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Transmitting high bandwidth network content on a low bandwidth communications channel during off peak hours

  • US 5,978,381 A
  • Filed: 06/06/1997
  • Issued: 11/02/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a computer network that includes (i) a plurality of remote servers for accessing a plurality of network sites containing various types of content that can be viewed and downloaded, (ii) a plurality of proxy servers for caching content from frequently accessed sites of one or more of the remote servers, and (iii) a plurality of client systems each having a caching store to which requested content of one or more sites on the network can be downloaded from any of the remote or proxy servers, and wherein each of the remote servers, proxy servers and client systems are logically connected to one another over a plurality of communications channels, at least some of which are low bandwidth communication channels, a method of improving transmission of network content by utilizing off peak as opposed to peak time periods for downloading selected content, comprising the steps of:

  • tracking at the client system on-line usage of a user in the form of information that corresponds to one or more sites and/or the content contained at such sites accessed by the user;

    during an off peak time period, the client system automatically and without user intervention, connecting to at least one of said remote or proxy servers, and authenticating to the connected server the client system that is connecting;

    thereafter, during the off peak time period, downloading from the connected server content from one or more sites on the network as identified from the information tracked at the client system; and

    storing the downloaded content in the caching store of the client system, and then disconnecting the client system prior to return of the peak time period.

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