Computer network read-ahead caching method

• US 6,249,804 B1
• Filed: 07/22/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roger Kin-Hung Lam
• Original Assignee: Roger Kin-Hung Lam
• Inventors: Lam, Roger Kin-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US09/120,951
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 711/113, 711/118, 711/121, 711/126, 711/133, 711/137, 709/200, 709/202, 709/203, 707/2
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

A computer network read-ahead caching method for servers and clients includes compiling a list of addresses associated with the links on a page. The addresses are ordered on the list according to the likelihood that they may be visited by a user. Different compiling methods are provided, including compiling in the order the links appear on the page, compiling only the links which are currently displayed to the user, and compiling currently displayed links and links in the direction the page is being scrolled. Requests are send out to the addresses which are not in a local cache. Any cacheable pages which are received are cached. If the page for the selected link is already cached, it is fetched from the cache and displayed almost instantly, so that the user does not experience the download delay. If the page is not cached, a request is sent out. In another embodiment, the requests identify the client as a read-ahead caching client, and the responses identify the server as a compatible server. Under predetermined conditions, the server sends a regulating response to the client to regulate its read-ahead caching. The client may comply with the regulating response if the server is a compatible server, otherwise the client may ignore the regulating response.

Claims

1. A computer network client read-ahead caching method, comprising:

displaying a page of information, said page including a plurality of links with associated network addresses;

compiling a list of said addresses only for said links within a displayed area of said page when said page is too large to be fully displayed, thereby including only said addresses which are most likely to be selected by said user; and

downloading and caching information from said addresses on said list.

2. The computer network client read-ahead caching method of claim 1, further including arranging said addresses on said list according to an order in which said addresses appear on said page from a top to a bottom thereof.

3. The computer network client read-ahead caching method of claim 1, further including ordering on said list said addresses for said links which are closer to a middle of said displayed area ahead of said addresses for said links which are farther away from said middle of said displayed area.

4. A computer network client read-ahead caching method, comprising:

displaying a page of information, said page including a plurality of links with associated network addresses;

compiling a list of said addresses for said links within a displayed area of said page when said page is too large to be fully displayed, thereby including only said addresses which are most likely to be selected by said user;

including on said list said addresses for said links in an area adjacent to said displayed area, said adjacent area being above said displayed area when said page is being scrolled up, said adjacent area being above said displayed area when said page has just been scrolled up, said adjacent area being below said displayed area when said page is being scrolled down, said adjacent area being below said displayed area when said page has just been scrolled down, said adjacent area being below said displayed area when a top of said page is being displayed, said adjacent area being above said displayed area when a bottom of said page is being displayed; and

downloading and caching information from said addresses on said list.