408 A generates an output indicating that the content request is allowed. If HTTP is the protocol being used, the allow node  408 A generates a “200” code. 
     If, at country node  406 A, the country attribute value is Great Britain, control is passed to a redirect node  410 A. Redirect node  410 A generates an output indicating that the content request is redirected in some fashion designated by the business logic. For example, business logic could designate an alternate resource, or a tailored message indicating that the request is denied. Of course, customer  1  could have specified in the rules which alternate resource or message the end user should be redirected to. If HTTP is the protocol being used, the redirect node  410 A outputs a “302” code. 
     Returning to the country node  406 A, in the particular embodiment, if neither the US or GB are the designated countries in the attribute values  402 , then the default path is taken. The default path passes control to a block node  412 A. The block node  412 A generates an output indicating that the content request is denied. In HTTP the block node  412 A outputs a “403” code. 
     Returning to the customer ID node  404 , if customer  2  is identified in the attribute values  402 , control passes to another country node  406 B. Country node  406 B and the nodes below the country node  406 B implement business logic in accordance with the rules specified by customer  2 . In the case of country node  406 B, if the attribute values  402  identify the US as the country, control passes to a token:time constraint node  414 . As discussed above, a token can be passed to an end user and where the token is embedded in a content request, thereby allowing the customer to further control how a content request is handled. 
     Token:time constraint node  414  analyzes time constraint data from a token, if any was passed in the content request. A time constraint, which may be included in a token, can generally be used to specify a time range within which the content request is valid. In the particular scenario illustrated in  FIG. 4 , token:time constraint node  414  switches on whether the current time is within or outside the time range specified by the time constraint. If the current time (i.e., time of receipt of the content request) is within the specified time range, control passes to another allow node  408 B, which allows the content request. If the current time is outside the specified time range, control passes by default to another block node  412 B, which denies the content request. 
     Returning again to customer node  404 , if no customers are identified in the attribute values  402  that match customer IDs switched on by the customer node  404 , control passes by default to another country node  406 C. Country node  406 C switches on the country data in the attribute values  402 . In the particular scenario, if the US is not identified in the attribute values  402 , control passes by default to another block node  412 E, which denies the content request. 
     On the other hand, if the US is identified in the attribute values  402 , control passes from the country node  406 C to a protocol node  416 . Protocol node  416  includes business logic that makes a decision based on the protocol associated with the content request. In the illustrated scenario, if HTTP and RTMP are not identified in the attribute values  402 , control passes by default to another block node  412 D, which denies the content request. 
     On the other hand, if HTTP is identified in the attribute values  402 , control is passed to another redirect node  410 B, which redirects the content request to an alternative resource. As discussed above, in the case of a redirect decision, the customer can specify the alternate resource or message that the user is redirected to. Alternatively, if RTMP is identified in the attribute values  402 , control is passed to another allow node  408 C, which allows the content request. 
     With regard to the hierarchy  400  shown in  FIG. 4 , the hierarchy  400  is for illustration purposes only to demonstrate one possible scenario using a data driven hierarchical decision tree. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in operation, numerous other types of nodes can be included in a hierarchy to carry out business logic. For example, other decision nodes may be a file type node, which makes a decision based on file type, and a file location node, which makes a decision based on the location of a file within a directory structure. Furthermore, the arrangement of the decision nodes is not fixed. Indeed, the nodes can be arranged in numerous ways to implement all variations of business logic. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example rule-based configuration process  500  for generating rules in the form of business logic and configuring request authorization servers with the business logic so the request authorization servers can handle content requests according to specified rules. According to at least one embodiment, operations of the process  500  are carried out at one or more centrally located server computers. The process  500  may be carried out substantially periodically (e.g., weekly) and/or in response to changes in rules or changes to semi-static attributes with respect to IP addresses. 
     In a receiving operation  502 , rules specifications are received. In one embodiment of the receiving operation  502 , the rules are specified by a user who can enter the specifications through a user interface. The user may be offered different request handling operations for each of a combination of attribute values associated with requests. For example, the user may have the option to specify a particular rule applicable to requests associated with a particular protocol and/or for requests from an end user IP address in a particular geographic location. A default handling option is available for selection during the receiving operation  502 . 
     In an encoding operation  504 , the specified rules are encoded into computer-readable business logic. In one embodiment of the encoding operation  504 , the rules are encoded into Extensible Markup Language (XML) programs. Further, the rules are encoded to create a data driven hierarchical exception based decision process. In a data driven hierarchical exception based decision process, multiple decision nodes are arranged hierarchically and a decision is made at each node based on attribute values that enter the node. At each node there is a default option if the attribute values do not correspond to any of the other options. At the last decision node, a final decision is rendered regarding how to handle the request based on the attribute values associated with the request. 
     In a retrieving operation  506 , semi-static attributes associated with IP addresses are retrieved from a repository in raw form. In some embodiments, the repository is an aggregation of IP addresses, in which each IP address is associated with various attributes that change relatively infrequently. For example, semi-static attributes may include geographic and network attributes. The repository may be available from an information vendor, such as Quova™, which is a geolocation company that generates, and makes commercially available, IP address attribute information in a raw format for many (e.g., thousands or millions) IP addresses. 
     In at least one embodiment, retrieving operation  506  ingests at least some of the attributes and attribute values associated with at least some of the IP addresses in the repository. The retrieving operation  506  retrieves the IP addresses and their associated attributes in a raw format. A formatting operation  508  then formats the semi-static IP address attributes. In one embodiment, the formatting operation  508  transforms the attribute data from the raw format into a form that is usable by request authorization servers to apply the rules to the attributes. The usable format is typically a parse-able format readable by the RAS&#39;s. 
     The formatting operation  508  may also generate an IP address attribute map, such as map  312  ( FIG. 3 ), that maps IP addresses to attribute values, so that IP addresses can be looked up when received in requests. In the formatting operation  508 , the IP addresses may also be filtered to include IP addresses that are within one or more network spaces accessible by, or assigned to, at least one server. 
     In a configuring operation  510 , agents (e.g., agent  224  (FIG.  2 )), or other suitable components, on regionally based edge servers are updated based on changes, if any, to rules and/or attributes. In the configuring operation  510 , for example, one or more edge server agents may be updated to capture new or different types of attribute values associated with content requests. For example, an agent may be updated to capture a protocol attribute of a content request. The new attribute (e.g., protocol) can then be used in the rule-based decision making process. Typically, the one or more agents are configured prior to deploying updated rule-based business logic, so that the attributes are available from the agents when the rule-based business logic begins executing. 
     In a deploying operation  512 , the rule-based business logic is deployed to one or more RAS&#39;s. In deploying operation  512 , business logic is copied to memory of the RAS&#39;s where it can be executed and applied to incoming content requests. In another deploying operation  514 , semi-static attributes are deployed to the RAS&#39;s. In deploying operation  514 , the semi-static attributes, which were formatted in operation  508 , are copied to memory (e.g., a regional database) accessible by the RAS&#39;s, where they can be used by the RAS&#39;s to characterize incoming content requests when applying the rules of the rule-based business logic. 
     After the agents are configured and the rule-based business logic and the semi-static IP address attribute data are deployed to regionally based request authorization servers, the RAS&#39;s can begin applying the rules to incoming content requests. An example rule-based content request handling process  600  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The handling operation  600  begins with a receiving operation  602 , in which a content request is received. 
     In receiving operation  602 , a content request is received by an edge server. Within the edge server, the request is passed to an agent configured to process various attribute data in the request. In a packaging operation  604 , the request is processed and one or more relevant real-time attribute values are gathered and formatted according to the configuration of the agent. For example, the agent may gather the IP address, customer ID, resource, server, protocol, encryption (if any), token (if any) and file type associated with the request. 
     In one embodiment, the agent packages as many real-time attribute values as are available within the request, for which the agent is configured to gather. If a given real-time attribute value is not included in the request, the agent will not package that particular attribute value. This is generally not a problem, because the rule-based business logic is designed to handle virtually any combination of real-time attributes to reach a decision as to how to handle the request. 
     In a transmitting operation  606 , the content request, along with packaged attribute values, is sent to a local request authorization server (RAS). In one embodiment, the RAS is included in a server cluster including the edge server that received the request and perhaps one or more other edge servers. The RAS may reside on a separate server computer within the cluster. Of course, the transmitting operation  606  transmits attribute values such as IP address, protocol, encryption, token and file type associated with the request and packaged by the agent. 
     In a retrieving operation  608 , a local repository of semi-static attributes is accessed to determine semi-static attribute values associated with the received content request. In one embodiment, the IP address from which the request originated, is used as a key or index into the local attribute repository. Using the IP address, the retrieving operation  608  can gather semi-static attributes, such as country, city, zip code or autonomous system, associated with the IP address. 
     In an applying operation  610 , the rules encoded in the rule-based business logic are applied to real-time, semi-static attribute values, and/or other attributes (e.g., address-independent attributes), associated with the content request. In one embodiment of the applying operation  610 , a data driven hierarchy of decision nodes (e.g., hierarchy  400  ( FIG. 4 )) is executed. During execution of the data driven hierarchy of decision nodes, the attribute values associated with the content request are input to the nodes. One or more attributes are analyzed at each node to determine an outcome based on the business logic at that node. Depending on the outcome at each decision node, another node of the hierarchy is executed to carry out further business logic, unless it is the last node of the hierarchy (the leaf node), in which case, a final decision is rendered dictating how to handle the request. 
     In a querying operation  612 , it is determined whether the final decision is to allow, deny or redirect the content request. If the final decision is to allow the content request, the querying operation  612  branches “ALLOW” to replying operation  614 . Replying operation  614  replies to the content request with a response indicating that the request is allowed. In the case of hypertext transport protocol (HTTP), the response includes a 200 or 202 code. Replying operation  614  also provides the requested content to the end user. 
     If the querying operation  612  determines that the content request is denied, the querying operation  612  branches “DENY” to another replying operation  616 . In replying operation  616 , a response is generated that indicates that the content request is denied. In HTTP, the response includes a 4XX code (e.g.,  400 ,  404  or  403 ). 
     If the querying operation  612  determines that the content request is to be redirected, the querying operation  612  branches “REDIRECT” to a redirecting operation  618 . In redirecting operation  618  a response is generated indicating that the request is redirected to an alternative resource or server. In HTTP, the redirecting response includes a 3XX code (e.g.,  302 ). The redirecting operation  618  may also include a link to alternative content. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a computer system  700  upon which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented and carried out. For example, one or more computing devices  700  may be configured to implement rule-based content request handling based on multiple types of attributes. Computer system  700  generally exemplifies any number of computing devices, including general purpose computers (e.g., desktop, laptop or server computers) or specific purpose computers (e.g., embedded systems). 
     According to the present example, the computer system  700  includes a bus  701  (i.e., interconnect), at least one processor  702 , at least one communications port  703 , a main memory  704 , a removable storage media  705 , a read-only memory  706 , and a mass storage  707 . Processor(s)  702  can be any known processor, such as, but not limited to, an Intel®Itanium® or Itanium 2® processor(s), AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processor(s), or Motorola® lines of processors. 
     Communications ports  703  can be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modem based dial-up connection, a 10/100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit port using copper or fiber, or a USB port. Communications port(s)  703  may be chosen depending on a network such as a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system  700  connects. The computer system  700  may be in communication with peripheral devices (e.g., display screen  730 , input device  716 ) via Input/Output (I/O) port  709 . 
     Main memory  704  can be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device(s) commonly known in the art. Read-only memory  706  can be any static storage device(s) such as Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information such as instructions for processor  702 . Mass storage  707  can be used to store information and instructions. For example, hard disks such as the Adaptec® family of Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) drives, an optical disc, an array of disks such as Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), such as the Adaptec® family of RAID drives, or any other mass storage devices may be used. 
     Bus  701  communicatively couples processor(s)  702  with the other memory, storage and communications blocks. Bus  701  can be a PCI/PCI-X, SCSI, or Universal Serial Bus (USB) based system bus (or other) depending on the storage devices used. Removable storage media  705  can be any kind of external hard-drives, floppy drives, IOMEGA® Zip Drives, Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc-Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Video Disk-Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM), etc. 
     Embodiments herein may be provided as a computer program product, which may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical discs, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. Moreover, embodiments herein may also be downloaded as a computer program product, wherein the program may be transferred from a remote computer to a requesting computer by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., modem or network connection). 
     As shown, main memory  704  is encoded with a content request handling application  750 - 1  that supports functionality as discussed herein. For example, content request handling application  750 - 1  can include the RAS  218  of  FIG. 2 . Content request handling application  750 - 1  (and/or other resources as described herein) can be embodied as software code such as data and/or logic instructions (e.g., code stored in the memory or on another computer readable medium such as a disk) that supports processing functionality according to different embodiments described herein. 
     During operation of one embodiment, processor(s)  702  accesses main memory  704  via the use of bus  701  in order to launch, run, execute, interpret or otherwise perform the logic instructions of the content request handling application  750 - 1 . Execution of content request handling application  750 - 1  produces processing functionality in content request handling process  750 - 2 . In other words, the content request handling process  750 - 2  represents one or more portions of the content request handling application  750 - 1  performing within or upon the processor(s)  702  in the computer system  700 . 
     It should be noted that, in addition to the content request handling process  750 - 2  that carries out operations as discussed herein, other embodiments herein include the content request handling application  750 - 1  itself (i.e., the un-executed or non-performing logic instructions and/or data). The content request handling application  750 - 1  may be stored on a computer readable medium (e.g., a repository) such as a floppy disk, hard disk or in an optical medium. According to other embodiments, the content request handling application  750 - 1  can also be stored in a memory type system such as in firmware, read only memory (ROM), or, as in this example, as executable code within the main memory  704  (e.g., within Random Access Memory or RAM). For example, content request handling application  750 - 1  may also be stored in removable storage media  705 , read-only memory  706 , and/or mass storage device  707 . 
     Example functionality supported by computer system  700  and, more particularly, functionality associated with content request handling application  750 - 1  and content request handling process  750 - 2  is discussed above in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     In addition to these embodiments, it should also be noted that other embodiments herein include the execution of the content request handling application  750 - 1  in processor(s)  702  as the content request handling process  750 - 2 . Thus, those skilled in the art will understand that the computer system  700  can include other processes and/or software and hardware components, such as an operating system that controls allocation and use of hardware resources. 
     As discussed herein, embodiments of the present invention include various steps or operations. A variety of these steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the operations. Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. The term “module” refers to a self-contained functional component, which can include hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the example embodiments discussed herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations together with all equivalents thereof.