Explicit content deletion commands in a content centric network

摘要

One embodiment provides a system that deletes cached content. During operation, the system generates, by a content producing device, a content object packet that includes a name for the content object and a deletion identifier that is used to verify a subsequent deletion command. The system receives a notification message that includes a routable prefix for a router and indicates that the router has cached the content object packet. The system stores in a data structure a mapping between the routable prefix, the name, and a previously generated deletion token which is used as a pre-image of the deletion identifier. In response to determining a condition to delete the cached content object packet, the system transmits a deletion command based on the routable prefix, wherein the deletion command includes the deletion token and the name for the cached copy of the content object packet to be deleted.