Differencing client/server communication system for use with CGI forms

• US 5,859,971 A
• Filed: 02/15/1996
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lindquist, David Bruce, Bittinger, Reed Reed, Fraenkel, Michael Levi, Housel, Barron Cornelius III
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/601,903
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.48, 395/200.47, 395/200.33, 395/200
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2876 Pairs of inter-processing entities at each side of the network, e.g. split proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for reducing the data transmitted over an external communication link from a first application resident in a first computer to a second application resident in a second computer. The method, apparatus and computer program product include storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry and in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry. Requests from the second application are interrogated to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists and to determine if a server base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists. The response data stream is intercepted prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link and compared to the server base cache entry to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base cache entry. The difference data is sent over the external communication link and acquired by the second computer which reconstructs the response data stream by combining the client base cache entry with the difference data to create a response data stream which is provided to the second application.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the data transmitted over a communication link from a first application resident in a first computer and to a second application resident in a second computer wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, the method comprising:

storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a CGI request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a CGI request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client CGI base form;

interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a server base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a server CGI base form;

intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

comparing the intercepted response to the server CGI base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server CGI base form;

sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client CGI base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

selectively updating the client cache entry corresponding to the client CGI base form so as to provide a new client CGI base form wherein the CGI base form is updated with the received difference data if an update criteria is met; and

providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said comparing step and said sending step utilizes the updated server base form.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first application comprises a web server and the second application comprises a web browser.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the external communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

5. An apparatus for reducing the amount of data transmitted from a first application resident in a first computer to a second application resident in a second computer in response to a request from the second application wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a CGI request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a CGI request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client CGI base form;

means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a server base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a server CGI base form;

means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

means for comparing the intercepted response to the server CGI base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

means for sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

means for acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client CGI base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

means for selectively updating the client cache entry corresponding to the client CGI base form so as to provide a new client CGI base form wherein the CGI base form is updated with the received difference data if an update criteria is met; and

means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said means for comparing and said means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first application comprises a web server and the second application comprises a web browser.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the external communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

9. A computer program product for reducing the amount of data transmitted from a first application resident in a first computer to a second application resident in a second computer in response to a request from the second application wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a CGI request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

computer readable program code means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a CGI request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

computer readable program code means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client CGI base form;

computer readable program code means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a server base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a server CGI base form;

computer readable program code means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for comparing the intercepted response to the server base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server CGI base form;

computer readable program code means for sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

computer readable program code means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client CGI base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

computer readable program code means for selectively updating the client cache entry corresponding to the client CGI base form so as to provide a new client CGI base form wherein the CGI base form is updated with the received difference data if an update criteria is met; and

computer readable program code means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

computer readable program code means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said computer readable program code means for comparing and said computer readable program code means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the first application comprises a web server and the second application comprises a web browser.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the external communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

13. A method of reducing the data transmitted over a communication link from a first application resident in a first computer and to a second application resident in a second computer wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, the method comprising:

storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a server base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a server base form;

intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

comparing the intercepted response to the server base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application,

determining if the server base form is identical to the client base form;

transmitting the server base form to the second computer over the external communication link if the server base form is not identical to the client base form;

reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response if the server base form is not transmitted to the second computer and reconstructing the intercepted response data stream corresponding to the response from the first application by combining the server base form received over the external communication link with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a data stream corresponding to the intercepted response if the server base form is transmitted to the second computer; and

updating the client base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the received server base form as the client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said comparing step and said sending step utilizes the updated server base form.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a plurality of server base cache entries which correspond to the request from the second application;

wherein said interrogating step comprises determining if a plurality of server base cache entries exist corresponding to the request from the second application to provide a plurality of server base forms;

determining if one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form; and

wherein said comparing step utilizes the one of the plurality of server base forms which is identical to the client base form if said determining step determines that one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

wherein said interrogating step comprises determining if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

wherein said sending step comprises sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said comparing step to the second computer over the external communication link;

wherein said reconstructing step comprises reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the data stream received over the external communication link by successively combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the first application comprises a web server and the second application comprises a web browser.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the external communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the request from the web browser comprises a CGI request.

20. An apparatus for reducing the data transmitted over a communication link from a first application resident in a first computer and to a second application resident in a second computer wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, comprising:

means for storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a server base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a server base form;

means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

means for comparing the intercepted response to the server base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

means for sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

means for acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application;

means for determining if the server base form is identical to the client base form;

means for transmitting the server base form to the second computer over the external communication link if the server base form is not identical to the client base form;

means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response if the server base form is not transmitted to the second computer and for reconstructing the intercepted response data stream corresponding to the response from the first application by combining the server base form received over the external communication link with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a data stream corresponding to the intercepted response if the server base form is transmitted to the second computer; and

means for updating the client base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the received server base form as the client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said means for comparing and said means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

means for maintaining a plurality of server base cache entries which correspond to the request from the second application;

wherein said means for interrogating comprises means for ascertaining if a plurality of sever base cache entries exist corresponding to the request from the second application to provide a plurality of server base forms;

means for determining if one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form; and

wherein said means for comparing utilizes the one of the plurality of server base forms which is identical to the client base form if said means for determining determines that one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

means f6r updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

means for maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

means for maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

wherein said means for interrogating comprises means for determining if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

means for determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

wherein said means for sending comprises means for sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said means for comparing to the second computer over the external communication link;

wherein said means for reconstructing comprises means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the data stream received over the external communication link by successively combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response; and

means for updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first application comprises a web server and the second application comprises a web browser.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the external communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the request from the web browser comprises a CGI request.

27. A computer program product for reducing the data transmitted over a communication link from a first application resident in a first computer and to a second application resident in a second computer wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

computer readable program code means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

computer readable program code means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

computer readable program code means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a server base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a server base form;

computer readable program code means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for comparing the intercepted response to the server base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

computer readable program code means for sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

computer readable program code means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application. computer readable program code means for determining if the server base form is identical to the client base form;

computer readable program code means for transmitting the server base form to the second computer over the external communication link if the server base form is not identical to the client base form;

computer readable program code means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response if the server base form is not transmitted to the second computer and for reconstructing the intercepted response data stream corresponding to the response from the first application by combining the server base form received over the external communication link with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a data stream corresponding to the intercepted response if the server base form is transmitted to the second computer; and

computer readable program code means for updating the client base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the received server base form as the client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

computer readable program code means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said computer readable program code means for comparing and said computer readable program code means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.

29. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for maintaining a plurality of server base cache entries which correspond to the request from the second application;

wherein said computer readable program code means for interrogating comprises computer readable program code means for ascertaining if a plurality of sever base cache entries exist corresponding to the request from the second application to provide a plurality of server base forms;

computer readable program code means for determining if one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form; and

wherein said computer readable program code means for comparing utilizes the one of the plurality of server base forms which is identical to the client base form if said computer readable program code means for determining determines that one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form.

30. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

computer readable program code means for maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

computer readable program code means for maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

wherein said computer readable program code means for interrogating comprises computer readable program code means for determining if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

computer readable program code means for determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

wherein said computer readable program code means for sending comprises computer readable program code means for sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said computer readable program code means for comparing to the second computer over the external communication link;

wherein said computer readable program code means for reconstructing comprises computer readable program code means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the data stream received over the external communication link by successively combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response; and

computer readable program code means for updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream.

31. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the first application comprises a web server and the second application comprises a web browser.

32. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the external communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

33. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the request from the web browser comprises a CGI request.

34. A method of reducing the data transmitted over a communication link from a first application resident in a first computer and to a second application resident in a second computer wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application corresponding to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a plurality of server base cache entries;

storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a plurality of server base cache entries corresponding to the interrogated request exist to provide a plurality of server base forms;

determining if one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form;

intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

comparing the intercepted response to the one of the plurality of server base forms which is identical to the client base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response; and

providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the steps of:

determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said comparing step and said sending step utilizes the updated server base form.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising the steps of:

updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

wherein said interrogating step comprises determining if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

wherein said sending step comprises sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said comparing step to the second computer over the external communication link;

wherein said reconstructing step comprises reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the data stream received over the external communication link by successively combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream.

37. An apparatus for reducing the data transmitted over a communication link from a first application resident in a first computer and to a second application resident in a second computer wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application corresponding to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a plurality of server base cache entries;

means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a plurality of server base cache entries corresponding to the interrogated request exist to provide a plurality of server base forms;

means for determining if one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form;

means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

means for comparing the intercepted response to the one of the plurality of server base forms which is identical to the client base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

means for sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

means for acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response; and

means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising:

means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said means for comparing and said means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising:

means for updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

means for maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

means for maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

wherein said means for interrogating comprises means for determining if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

means for determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

wherein said means for sending comprises means for sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said means for comparing to the second computer over the external communication link;

wherein said means for reconstructing comprises means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the data stream received over the external communication link by successively combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response; and

means for updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream.

40. A computer program product for reducing the data transmitted over a communication link from a first application resident in a first computer and to a second application resident in a second computer wherein the data is transmitted over an external communication link from the first computer to the second computer, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for storing a plurality of data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application corresponding to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a plurality of server base cache entries;

computer readable program code means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

computer readable program code means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

computer readable program code means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a plurality of server base cache entries corresponding to the interrogated request exist to provide a plurality of server base forms;

computer readable program code means for determining if one of the plurality of server base forms is identical to the client base form;

computer readable program code means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for comparing the intercepted response to the one of the plurality of server base forms which is identical to the client base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

computer readable program code means for sending the difference data to the second computer over the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for acquiring the difference data transmitted over the external communication link sent by the first computer;

computer readable program code means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the client/server specific data stream received over the external communication link by combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response; and

computer readable program code means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

41. The computer program product of claim 40 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

computer readable program code means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said computer readable program code means for comparing and said computer readable program code means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.

42. The computer program product of claim 40 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

computer readable program code means for maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

computer readable program code means for maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

wherein said computer readable program code means for interrogating comprises computer readable program code means for determining if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

computer readable program code means for determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

wherein said computer readable program code means for sending comprises computer readable program code means for sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said computer readable program code means for comparing to the second computer over the external communication link;

wherein said computer readable program code means for reconstructing comprises computer readable program code means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application from the data stream received over the external communication link by successively combining the client base form with the difference data received over the external communication link to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response; and

computer readable program code means for updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream.

43. A method of reducing the data transmitted over an external communication link from a first application resident in a first computer to a second application resident in a second computer, the method comprising:

storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

comparing the intercepted response to the server base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form, the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said comparing step to the second application over the external communication link;

acquiring the difference data from the external communication link;

reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application by successively combining the client base form with the acquired difference data to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream; and

providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said comparing step and said sending step utilizes the updated server base form.

45. An apparatus for reducing the data transmitted over an external communication link from a first application resident in a first computer to a second application resident in a second computer, comprising:

means for storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

means for maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

means for maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

means for determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

means for comparing the intercepted response to the server base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

means for updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

means for sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form, the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said comparing step to the second application over the external communication link;

means for acquiring the difference data from the external communication link;

means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application by successively combining the client base form with the acquired difference data to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

means for updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream; and

means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 further comprising:

means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said means for comparing and said means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.

47. A computer program product for reducing the data transmitted over an external communication link from a first application resident in a first computer to a second application resident in a second computer, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for storing a data stream from the first application to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the first computer to create a server base cache entry;

computer readable program code means for storing a data stream to be provided to the second application in response to a request from the second application in a cache resident in the second computer to create a client base cache entry;

computer readable program code means for evaluating the requests from the second application to determine if a client base cache entry corresponding to the interrogated request exists to provide a client base form;

computer readable program code means for maintaining a plurality of difference data sets which correspond to the request from the second application and which represent the differences between successive server cache entries to provide archival difference data;

computer readable program code means for maintaining a plurality of CRC entries wherein each of said plurality of CRC entries is associated with one of said plurality of difference data sets and uniquely identify the server base form from which said difference data set was derived;

computer readable program code means for interrogating requests from the second application to determine if a plurality of difference data sets and CRCs exist corresponding to the request from the second application;

computer readable program code means for determining if one of said plurality of CRCs is corresponds to a server base form which is identical to the client base form;

computer readable program code means for intercepting the data stream corresponding to the response originated by the first application in response to the interrogated request from the second application prior to transmission of the response on the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for comparing the intercepted response to the server base form to provide difference data corresponding to the difference between the intercepted response and the server base form;

computer readable program code means for updating the server cache entry with the data stream from the first application in response to the request from the second application;

computer readable program code means for sending the archival difference data corresponding to the CRC which corresponds to the client base form, the successive archival difference data sets and the difference data calculated by said comparing step to the second application over the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for acquiring the difference data from the external communication link;

computer readable program code means for reconstructing the response data stream corresponding to the communication from the first application by successively combining the client base form with the acquired difference data to create a response data stream corresponding to the intercepted response;

computer readable program code means for updating the client cache entry corresponding to the request from the second application with the reconstructed data stream; and

computer readable program code means for providing the reconstructed data stream corresponding to the intercepted response to the second application.

48. The computer program product of claim 47 further comprising:

computer readable program code means for determining if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than a predefined difference threshold;

computer readable program code means for updating the server base form corresponding to the interrogated request by storing the intercepted response data stream received from the first application as the server base cache entry corresponding to the intercepted request if the difference between the server base form and the intercepted response is greater than the predefined difference threshold; and

wherein said computer readable program code means for comparing and said computer readable program code means for sending utilizes the updated server base form.