Reduction of network retrieval latency using cache and digest

• US 7,315,884 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mogul, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US09/825,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,464 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/237, 707/6, 707/203, 711/118, 711/216
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted 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]

Abstract

A system and method for comparing a digest value in an incoming response to a digest index (e.g., a hash table). The digest index includes digest values of data objects already cached at a cache. Data object retrieval is avoided when a match is found between the digest value and a digest value in the digest index.

Claims

1. A method for reducing network retrieval latency, comprising the steps of:

sending a request for a data object to a server;

receiving a header portion of a response to said request;

parsing said header portion for a digest value;

comparing said digest value to a digest index;

retrieving a cached data object from a cache if said digest value has a match in said digest index;

sending said cached data object to a client; and

informing said server to stop sending a remaining portion of said response.

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

checking said cache for said data object before sending said request to said server; and

sending said data object to said client if said data object is found in said cache.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said digest index is a hash table.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said remaining portion of said response from said server if no match for said digest value is found in said digest index based on said comparing step; and

sending said remaining portion of said response to said client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said informing includes the step of:

instructing said server to terminate a connection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said informing comprises:

responsive to determining said digest value has a match in said digest index, performing said informing.

7. A method for reducing network retrieval latency, comprising the steps of:

sending a request for a data object to a server;

receiving a server response from said server;

calculating a digest value for said data object based on said server response;

sending a response to a client cache starting with a header portion, said header portion including said digest value and enabling said client cache to compare said digest value to a digest index, retrieve a cached data object from said client cache if said digest value has a match in said digest index, and send said cached data object to a client; and

upon receiving a message from said client cache to stop sending said response, stopping the sending of said response.

8. A method for reducing network retrieval latency, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for a data object;

obtaining a digest value of said requested data object;

inserting said digest value into a header portion of a response;

sending said response, starting with said header portion; and

upon receiving a second request to stop sending said response, stopping the sending of said response.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said obtaining includes the step of:

retrieving said digest value from a hash table.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said obtaining includes the step of:

calculating said digest value based on contents of said data object.

11. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system for reducing network retrieval latency, comprising:

logic code for sending a request for a data object to a server;

logic code for receiving a header portion of a response to said request;

logic code for parsing said header portion for a digest value;

logic code for comparing said digest value to a digest index;

logic code for retrieving a cached data object from a cache if said digest value has a match in said digest index;

logic code for sending said cached data object to a client; and

logic code for informing said server to stop sending a remaining portion of said response.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

logic code for checking said cache for said data object before sending said request to said server; and

logic code for sending said data object to said client if said data object is found in said cache.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said digest index is a hash table.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

logic code for receiving said remaining portion of said response from said server if no match for said digest value is found in said digest index based on said comparing; and

logic code for sending said remaining portion of said response to said client.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said logic code for informing includes:

logic code for instructing said server to terminate a connection.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said logic code for informing said server to stop sending a remaining portion of said response comprises:

logic code for performing said informing responsive to said logic code for comparing determining that said received digest value has a match in said digest index.

17. A computer program product for reducing network retrieval latency, comprising:

logic code for sending a request for a data object to a server;

logic code for receiving a server response from said server;

logic code for calculating a digest value for said data object based on said server response;

logic code for sending a response to a client cache starting with a header portion, said header portion including said digest value and enabling said client cache to compare said digest value to a digest index, retrieve a cached data object from said client cache if said digest value has a match in said digest index, and send said cached data object to a client; and

logic code for stopping the send of said response upon receiving a message from said client cache to stop sending said response.

18. A computer program product for reducing network retrieval latency, comprising:

logic code for receiving a first request for a data object;

logic code for obtaining a digest value of said requested data object;

logic code for inserting said digest value into a header portion of a response;

logic code for sending said response, starting with said header portion; and

logic code for stopping the sending of said response upon receiving a second request to stop sending said response.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said logic code for obtaining includes:

logic code for retrieving said digest value from a hash table.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said logic code for obtaining includes:

logic code for calculating said digest value based on contents of said data object.