Edge Computing Framework

Mirror Image provides a unique, framework-based approach which makes it fast and simple for customers to deploy and execute customized business logic on the Mirror Image Content Delivery Network. The framework was developed by identifying commonly occurring edge-specific criteria and actions in customers’ applications, and standardizing them in a flexible, extensible framework so that our customers do not need to “re-invent the wheel” each time that new edge logic needs to be created and deployed on our network. 

The Mirror Image Edge Computing Framework Architecture

The Edge Computing Framework can make decisions based on various aspects of an individual visitor’s request and the application context such as:

• Geo-location values derived from user IP (including location of visitor, connection type, ISP, and others)
• User IP
• HTTP Method
• Language preference of visitor
• Browser type and version
• Cookie values
• Request URL, including query argument values
• Form field contents
• HTTP header values
• And many others

In addition, applications can contain customer defined data tables that are stored in configuration files on disk.  Applications can be configured to check for changes to these files as often as every five minutes.  In this way, frequently changing information can be decoupled from the application and easily changed throughout the day by the customer without requiring changes to the core application.

Where Mirror Image Edge Computing Fits Within A Customer’s Architecture

The Edge Computing Framework can perform the following actions (and more) in response to the above criteria:

• Select content to be delivered
• Return any text, including programmatically generated, modified or assembled javascript, HTML and XML
• Apply XSL transforms to XML
• Set cookie values
• Set response headers
• Modify response bodies, including inserting text to the head or end, resolving embedded variable references, and other actions
• Deliver content via SSL
• Detect browser/robot according to the IAB list 

The returned text and response bodies can include request and application context.

Compared with Edge Computing services offered by other CDNs that provide containers to host existing Java components that are written by the customer, Mirror Image’s framework-based approach to Edge Computing provides a number of key benefits, including:

No need to write new (or re-write existing) code

The Mirror Image Edge Computing Framework is a flexible framework that uses XML based rules and a rules execution engine to perform customized edge logic. As a result, creating specific edge logic to meet your specific requirements is performed by simply configuring a set of rules, rather than by writing code.   This approach can significantly speed and simplify the process of developing and deploying new edge logic, especially if your application is not already written in a way that lends itself to deploying specific (presentation logic) components on a CDN’s servers. In addition, running Edge Computing on our network imposes no platform restrictions (such as being limited to running on a specific servlet engine or application server) and no architecture restrictions (such as being limited to running in a 3 tier J2EE environment) that are often imposed by other CDNs. The Edge Computing Framework integrates seamlessly with any type of application written in any web computing language, on any platform. 

Since Mirror Image Edge Computing applications are built by composing rules, there are no lengthy “approval cycles.” Your customized edge logic is created by experienced Mirror Image Professional Services teams who configure the framework via rules that are driven by your specific requirements. You perform acceptance testing on completed applications that we write, to validate that the applications fully meet your requirements. This is in contrast with Edge Computing services at other CDNs, where the customers are responsible for building the edge computing logic and ensuring that their applications are written in such a way that they run properly on the CDN vendor’s network.

Greater privacy

Since Mirror Image uses a framework to enable Edge Computing vs. deploying code, customers do not need to publish proprietary code to our network. As a result, for organizations that do not want to publish their proprietary code to a third party’s network for security reasons, Mirror Image provides a more secure approach.

Fast, customized log file delivery

The Edge Computing Framework is able to customize log entries both for content and format, and we make the log files available to the customer as often as every 15 minutes.   Log files can be customized to record the details of the visitor interaction, the results of the Edge Computing logic, cookie values, etc. The format of the log file data can be customized to minimize the amount of ETL processing the files must undergo before the data can be loaded into your data warehouse.

Extensibility

The Edge Computing Framework is an extensible application that is easily customized through XML rules. For customer applications that require extensions to the framework, Mirror Image Professional Services teams can create and deploy custom Java code to meet customers’ requirements to augment the behavior of the rules. The combination of the Edge Computing Framework and the ability to write and execute any custom Java code enables the benefits of the framework to be combined with the extensibility of custom code when required, providing the best of both worlds.

Secure content delivery

Mirror Image provides customers with full SSL support to enable secure content delivery using customers’ certificates, or using Mirror Image’s own certificates.

Complementary

While Mirror Image often provides a complete solution that encompasses Edge Computing logic, content storage, and static and streaming object delivery, our Edge Computing capabilities can also work seamlessly with any existing solutions for storage, static object caching, streaming traffic, and so on, whether via your own servers or with another CDN that you may already be using.

No conflicts of interest for advertising businesses

Mirror Image is a pure-play CDN with no competing businesses or interests in the advertising, or other, industries. As such, you can be assured there are no potential conflicts of interest when passing traffic through our network.

24x7 support with knowledgeable support team

When you work with Mirror Image, you work with knowledgeable engineers who understand your architecture and applications, can quickly implement or extend the edge logic to your specifications, and are available 24x7 to support your business.

To request the Mirror Image Edge Computing Framework White Paper click here.

To request the Mirror Image Edge Computing Framework data sheet click here.

Learn about Mirror Image’s Edge Computing Solutions

For more information on Mirror Image’s Edge Computing Framework, please email sales@mirror-image.com, or call toll-free 1-800-353-2923 or +1-781-376-1100 from outside the United States.

U.S. Patent Numbers 6,915,329, 6,581,090, 7,739,400, 5,991,809, 6,370,580, and 6,480,893