Predictive pre-download of network objects

• US 6,721,780 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digital River Incorporated (Danube Private Holdings II, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Fireclick Incorporated (Danube Private Holdings II, LLC)
• Inventors: Casanova, Xavier, Kasriel, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US09/436,136
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/234, 709/235
• 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 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for fetching network objects from a server, such as used in conjunction with an internetworking environment. A web server maintains information regarding which web pages are most likely to be requested by users, and pre-downloads those web pages to associated web clients in advance of actual requests being made by the user. This allows the user to receive the web page prior to actual request, and thus reduces time the user waits for delivery of the web page. The web server maintains statistical information responsive to requests for information made by users, to estimate which links between web pages are most likely to be followed. The web server provides this information to web clients as hints for pages for web clients to pre-download. The web server also maintains rules regarding web pages most desirable to present to users, to provide the greatest value for the web site. These rules can be responsive to statistical measures, to information about categories of users, to demographic information, to past behavior of specific users at the web site, or to other relevant factors. Examples described herein relate to web pages, but the invention is broadly applicable to many different types of requests for information (such as for example database queries and other libraries of information).

Claims

1. A method including steps of:

intercepting at a device one or more requests from a web client to a web server for first network objects;

intercepting at said device one or more responses to said requests from said web server;

determining at said device a set of second network objects most probable to be requested in the future from said web server; and

sending a first message from said device to said web client responsive to said step of determining, said first message informing said web client of at least some of said second network objects to be cached by said web client.

2. A method in claim 1, further including the step of sending a second message from said web client to said web server in response to a result of said step of sending said first message.

5. A method as in either claim 1 or claim 3, further including the step of labeling requests from said web client as to whether said requests are responsive to actual user requests or to send hints.

6. A method as in either claim 1 or claim 3, whereby a latency for requesting an identical network object is reduced when requested in response to an actual user request.

7. A method as in either claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said step of determining includes communicating with a statistics server, said statistics server maintaining statistics regarding a set of request pairs for network objects, said request pairs indicating transitions between a first network object and a next network object;

and

wherein said statistics server is a separate device from said device, said web client and said web server.

8. A method as in either claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said step of determining includes

maintaining a set of rules in response to said requests, said rules indicating transitions between first network objects and next network objects;

and

making said determination in response to a result of said steps of maintaining.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said rules include values for variables gleaned from said requests for network objects.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein said rules are responsive to at least one of:

statistical measures, information about categories of users, demographic information, past behavior of specific users at a web site.

3. A method including steps of:

intercepting at a device one or more requests from a web client to a web server for first network objects;

intercepting at said device one or more responses to said requests from said web server;

determining at said device a set of second network objects most desirable to be requested in a future from said web server; and

sending a first message from said device to said web client responsive to said step of determining, said first message informing said web client of at least some of said second network objects to be cached by said web client.

4. A method as in claim 3, further including the step of sending a second message from said web client to said web server in response to a result of said step of sending said first message.

11. A network device, comprising:

an interface to a network;

a processor;

a memory storing information including instructions, the instructions executable by said processor, the instructions including the steps of (a) intercepting at said network device one or more requests on said network from a web client to a web server for first network objects;

(b) intercepting at said device one or more responses to said requests from said web server;

(c) determining at said network device a set of second network objects most probable to be requested in the future from said web server; and

(d) sending a first message from said network device to said web client responsive to said step of determining, said first message informing said web client of at least some of said second network objects to be cached by said web client.

12. A network device as in claim 11, wherein the instructions further include the step of sending a second message from said web client to said web server in response to a result of said step of sending said first message.

15. A network device as in either claim 11 or claim 13, wherein the instructions further include the step of labeling requests from said web client as to whether said requests are responsive to actual user requests or to send hints.

16. A network device as in either claim 11 or claim 13, whereby a latency for requesting an identical network object is reduced when requested in response to an actual user request.

17. A network device as in either claim 11 or claim 13, wherein said step of determining includes communicating with a statistics server, said statistics server maintaining statistics regarding a set of request pairs for network objects, said request pairs indicating transitions between a first network object and a next network object;

and

wherein said statistics server is a separate device from said device, said web client, and said web server.

18. A network device as in either claim 11 or claim 13, wherein said step of determining includes

maintaining a set of rules in response to said requests, said rules indicating transitions between first network objects and next network objects;

and

making said determination in response to a result of said steps of maintaining.

19. A network device as in claim 18, wherein said rules include values for variables gleaned from said requests for network objects.

20. A network device as in claim 18, wherein said rules are responsive to at least one of:

statistical measures, information about categories of users, demographic information, past behavior of specific users at a web site.

13. A network device, comprising:

an interface to a network;

processor;

a memory storing information including instructions, the instructions executable by said processor, the instructions including the steps of (a) intercepting at said network device a set of requests on said network from a web client to a web server for first network objects;

(b) intercepting at said device one or more responses to said requests from said web server;

(c) determining at said network device one a set of second network objects most desirable to be requested in the future from said web server; and

(d) sending a first message from said network device to said web client responsive to said step of determining, said first message informing said web client of at least some of said second network objects to be cached by said web client.

14. A network device as in claim 13, wherein the instructions further include the step of sending a second message from said web client to said web server in response to a result of said step of sending said first message.

21. A memory storing information including instructions executable by a processor, the instructions including the steps of:

intercepting at a device one or more requests from a web client to a web server for first network objects;

intercepting at said device one or more responses to said requests from said web server;

determining at said device a set of second network objects most probable to be requested in the future from said web server; and

sending a first message from said device to said web client responsive to said step of determining, said first message informing said web client of at least some of said second network objects to be cached by said web client.

22. A memory as in claim 21, wherein the instructions further include the step of sending a second message from said web client to said web server in response to a result of said step of sending said first message.

25. A memory as in either claim 21 or claim 23, wherein the instructions further include the step of labeling requests from said web client as to whether said requests are responsive to actual user requests or to send hints.

26. A memory as in either claim 21 or claim 23, whereby a latency for requesting an identical network object is reduced when requested in response to an actual user request.

27. A memory as in either claim 21 or claim 23, wherein said step of determining includes communicating with a statistics server, said statistics server maintaining statistics regarding a set of request pairs for network objects, said request pairs indicating transitions between a first network object and a next network object;

and

wherein said statistics server is a separate device from said device, said web client and said web server.

28. A memory as in either claim 21 or claim 23, wherein said step of determining includes

maintaining a set of rules in response to said requests, said rules indicating transitions between first network objects and next network objects;

and

making said determination in response to a result of said steps of maintaining.

29. A memory as in claim 28, wherein said rules include values for variables gleaned from said requests for network objects.

30. A memory as in claim 28, wherein said rules are responsive to at least one of:

statistical measures, information about categories of users, demographic information, past behavior of specific users at a web site.

23. A memory storing information including instructions executable by a processor, the instructions including the steps of:

intercepting at a device one or more requests from a web client to a web server for first network objects;

intercepting at said device one or more responses to said requests from said web server;

determining at said device a set of second network objects most desirable to be requested in a future from said web server; and

sending a first message from said device to said web client responsive to said step of determining, said first message informing said web client of at least some of said second network objects to be cached by said web client.

24. A memory as in claim 23, wherein the instructions further include the step of sending a second message from said web client to said web server in response to a result of said step of sending said first message.