Methods and apparatus to enhance the performance of web browsers over bandwidth constrained links

• US 8,108,457 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• 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, Tammy
• Application Number:
  US13/207,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 174 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 709/223, 711/137, 725/51
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

Increasing the performance of a browser while operating over bandwidth constrained links by pre-fetching of web objects to increase the level of concurrency. Using an agent or a gateway to speed up its Internet transactions over bandwidth constrained connections to source servers. Assisting a browser in determining the order of fetching objects in such a way that an object is ready and available locally before the browser requires it. Providing seemingly instantaneous availability of objects to a browser enabling it to complete processing the object to request the next object without much wait.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an agent operatively coupled with a source server via a browser and a resource-constrained communications link;

a fetching mechanism configured for selectively pre-fetching page objects from said source server and for downloading page objects in a substantially parallel fashion from said source server to said browser via said communications link;

a cache operatively coupled with said browser that caches said pre-fetched page objects and caches page objects that are downloaded by said mechanism;

a parsing element operatively coupled with said browser configured for identifying one or more page objects that are fetched sequentially according to routine browser operation;

wherein said agent is configured for enhancing said routine browser operation by invoking said fetching mechanism to pre-fetch, in a substantially parallel fashion, one or more page objects that are identified as sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation, making said pre-fetched page objects available to said browser by said agent before they would be if sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fetching mechanism is configured for communicating with a corresponding server mechanism, and configured for readying necessary page objects to be available to said browser.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said agent further comprises an additional mechanism that assists said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective page objects;

wherein selected page objects are available to said browser; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse resource constrained links in said communications link before an object is available.

4. A method for displaying pages that are comprised of a plurality of page objects, fetched over one or more communications links, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively coupling a parsing element with a browser, wherein said parsing element is configured for identifying one or more page objects that are fetched sequentially according to routine browser operation;

operatively coupling an agent with a source server via said browser and a resource-constrained communications link;

operatively coupling a fetching mechanism with said agent;

selectively pre-fetching, using said fetching mechanism, said page objects in a substantially parallel fashion from said source server to said browser via said communications link;

caching said pre-fetched page objects in a cache operatively coupled with said browser;

wherein step of pre-fetching allows page objects available to be available at said browser before they would be if sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of selectively pre-fetching further comprises the steps of communicating with said source server, and readying necessary page objects to be available to said browser.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

assisting, using said agent, said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective page objects;

wherein selected page objects are available to said browser; and

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

7. An apparatus comprising:

a gateway operatively coupled with a source server via a browser and a resource-constrained communications link;

a fetching mechanism configured for selectively pre-fetching page objects from said source server and for downloading page objects in a substantially parallel fashion from said source server to said browser via said communications link;

a cache operatively coupled with said browser that caches said pre-fetched page objects and caches page objects that are downloaded by said mechanism;

a parsing element operatively coupled with said browser configured for identifying one or more page objects that are fetched sequentially according to routine browser operation;

wherein said gateway is configured for enhancing said routine browser operation by invoking said fetching mechanism to pre-fetch, in a substantially parallel fashion, one or more page objects that are identified as sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation, making said pre-fetched page objects available to said browser by said agent before they would be if sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said fetching mechanism is configured for communicating with a corresponding server mechanism, and configured for readying necessary page objects to be available to said browser.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said gateway further comprises an additional mechanism that assists said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective page objects;

wherein selected page objects are available to said browser; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse a resource constrained link in said communications link before an object is available.

10. A method for displaying pages that are comprised of a plurality of page objects, fetched over one or more communications links, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively coupling a parsing element with a browser, wherein said parsing element is configured for identifying one or more page objects that are fetched sequentially according to routine browser operation;

operatively coupling a gateway with a source server via said browser and a resource-constrained communications link;

operatively coupling a fetching mechanism with said gateway;

selectively pre-fetching, using said fetching mechanism, said page objects in a substantially parallel fashion from said source server to said browser via said communications link;

caching said pre-fetched page objects in a cache operatively coupled with said browser;

wherein step of pre-fetching allows page objects available to be available at said browser before they would be if sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of selectively pre-fetching further comprises the steps of communicating with said source server, and readying necessary page objects to be available to said browser.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

assisting, using said gateway, said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective page objects;

wherein selected page objects are available to said browser; and

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

13. An apparatus comprising:

a reader configured for reading web page description language received via a browser, identifying the presence of one or more meta-tags contained with a web page description, and interpreting said meta-tags as identifying one or more page objects within said web page that are fetched sequentially according to routine browser operation;

a fetching mechanism configured for selectively pre-fetching page objects from said source server and for downloading page objects in a substantially parallel fashion from said source server to said browser via said communications link when said reader identifies said one or more page objects;

a cache operatively coupled with said browser that caches said pre-fetched page objects and caches page objects that are downloaded by said mechanism;

wherein said reader is configured for enhancing said routine browser operation by making said pre-fetched page objects available to said browser before they would be if sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said fetching mechanism is configured for communicating with a corresponding server mechanism, and configured for readying necessary page objects to be available to said browser.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said agent further comprises an additional mechanism that assists said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective page objects;

wherein selected page objects are available to said browser; and

wherein said browser does not need to wait for a request and a corresponding response to traverse a resource constrained link in said communications link before an object is available.

16. A method for displaying pages that are comprised of a plurality of page objects, fetched over one or more communications links, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of streams of web page description language via a browser,

reading said plurality of streams using a reader;

identifying, using said reader, the presence of one or more meta-tags contained with a web page description;

interpreting said meta-tags as identifying one or more page objects within said web page that are fetched sequentially according to routine browser operation;

operatively coupling a fetching mechanism with said browser;

selectively pre-fetching, using said fetching mechanism, said one or more page objects in a substantially parallel fashion from said source server to said browser via said communications link;

caching said pre-fetched page objects in a cache operatively coupled with said browser;

wherein step of pre-fetching allows page objects available to be available at said browser before they would be if sequentially fetched according to routine browser operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of selectively pre-fetching further comprises the steps of communicating with said source server, and readying necessary page objects to be available to said browser.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

assisting said browser in fetching page objects by coordinating fetching of selective page objects;

wherein selected page objects are available to said browser; and

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