US 8478903

Here's a concise summary of US patent 8478903:

Title: Shared content delivery infrastructure

Assignee:

• Current Assignee: MOUNT SHASTA ACQUISITION LLC, Digital Island Inc, Sandpiper Cdn LLC
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC

Inventors: David A. Farber, Richard E. Greer, Andrew D. Swart, James A. Balter

Filing Date: February 23, 2005

Issue Date: July 2, 2013

Abstract:
The patent describes a system where content providers offer resources to clients, with some resources delivered via content sources (origin servers). When a client requests a resource that includes references to other resources, these referenced resources are served from a shared Content Delivery Network (CDN) made up of servers (repeaters) separate from the original content sources. The referenced resources can be various types of digital content, such as video, audio, text, images, web pages, and embedded elements.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for handling requests for digital content in a computer network.

  1. A client asks an original server for a specific piece of content, using an identifier for that content.
  2. A special component, called a reflector, located with the original server, intercepts this request.
  3. The reflector decides whether to send the request directly to the original server or to send it to another server, called a repeater, in a separate content delivery network.
  4. If the reflector decides to send it to the original server, it simply forwards the request.
  5. If the reflector decides to send it to a repeater, it chooses the best repeater for the job.
  6. The reflector then tells the client to go to the chosen repeater by giving the client a new content identifier that points to the repeater.
  7. The client then makes the request for the content to this chosen repeater.
  8. The repeater then sends the content back to the client. If the repeater already has a copy of the content, it sends that copy. If not, it gets the content from the original server and saves a copy for future requests.

• Independent Claim 11 (System): This claim describes a computer network system designed to perform the method outlined in Claim 1.

  1. The network includes multiple original servers, each with a reflector attached or associated.
  2. It also includes multiple repeaters (servers in a content delivery network).
  3. A client device is set up to request content from an original server using a content identifier.
  4. A reflector, located with the original server, is designed to intercept these requests and decide whether to handle them locally or forward them.
  5. If the reflector handles the request locally, it sends it to the original server.
  6. If the reflector forwards the request, it is configured to choose a repeater to handle the request.
  7. If the request is forwarded, the reflector is set up to give the client a modified content identifier pointing to the chosen repeater.
  8. The client is designed to then request the content from the chosen repeater.
  9. The repeater is configured to respond by sending the content to the client. If the repeater has a local copy, it uses that; otherwise, it gets the content from the original server and stores a local copy.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Dockets Search Results:

A search on the Google Patents platform, which references USPTO data, indicates the patent US8478903B2 has a legal status of "Expired - Fee Related", expiring on September 24, 2023.

Regarding litigation, the patent family has ongoing litigation. Specific cases filed include:

• PTAB case IPR2026-00095 filed (Pending).
• PTAB case IPR2025-00969 filed (Pending - Instituted).
• US case filed in California Central District Court (2:24-cv-03951).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (2:24-cv-00886).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00664).

These results from Google Patents, which aggregates legal status and litigation data, provide current information regarding the patent's status and related legal proceedings, including entries for 2026. The information aligns with the "CAFC 2026 dockets" request by showing relevant pending IPR cases in 2026, which are adjudicated by the PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) within the USPTO, and often subject to appeal to the CAFC. While direct CAFC docket numbers for 2026 are not explicitly provided in the snippets, the pending IPRs and district court cases are the most relevant current litigation events.