Content Networking

As the Internet has grown, so have the challenges associated with delivering static, streaming, and dynamic content to end-users. This book is unique in that it addresses the topic of content networking exclusively and comprehensively, tracing the evolution from traditional web caching to today's open and vastly more flexible architecture. With this evolutionary approach, the authors emphasize the field's most persistent concepts, principles, and mechanisms--the core information that will help you understand why and how content delivery works today, and apply that knowledge in the future.

Markus Hofmann is Director of Services Infrastructure Research at Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies. He received his PhD in Computer Engineering from University of Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1998 and joined Bell Labs Research the same year. Markus is known for his pioneering work on reliable multicasting over the Internet and for defining and shaping fundamental principles of content networking. He is Chair of the Open Pluggable Edge Services (OPES) Working Group in the IETF since it was chartered in 2002. More recently, Markus' work has extended into the areas of VoIP and converged communications. Markus is also on the Editorial Board of the Computer Communications Journal and has published numerous papers in the multicasting and content delivery area. His PhD thesis won the 1998 GI/KuVS Award for best PhD thesis in Germany in the area of Telecommunications, and also the 1998 FZI Doctoral Dissertation prize awarded by the German Research Center for Computer Science. Leland Beaumont consults on quality management and product development. Prior to that, he was responsible for specification and verification of content delivery products at Lucent, including web caching and content network navigation. After graduating with highest honors from Lehigh University, he received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He has worked in the data communications product development industry for more than 30 years.

"This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding the rationale and technology driving the evolution of the Web. I especially liked the way the authors tie together the various elements and protocols that make up content distribution systems over the Web." --Prof. Dr. Ralf Steinmetz, Head of Multimedia Communications Lab (KOM), Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany

"Finally, there is a comprehensive and authoritative text on all aspects of content delivery networking, the true Intelligent Network of the Internet! I will certainly use this book in teaching graduate students." --Igor Faynberg, Technical Manager, Internet Standards, Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies, and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Stevens Institute of Technology

"This book closes a major gap in current literature: it gives a comprehensive overview of all aspects of content delivery networks. It is easy to read, yet provides an in-depth understanding of the algorithms and communication protocols involved." --Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Effelsberg, University of Mannheim, Director, Computer Networks and Multimedia Technology Research Group