Optimizing browser caching through deterministic marking of files

• US 8,812,565 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mameri, Frederico, Olson, Elisabeth, Watson, Andrew Sean, Walker, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Leroux, Etienne
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIBBEE, JARED M
• Application Number:
  US12/905,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 707/827, 707/821, 707/822
• US Class Current: 707/827
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

Enhanced browser caching is provided through a file identifier attribute employed at a front end server level for deterministic marking A front end server may use an attribute of a file identifier such as an attached parameter, a pattern, a directory associated with the file, or similar attributes to change the links it emits into other content in order to prompt the browsers to request new files. The attribute may be changed (e.g. incremented) based on a web change associated with the content being served.

Claims

1. A method executed at least in part by a computing device for optimizing browser caching, the method comprising:

generating a file identifier for a cacheable file that includes a file identifier attribute at a first server executing a web application configured to provide structured and unstructured data to client applications;

receiving a request that includes the cacheable file at the first server;

retrieving the cacheable file from a second server;

providing the cacheable file to a requesting client along with one or more non-cacheable files if requested by the client;

modifying the file identifier attribute in response to detecting a change associated with the cacheable file;

in response to receiving another request, providing the cacheable file associated with the modified identifier attribute if the content indicated by the identifier exists such that the provided cacheable file with the modified identifier attribute replaces an out-of-date un-modified cacheable file;

in response to receiving a request to receive an un-modified cacheable file, providing the cacheable file with the un-modified identifier attribute;

in response to receiving a request to receive an un-locatable cacheable file, providing a file-not-found exception in response; and

maintaining at least another version of the cacheable file and providing the at least other version of the cacheable file to another requesting client using the other version.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the file identifier attribute includes one of:

a pattern, a file name, a parameter attached to the file identifier, a directory associated with the cacheable file, and a query string.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the file identifier attribute includes one of incrementing and decrementing a cache control number used as the file identifier attribute.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first server is a front end server and the second server is a back end server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change associated with the cacheable file includes one of a content change and a web setting change.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the file identifier attribute is transparent to the requesting client.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cacheable file includes one of:

a word processing document, a spreadsheet, a presentation, an audio file, a video file, a data stream, a script file, a shared page, a news page, and a style class file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the file identifier is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and the requesting client is a browser.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the file identifier attribute defines an expiration period for the cacheable file to the first server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the expiration period is set to indefinite.

11. A system to provide a web service with optimized browser caching, the system comprising:

a first computing device comprising;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to;

generate an identifier for cacheable content that includes an identifier attribute at a cacheable data module executed on a web application, the web application configured to provide structured and unstructured data to client applications;

receive a request that includes the cacheable content;

retrieve the cacheable content from one or more content stores;

provide the cacheable content to a requesting client, wherein the cacheable content is marked to be cached at the requesting client for subsequent use;

provide non-cacheable content if requested by the client;

identify the cacheable content transparently to the requesting client using a caching mechanism based on metadata of the cacheable content;

if a web setting change associated with the cacheable content is detected, modify the identifier attribute at the cacheable data module; and

in response to receiving another request that includes the identifier for the cacheable content, provide cacheable content associated with the modified identifier attribute if the content indicated by the identifier exists at the cacheable data module such that the provided cacheable file with the modified identifier attribute replaces an out-of-date un-modified cacheable file.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the web setting change is a content change.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a second computing device comprising;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to;

manage the one or more content stores, wherein the identifier attribute is generated and employed by the first computing device in a transparent manner to the second computing device.

14. The system of claim 11, comprising a plurality of first computing devices acting as front end servers communicating with a single second computing device acting as a back end server configured to manage the one or more content stores.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the identifier attribute includes a cache control value comprising one of a character, a number, and a string.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the identifier attribute is modified by one of incrementing, decrementing, and resetting the cache control value.

17. A computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon for optimizing browser caching, the instructions comprising:

generating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link with a URL attribute for cacheable content at a web server executing a web application that provides structured and unstructured data to client applications including at least one of;

documents and formatting files;

receiving a request for a web page that includes the cacheable content at the web server;

retrieving the cacheable content from a back end server;

providing the cacheable content along with additional web page content and non-cacheable content to a requesting browser;

identifying the cacheable content transparently to the requesting browser using a caching mechanism based on metadata of the cacheable content at a cacheable data module;

modifying the URL attribute in response to detecting a web setting change associated with the cacheable content at the cacheable data module;

generating a new URL link with the modified URL attribute; and

in response to receiving another request for the web page from the requesting browser;

determining that the new URL link is to be provided with the web page;

serving the new URL link along with other content associated with the requested web page; and

maintaining at least another version of the cacheable content and providing the at least other version of the cacheable content to another requesting browser using the other version;

in response to receiving a request to receive un-modified cacheable content, providing the cacheable content with the un-modified identifier attribute; and

in response to receiving a request to receive un-locatable cacheable content, providing a file-not-found exception in response.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the URL attribute is transparent to the requesting browser and includes at least one from a set of:

a pattern, a file name, a parameter attached to the URL, a directory associated with the cacheable content, a character, a sub-site, and a query string attached to the URL.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the cacheable content includes at least one of:

a document file, an image file, an audio file, a video file, a data stream, a news feed, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) application data stream, and a script file.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the URL attribute is transparent to the back end server enabling the web server to invalidate cached content by a plurality of browsers isolating the back end server from the invalidation.