System and method of governing delivery of files from object databases

• US 5,878,429 A
• Filed: 07/18/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPivot, Inc. (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: IPivot, Inc. (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Morris, John William, Schnetzler, Steven Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/683,724
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/103
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A remote information server contains at least one set of object data bases, with each set including a first object data base containing information content components and a separate second object data base containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object data base of the same set of object data bases. Information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object data base in the remote information server are delivered to respective local information servers when requested or directed and cached in the respective local information servers. The entire second object data base(s) of context information are delivered from the remote information server to, and maintained in, a plurality of broker/servers. A set of the local information servers is coupled to each broker/server. The broker/server responds to receipt of a request from a user terminal for delivery of a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components by delivering the selected context information object file to the user terminal from a second object data base maintained in the broker/server. The broker/server responds to receipt of a request from a user terminal for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by requesting a selected local information server to deliver to the user terminal the selected information content object file that is cached in the selected local information server.

Claims

1. A system for governing delivery of files from object databases, comprising:

first means containing at least one set of object databases with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set, wherein the first means comprises a remote information server containing at least one said set of object databases;

second means for delivering a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component from the first object database, the second means comprising a plurality of local information servers coupled to the remote information server, and respectively adapted for

(a) receiving delivery of information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database(s) in the remote information server,

(b) caching the delivered information content object files, and

(c) responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by delivering the selected information content object file from a selected one of the local information servers;

third means for delivering a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components from the second object database; and

fourth means for delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the fourth means is operable upon receipt of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

fifth means for recording data indicating characteristics of the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers; and

sixth means for selecting the local information server to which said selected information content object file is delivered from said first object database in the remote information server in accordance with the recorded file-characteristic-indicating data so as to cause information content object files having a common characteristic to be cached in the same local information server.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

fifth means for providing data indicating when messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received from a user terminal; and

sixth means for processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received from a user terminal,

wherein the fourth means for delivering is in accordance with said determined pattern.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the fourth means for delivering delivers the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server at a predetermined time.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

fifth means for providing data indicating when messages pertaining to a second said selected information content object file are received from a user terminal;

sixth means for processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the second said selected information content object file are received from a user terminal;

seventh means for delivering the second said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server in accordance with said determined pattern; and

eighth means for delivering a third said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server at a predetermined time,

wherein the fourth means is operable upon receipt of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

fifth means for providing data indicating when messages pertaining to a second said selected information content object file are received from a user terminal;

sixth means for processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the second said selected information content object file are received from a user terminal; and

seventh means for delivering the second said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server in accordance with said determined pattern,

wherein the fourth means is operable upon receipt of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising fifth means for delivering another selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server at a predetermined time, wherein the fourth means is operable upon receipt of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

fifth means for providing data indicating when messages pertaining to a first said selected information content object file are received from a user terminal;

sixth means for processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the first said selected information content object file are received from a user terminal;

seventh means for delivering the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server in accordance with said determined pattern,

wherein the fourth means for delivering delivers a second said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server at a predetermined time.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

fifth means for recording data identifying the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers; and

sixth means for selecting the local information server from which the requested selected information content object file is delivered in accordance with the recorded file-identifying data.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

fifth means for recording data indicating when requests for delivery of selected information content object files are received by the selected local information server;

sixth means for processing the recorded file-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which requests for delivery of individual selected information content object files are received by the selected local information server; and

seventh means for causing a given said selected information content object file to also be delivered to and cached in another local information server when it is determined that the frequency at which requests for delivery of the given selected information content object file are received by the selected local information server is greater than a given frequency.

12. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

fifth means for recording data indicating when requests for delivery of selected information content object files are received by the selected local information server;

sixth means for processing the recorded file-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which requests for delivery of the individual selected information content object file are received by the selected local information server; and

seventh means for causing a given said selected information content object file to be deleted from a respective said local information server when it is determined that the frequency at which requests for delivery of the given selected information content object file are received by the selected local information server is less than a given frequency.

13. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising;

fifth means for processing information-content-object-file-delivery requests received from user terminal(s) to establish a priority classification for delivery of the requested selected information content object files to the user terminal(s),

wherein the local information servers are respectively adapted for (d) delivering the selected information content object files in accordance with the established priority classification.

14. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first means comprise a plurality of said remote information servers, and wherein at least one common said set of object databases is contained in each of said plurality of remote information servers.

15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein each remote information server is embodied in a separate computer.

16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein each local information server is embodied in a separate computer.

17. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein each local information server is embodied in a separate computer.

18. The system as defined in claim 17, wherein each remote information server is embodied in a separate computer.

19. A system for governing delivery of files from object databases, comprising:

first means containing at least one set of object databases with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set;

second means for delivering a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component from the first object database; and

third means for delivering a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components from the second object database,

wherein the first means comprises at least one remote information server containing at least one said set of object databases, and

wherein the second means comprises;

a plurality of broker/servers coupled to each remote information server; and

a plurality of sets of local information servers respectively coupled to the plurality of broker/servers and to the remote information server to which the respective broker/server is coupled, with the local information servers being respectively adapted for (a) receiving delivery of information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database(s) in the remote information server to which the local information server is coupled and (b) caching the delivered information content object files, and

wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for (c) responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by requesting a selected one of the local information servers that are coupled to the recipient broker/server to deliver the selected information content object file, and

wherein the local information servers are respectively adapted for (d) responding to said request from the recipient broker/server to deliver the selected information content object file by delivering the selected information content object file, and

wherein the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server is adapted for (e) delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the coupled remote information server.

20. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for responding to receipt of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file, when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers coupled to said recipient broker/server, by requesting the remote information server to the which said recipient broker/server is coupled to deliver the selected information content object file to the selected local information server;

and

wherein the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server is coupled is adapted for responding to said request from said recipient broker/server to deliver the selected information content object file by delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in said coupled remote information server.

21. The system as defined in claim 20, wherein the local information servers are respectively adapted for providing to the broker/server coupled thereto data indicating characteristics of the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers, and

wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for (f) recording the file-characteristic-indicating data provided by the local information servers to which said recipient broker/server is coupled, and (g) selecting the local information server to which said selected information content object file is delivered from said first object database in the remote information server coupled to said recipient broker/server in accordance with the recorded file-characteristic-indicating data so as to cause information content object files having a common characteristic to be cached in the same local information server.

22. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for providing to the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server is coupled data indicating when messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server, and

wherein the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server and the selected local information server are coupled is adapted for (f) processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server, and (g) delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server in accordance with said determined pattern.

23. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server is adapted for delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the coupled remote information server at a predetermined time.

24. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for responding to receipt of the request for delivery of a first said selected information content object file when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers coupled to said recipient broker/server by requesting the remote information server to the which said recipient broker/server is coupled to deliver the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server;

wherein the remote information server to the which said recipient broker/server is coupled is adapted for (f) responding to said request from said recipient broker/server to deliver the first said selected information content object file by delivering the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database(s) in said coupled remote information server;

wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for (g) providing to the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server is coupled data indicating when messages pertaining to a second said selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server;

wherein the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server and the selected local information server are coupled is adapted for (h) processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the second said selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server, and (i) delivering the second said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server in accordance with said determined pattern; and

wherein the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server is adapted for (j) delivering a third said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the coupled remote information server at a predetermined time.

25. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for responding to receipt of the request for delivery of a first said selected information content object file when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers coupled to said recipient broker/server by requesting the remote information server to the which said recipient broker/server is coupled to deliver the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server;

wherein the remote information server to the which said recipient broker/server is coupled is adapted for (f) responding to said request from said recipient broker/server to deliver the first said selected information content object file by delivering the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database(s) in said coupled remote information server;

wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for (g) providing to the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server is coupled data indicating when messages pertaining to a second said selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server; and

wherein the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server and the selected local information server are coupled is adapted for (h) processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the second said selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server, and (i) delivering the second said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server in accordance with said determined pattern.

26. The system according to claim 19, wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for responding to receipt of the request for delivery of a first said selected information content object file when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers coupled to said recipient broker/server by requesting the remote information server to the which said recipient broker/server is coupled to deliver the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server;

wherein the remote information server to the which said recipient broker/server is coupled is adapted for (f) responding to said request from said recipient broker/server to deliver the first said selected information content object file by delivering the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database(s) in said coupled remote information server; and

wherein the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server is adapted for (g) delivering a second said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the coupled remote information server at a predetermined time.

27. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for providing to the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server is coupled data indicating when messages pertaining to a first said selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server;

wherein the remote information server to which said recipient broker/server and the selected local information server are coupled is adapted for (f) processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the first said selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server, and (g) delivering the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server in accordance with said determined pattern; and

wherein the remote information server coupled to the selected local information server is adapted for (h) delivering a second said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in the coupled remote information server at a predetermined time.

28. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the local information servers are respectively adapted for providing to the broker/server coupled thereto data identifying the information content object files cached in the respective local information server;

and

wherein said broker/servers are respectively adapted for (f) recording the file-identifying data provided by the local information servers to which the broker/server is coupled, and (g) selecting the local information server from which the requested selected information content object file is delivered in accordance with the stored file-identifying data.

29. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the local information servers of at least one said set of local information servers are respectively adapted for (f) recording data indicating when the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file, (g) processing the recorded file-delivery-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file, (h) communicating to another local information server of said at least one said set of local information servers a request that said other local information server also cache the selected information content object file when it is determined that the frequency at which the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file is greater than a given frequency, and (i) responding as said other local information server to said cache request by providing to the remote information server to which the local information server is coupled a further request that said coupled remote information server deliver the selected information content object file to said other local information server;

and

wherein said coupled remote information server is adapted for (j) responding to said further request by delivering the selected information content object file to said other local information server.

30. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the local information servers of at least one said set of local information servers are respectively adapted for (f) recording data indicating when the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file, (g) processing the recorded file-delivery-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file, and (h) deleting the selected information content object file from the respective local information server when it is determined that the frequency at which the local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file is less than a given frequency.

31. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one of the broker/servers is adapted for (f) processing information-content-object-file-delivery requests received from user terminal(s) to establish a priority classification for delivery of the requested selected information content object files to the user terminal(s);

and (g) providing said established priority classification to the selected local information server(s); and

wherein the local information servers coupled to the at least one broker/server are respectively adapted for (h) delivering the selected information content object files in accordance with the established priority classification.

32. A broker/server for use in a system for governing delivery of files from object databases, wherein said system includes a remote information server containing at least one set of object databases, with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database(s) of said set;

and a set of local information servers respectively coupled to the remote information server and adapted for receiving delivery of information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database(s) in the remote information server and for caching the delivered information content object files, the broker/server comprising;

means for receiving delivery of the second object database(s) of context information from the remote information server;

means for maintaining the delivered second object database(s) of context information;

means for responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components by delivering the selected context information object file from said second object database maintained in the broker/server;

means for responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by requesting a selected one of the local information servers to deliver the selected information content object file;

means for responding to receipt of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file, when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers, by requesting the remote information server to deliver the selected information content object file to a selected one of the local information servers;

means for recording characteristics of the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers; and

means for selecting the local information server to which said selected information content object file is delivered from said first object database in the remote information server in accordance with the recorded file-characteristic-indicating data so as to cause information content object files having a common characteristic to be cached in the same local information server.

33. A broker/server for use in a system for governing delivery of files from object databases, wherein said system includes a remote information server containing at least one set of object databases, with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database(s) of said set;

and a set of local information servers respectively coupled to the remote information server and adapted for receiving delivery of information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database(s) in the remote information server and for caching the delivered information content object files, the broker/server comprising;

means for receiving delivery of the second object database(s) of context information from the remote information server;

means for maintaining the delivered second object database(s) of context information;

means for responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components by delivering the selected context information object file from said second object database maintained in the broker/server;

means for responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by requesting a selected one of the local information servers to deliver the selected information content object file;

means for recording data identifying the information content object files cached in the respective local information server; and

means for selecting the local information server from which the requested selected information content object file is delivered in accordance with the stored file-identifying data.

34. A broker/server for use in a system for governing delivery of files from object databases, wherein said system includes a remote information server containing at least one set of object databases, with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database(s) of said set;

and a set of local information servers respectively coupled to the remote information server and adapted for receiving delivery of information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database(s) in the remote information server and for caching the delivered information content object files, the broker/server comprising;

means for receiving delivery of the second object database(s) of context information from the remote information server;

means for maintaining the delivered second object database(s) of context information;

means for responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components by delivering the selected context information object file from said second object database maintained in the broker/server;

means for responding to receipt of a request for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by requesting a selected one of the local information servers to deliver the selected information content object file;

means for processing information-content-object-file-delivery requests received from user terminal(s) to establish a priority classification for delivery of the requested selected information content object files to the user terminal(s); and

means for providing said established priority classification to the selected local information server(s).

35. A remote information server for use in a system for governing delivery of files from object databases, wherein the system includes a set of local information servers and a broker/server that is responsive to requests for delivery of selected files, the remote information server comprising:

memory means containing at least one set of object databases, with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set;

means for delivering information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component to from the first object database(s) to the respective selected local information servers;

means for delivering the second object database(s) to the broker/server;

means for responding to a request from the broker/server to deliver a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component to a selected one of the local information servers by delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database; and

means for delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database.

36. The remote information server as defined in claim 35, further comprising:

means for processing data indicating when messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received,

wherein the means for delivering the selected information content object file delivers the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in accordance with said determined pattern.

37. The remote information server according to claim 35, wherein the means for delivering the selected information content object file delivers the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database at a predetermined time.

38. The remote information server according to claim 35, further comprising:

means for processing data indicating when messages pertaining to a first said selected information content object file are received to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the first said selected information content object file are received by said recipient broker/server; and

means for delivering the first said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from said first object database in accordance with said determined pattern; and

means for delivering a second said selected information content object file to from said first object database to the selected local information server at a predetermined time.

39. A local information server for use in a system for governing delivery of files from object databases, wherein said system includes a remote information server containing at least one set of object databases, with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set;

and a broker/server that is responsive to requests for delivery of selected files, the local information server comprising;

means for receiving from the remote information server delivery of only information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database and for caching the delivered information content object files;

means for responding to a request from the broker/server to deliver a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by delivering the selected information content object file; and

means for providing data to the broker/server.

40. The local information server as defined in claim 39, wherein the data provided by the means for providing indicates characteristics of the information content object files cached in the local information server.

41. The local information server as defined in claim 39, wherein the data provided by the means for providing identifies the information content object files cached in the local information server.

42. The local information server as defined in claim 39, further comprising means for delivering a selected information content object file in accordance with an established priority classification.

43. The local information server as defined in claim 39, further comprising:

means for recording data indicating when the local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file;

means for processing the recorded file-delivery-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which the local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file;

means for communicating to another local information server a request that said other local information server also cache the selected information content object file when it is determined that the frequency at which the local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file is greater than a given frequency; and

means for responding as said other local information server to said cache request by providing to the remote information server a request that the remote information server deliver the selected information content object file to said other local information server.

44. The local information server as defined in claim 39, further comprising:

means for recording data indicating when the local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file;

means for processing the recorded file-delivery-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which the local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file; and

means for deleting the selected information content object file from the local information server when it is determined that the frequency at which the local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file is less than a given frequency.

45. A method of governing delivery of files from a remote information server that contains a set of object databases that includes a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) delivering an information content object file containing at least one information content component from the first object database in the remote information server to a selected local information server included in a set of local information servers;

(b) caching the delivered information content object file in a selected local information server;

(c) delivering a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components from the second object database; and

(d) responding to a request from a user terminal for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by delivering the selected information content object file from the selected local information server,

wherein step (a) comprises the step of;

(e) delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server.

46. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein when upon receipt of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file, the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers, step (a) comprises the step of:

responding to said request by delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server.

47. The method as defined in claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

(f) recording data indicating characteristics of the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers; and

(g) selecting the local information server to which said selected information content object file is delivered from the first object database in the remote information server in accordance with the recorded file-characteristic-indicating data so as to cause information content object files having a common characteristic to be cached in the same local information server.

48. The method as defined in claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

(f) providing data indicating when messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received from a user terminal; and

(g) processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received from a user terminal;

wherein step (a) comprises the step of;

(h) delivering the selected information server from the file selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server in accordance with said determined pattern.

49. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein step (a) comprises the step of:

delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server at a predetermined time.

50. The method as defined in claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

(f) recording data identifying the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers; and

(g) selecting the local information server from which the requested selected information content object file is delivered in accordance with the recorded file-identifying data.

51. The method as defined in claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

(f) recording data indicating when requests for delivery of selected information content object files are received by the selected local information server; and

(g) processing the recorded file-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which requests for delivery of individual selected information content object files are received by the selected local information server;

wherein step (a) comprises the step of;

(h) delivering a given said selected information content object file to another local information server when it is determined that the frequency at which requests for delivery of the given selected information content object file are received by the selected local information server is greater than a given frequency.

52. The method as defined in claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

(f) recording data indicating when requests for delivery of selected information content object files are received by the selected local information server;

(g) processing the recorded file-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which requests for delivery of the individual selected information content object file are received by the selected local information server; and

(h) causing a given said selected information content object file to be deleted from the selected local information server when it is determined that the frequency at which requests for delivery of the given selected information content object file are received by the selected local information server is less than a given frequency.

53. The method as defined in claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

(f) processing information-content-object-file-delivery requests received from user terminal(s) to establish a priority classification for delivery of the requested selected information content object file to the user terminal(s);

wherein step (d) comprises the step of;

(g) delivering the selected information content object file in accordance with the established priority classification.

54. A method of governing delivery of files from a remote information server that contains a set of object databases that includes a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) delivering information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database in the remote information server to respective local information servers of a set of local information servers;

(b) caching the delivered information content object files in the respective local information servers;

(c) delivering the second object database(s) of context information to a broker/server that is coupled to the set of local information servers;

(d) maintaining the delivered second object database(s) of context information in the broker/server;

(e) responding to receipt by the broker/server of a request for delivery of a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components by delivering the selected context information object file from said second object database maintained in the broker/server; and

(f) responding to receipt by the broker/server of a request for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by delivering the selected information content object file from a selected said local information server,

wherein step (a) comprises the step of;

(g) delivering said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server.

55. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising the step of:

(h) responding to said receipt by the broker/server of the request for delivery of the selected information content object file, when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers, by further requesting the remote information server to deliver the selected information content object file to the selected local information server;

wherein step (a) comprises the step of;

delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server in response to said further request.

56. The method as defined in claim 55, further comprising the steps of:

(j) providing to the broker/server data indicating characteristics of the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers;

(k) recording the file-characteristic-indicating data provided by the local information servers; and

(l) selecting the local information server to which said selected information content object file is delivered from the first object database in the remote information server in accordance with the recorded file-characteristic-indicating data so as to cause information content object files having a common characteristic to be cached in the same local information server.

57. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising the steps of:

(h) providing to the remote information server data indicating when messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received by the broker/server; and

(i) processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which said messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received by the broker/server;

wherein step (a) comprises the step of;

delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server in accordance with said determined pattern.

58. The method as defined in claim 54, wherein step (a) comprises the step of:

delivering said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server at a predetermined time.

59. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising the steps of:

(h) providing to the broker/server data identifying the information content object files cached in the respective local information servers;

(i) recording the file-identifying data provided by the local information servers; and

(j) selecting the local information server from which the requested selected information content object file is delivered in accordance with the stored file-identifying data.

60. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising the steps of:

(h) recording data indicating when a respective said local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file;

(i) processing the recorded file-delivery-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file;

(j) communicating to another local information server of said set of local information servers a request that said other local information server also cache the selected information content object file when it is determined that the frequency at which the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file is greater than a given frequency;

(k) responding as said other local information server to said cache request by providing to the remote information server a further request that the remote information server deliver the selected information content object file to said other local information server; and

(l) responding to said further request by delivering the selected information content object file to said other local information server.

61. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising the steps of:

(h) recording data indicating when a respective said local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file;

(i) processing the recorded file-delivery-request-indication data to determine the frequency at which the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file;

(j) deleting the selected information content object file from the respective local information server when it is determined that the frequency at which the respective local information server is requested to deliver the selected information content object file is less than a given frequency.

62. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising the steps of:

(h) processing information-content-object-file-delivery requests received from user terminal(s) to establish a priority classification for said delivery of said requested information content object files to the user terminals; and

(i) providing said established priority classification to the local information server;

wherein step (f) comprises the step of;

(j) delivering the selected information content object file in accordance with the established priority classification.

63. A method of governing delivery of files from object databases to a user terminal, comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining in a remote information server at least one set of object databases, with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set;

(b) delivering information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database in the remote information server to respective local information servers of a set of local information servers;

(c) caching the delivered information content object files in the respective local information servers;

(d) delivering the second object database(s) of context information from the remote information server to a broker/server that is coupled to the set of local information servers;

(e) maintaining the delivered second object database(s) of context information in the broker/server;

(f) responding to receipt by the broker/server of a request from a user terminal for delivery of a selected context information object file containing context information pertaining to the linkages of a selected category of information content components by delivering the selected context information object file to the user terminal from said second object database maintained in the broker/server;

(g) responding to receipt by the broker/server of a request from a user terminal for delivery of a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by delivering the selected information content object file to the user terminal from a selected said local information server; and

(h) delivering said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server.

64. The method as defined in claim 63, further comprising the steps of:

(i) responding to said receipt by the broker/server of the request for delivery to the user terminal of the selected information content object file, when the selected information content object file is not cached in any of the local information servers, by further requesting the remote information server to deliver the selected information content object file to the selected local information server; and

(j) responding to said further request to deliver the selected information content object file by delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server.

65. The method as defined in claim 63, further comprising the steps of:

(i) providing to the remote information server data indicating when messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received from a user terminal by the broker/server;

(j) processing the provided when-received-indication data to determine a pattern in which messages pertaining to the selected information content object file are received from a user terminal by the broker/server; and

(k) delivering the selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server in accordance with said determined pattern.

66. The method as defined in claim 63, further comprising the step of:

(i) delivering said selected information content object file to the selected local information server from the first object database in the remote information server at a predetermined time.

67. In a local information server for use in a system for governing delivery of files from object databases, wherein said system includes a remote information server containing at least one set of object databases, with each set including a first object database containing information content components and a separate second object database containing context information pertaining to linkages between the information content components of the first object database of said set;

and a broker/server that is responsive to requests for delivery of selected files, a method comprising the steps of;

receiving from the remote information server delivery of only information content object files respectively containing at least one information content component from the first object database and for caching the delivered information content object files;

responding to a request from the broker/server to deliver a selected information content object file containing at least one selected information content component by delivering the selected information content object file; and

providing data to the broker/server.