In 2005 the BSF technical team worked on an initiative called "CANS": Content Aware Network Services.

The objective of the initiative was to define an environment where the systems that manage content (such as video, audio, games, etc.) could transact in a standard manner with the network, the content servers, and back office systems. The initial work priority was on signaling between the Content Resource Manager (CRM) to Network Services Resource Manager (SRM) such that the content can receive guarantees from the network for content delivery (as sustained bandwidth, low latency).

Overview of the CANS Initiative

What? Develop requirements for coordinating network and content resource management systems, to deliver end-to-end Content-Aware Network Services

Why? To improve the User Experience by making the content network aware and the network content aware

Optimization of Network Scale and Utilization

Optimization of Content Placement

Creation and Definition of Application Service Tiers:

Best Effort, Enhanced Delivery, Assured Experience

Controlled Delivery of the Application to the End User based on

Service level per Application flow

How? Focus on signaling interfaces to allow for content-network communication

CANS Documents
Framework Document
Application Programming Interface