Precomputation of web documents

• US 20040073867A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jawahar, Janardhanan, Kausik, Balas Natarajan
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for anticipating a user'"'"'s request for documents or other content from a server (typically via a URL), precomputing the anticipated content, and caching the precomputed information at a cache in proximity to the content server. The cache stores the response to the anticipated request, until the user requests the same content. The anticipated requests can be precomputed based on triggers reflecting users'"'"' historical access patterns.

Claims

1. A method for improving the efficiency of document presentation, comprising:

(a) precomputing dynamic content anticipated to be requested by a particular user from a content server;

(b) storing the precomputed dynamic content in a cache at a proxy server between said content server and said user;

(c) intercepting, at said proxy server, a request from the user to said content server for a document expected to include said dynamic content; and

(d) using the precomputed dynamic content in responding to said user'"'"'s request.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising managing freshness of said precomputed content.

3. The method of claim 2 where said managing freshness includes checking a cache lifetime of said content.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(i) maintaining a record of identifiers of documents deemed likely to trigger subsequent requests for dynamic content; and

(ii) maintaining a record of identifiers of documents deemed likely to comprise follow-on requests associated with a triggering document in (i).

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising storing references, to at least some of said records, at said user'"'"'s computer.

6. The method of claim 3 where said records are specific to particular users.

7. The method of claim 3 where said documents in (i) include preexisting documents.

8. The method of claim 3 where said documents in (i) include documents that are newly computed.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(i) measuring a load on said content server; and

(ii) reducing said precomputation during high load situations.

10. The method of claim 1 where said (d) includes:

(i) determining whether said request falls within a trigger class and, if so;

(ii) determining one or more associated document(s) from an anticipation class associated with said trigger class; and

(iii) storing said associated document(s) in said cache.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating said method for another requested document.

12. A computer-readable medium for improving the efficiency of document presentation, comprising logic instructions that when executed:

(a) precompute dynamic content anticipated to be requested by a particular user from a content server;

(b) store the precomputed dynamic content in a cache at a proxy server between said content server and said user;

(c) intercept, at said proxy server, a request from the user to said content server for a document expected to include said dynamic content; and

(d) use the precomputed dynamic content in responding to said user'"'"'s request.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising logic instructions that when executed manage freshness of said precomputed content.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising logic instructions that when executed:

(i) maintain a record of identifiers of documents deemed likely to trigger subsequent requests for dynamic content; and

(ii) maintain a record of identifiers of documents deemed likely to comprise follow-on requests associated with a triggering document in (i).

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising logic instructions that when executed:

(i) measure a load on said content server; and

(ii) reduce said precomputation during high load situations.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising logic instructions that when executed:

(i) determine whether said request falls within a trigger class, and, if so;

(ii) determine one or more associated document(s) from an anticipation class associated with said trigger class; and

(iii) store said associated document(s) in said cache.

17. Apparatus for improving the efficiency of document presentation, comprising:

(a) means for precomputing dynamic content anticipated to be requested by a particular user from a content server;

(b) means for storing the precomputed dynamic content in a cache at a proxy server between said content server and said user;

(c) means for intercepting, at said proxy server, a request from the user to said content server for a document expected to include said dynamic content; and

(d) means for using the precomputed dynamic content in responding to said user'"'"'s request.

18. A proxy server for improving the efficiency of document presentation from a content server to a user, comprising:

(a) a computational module for precomputing dynamic content anticipated to be requested by a particular user from a content server;

(b) a cache for storing said precomputed dynamic content anticipated to be requested by said user; and

(c) an interface connectable to a user and configured to;

(i) intercept a request from the user to said content server for a document expected to include said dynamic content; and

(ii) serve said precomputed dynamic content to said user.

19. The proxy server of claim 18 further comprising a data storage including:

(i) a record of identifiers of documents deemed likely to trigger subsequent requests for dynamic content; and

(ii) a record of identifiers of documents deemed likely to comprise follow-on requests associated with a triggering document in (i).

20. The proxy server of claim 18 implemented as party of said content server.