Methods and apparatus to increase the efficiency of a web browser over long-latency links

• US 8,010,693 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Venturi Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Venturi Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Ramadas, Krishna
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US12/940,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110047243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 709/223, 711/137, 725/51
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

The invention increases performance of a browser over long-latency links by smart pre-fetching of selective objects to increasing the level of concurrency in subsequent operations. A Web browser with a pre-fetch agent can speed up Internet transactions from the browser over long-latency data links. This agent can help determine the order of fetching objects in such a way that an object is ready and available locally before the resident browser requires it. The seemingly instantaneous availability of objects to a browser enables it to complete processing the object to request the next object without much wait. Without this instantaneous availability of an embedded object, a browser waits for its request and the corresponding response to traverse a long delay link.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying, with a browser, pages that are comprised of a plurality of page objects, where said page objects must be fetched individually over long-latency links, comprising:

a mechanism associated with said browser that selectively pre-fetches said page objects concurrently; and

a cache that caches said pre-fetched page objects proximate to said browser;

wherein sequential access to said page objects is provided in low bandwidth and high delay networks without altering browser behavior;

said mechanism further comprising;

an agent in communication with a source server; and

a mechanism for downloading page objects in parallel from said source server to a browser via a long-latency link;

said cache further comprising;

a cache into which page objects are selectively downloaded in parallel independently of an implementation of said browser and said source server;

wherein selected embedded page objects are made locally available to said browser at said cache by said agent; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse said long-latency link before an object is available, wherein said agent further comprises a mechanism that assists said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective embedded page objects;

wherein selected embedded page objects are locally available to said browser; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse a long delay link before an object is available.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mechanism that selectively pre-fetches comprises a mechanism for communicating with a corresponding server mechanism, and which readies necessary page objects to be available on a platform hosting said browser.

3. A method for displaying, with a browser, pages that are comprised of a plurality of page objects, where said page objects must be fetched individually over long-latency links, said method comprising the steps of:

a mechanism associated with said browser selectively pre-fetching said page objects concurrently; and

caching said pre-fetched page objects proximate to said browser; and

wherein sequential access to said page objects is provided in low bandwidth and high delay networks without altering browser behavior;

wherein an agent is associated with said browser and is in communication with a source server;

downloading page objects in parallel from said source server to said browser via a long-latency link; and

selectively downloading page objects in parallel, independently of an implementation of said browser and said source server;

wherein selected embedded page objects are made locally available to said browser at said cache by said agent; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse said long-latency link before an object is available, wherein said agent further comprises a mechanism that assists said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective embedded page objects;

wherein selected embedded page objects are locally available to said browser; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse a long delay link before an object is available.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of selectively pre-fetching further comprises the steps of communicating with a corresponding server, and readying necessary page objects to be available on a platform hosting said browser.

5. An apparatus for displaying, with a browser, pages that are comprised of a plurality of page objects, where said page objects must be fetched individually over long-latency links, comprising:

a mechanism associated with said browser that selectively pre-fetches said page objects concurrently; and

a cache that caches said pre-fetched page objects proximate to said browser;

wherein sequential access to said page objects is provided in low bandwidth and high delay networks without altering browser behavior;

wherein said browser is in communication with a source server;

wherein said mechanism further comprises a mechanism for downloading page objects in parallel from said source server to said browser via a long-latency link;

wherein said cache further comprises a cache into which page objects are selectively downloaded in parallel independently of an implementation of said browser and said source server;

wherein selected embedded page objects are made locally available to said browser at said cache; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse said long-latency link before an object is available, wherein said agent further comprises a mechanism that assists said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective embedded page objects;

wherein selected embedded page objects are locally available to said browser; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse a long delay link before an object is available.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said mechanism comprises a mechanism for communicating with a corresponding server, and which readies necessary page objects to be available on a platform hosting said browser.

7. A method for displaying, with a browser, pages that are comprised of a plurality of page objects, where said page objects must be fetched individually over long-latency links, said method comprising the steps of:

A mechanism associated with said browser selectively pre-fetching said page objects concurrently; and

caching said pre-fetched page objects proximate to said browser;

wherein sequential access to said page objects is provided in low bandwidth and high delay networks without altering browser behavior; and

wherein said browser is in communication with a source server;

downloading page objects in parallel from said source server to said browser via a long-latency link; and

selectively downloading page objects in parallel, independently of an implementation of said browser and said source server;

wherein selected embedded page objects are made locally available to said browser at said cache; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse said long-latency link before an object is available, wherein said agent further comprises a mechanism that assists said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective embedded page objects;

wherein selected embedded page objects are locally available to said browser; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse a long delay link before an object is available.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of selectively pre-fetching further comprises the steps of communicating with a corresponding server module, and readying necessary page objects to be available on a platform hosting said browser.