Cache based enhancement to optimization protocol

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for improving the user experience when accessing web pages containing embedded objects over a network. In one embodiment, information regarding the contents of a locally accessible cache is added to a request directed to a web server. The information is used to control certain aspects of a pre-fetch process that is designed to reduce network latency affects and improve network resource utilization, thereby improving a user's experience. The cache contents information may be provided to an intermediate server via a modification to an existing request-response protocol, with the information being encoded or compressed if desired to reduce data transport requirements. The information is used by the intermediate server to determine whether to request an embedded object referenced in the requested resource or web page, and to determine if a browser having access to the cache will request the object or access the object from the local cache.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a response to a request for a resource from an application, comprising:
 obtaining, at a network node, information regarding the contents of a storage medium accessible by the application;   receiving a response to the request at the network node;   processing the response to identify one or more embedded objects referenced in the response;   identifying one or more embedded objects referenced in the response that are not contained in the storage medium;   requesting, without further user intervention, the one or more objects referenced in the response that are not contained in the storage medium;   receiving the one or more objects referenced in the response that are not contained in the storage medium; and   providing access to the received one or more objects.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining information regarding the contents of a storage medium comprises receiving the information as a part of the request from the application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the information as a part of the request from the application comprises receiving the information as a modification to a protocol used to control communication of the request. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtained information is regarding the contents of the storage medium that are relevant to responding to the request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application is a browser. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 providing the received one or more objects to another network element; and   providing access to the received one or more objects from the another network element.   
     
     
         7 . A method of processing a request for a resource by an application, comprising:
 determining contents of a storage medium accessible by the application;   incorporating information regarding the contents of the storage medium into the request;   receiving a response to the request, wherein the response includes references to a plurality of embedded objects, the embedded objects including an object contained in the storage medium and an object not contained in the storage medium; and   receiving the object not contained in the storage medium for access by the application.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining contents of a storage medium accessible by the application comprises determining contents of the storage medium relevant to responding to the request. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein incorporating information regarding the contents of the storage medium into the request comprises modifying an element of a protocol used to transport the request, the request thereby including the information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the application is a browser. 
     
     
         11 . A client device, comprising:
 a processor;   a non-transitory storage with computer readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to implement a process, the process including:   determining a contents of a storage medium accessible by an application, the application configured to form a request for a resource;   including information regarding the contents of the storage medium in the request for the resource, thereby creating a modified request;   communicating the modified request to a network element;   receiving a response to the request, the response including references to a plurality of embedded objects, the embedded objects including an object contained in the storage medium and an object not contained in the storage medium; and   receiving the object not contained in the storage medium for access by the application.   
     
     
         12 . A network element, comprising:
 a processor; and   
       a non-transitory storage with computer readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to implement a process, the process including: 
       receiving a request from an application, the request including information regarding contents of a storage medium accessible by the application; 
       storing the information regarding the contents of the storage medium; 
       forwarding the request to a network node; 
       receiving a response to the request from the network node; 
       processing the response to identify one or more embedded objects referenced in the response; 
       identifying one or more embedded objects referenced in the response that are not contained in the storage medium 
       requesting, without further user intervention, the one or more objects referenced in the response that are not contained in the storage medium; and 
       receiving the one or more objects referenced in the response that are not contained in the storage medium. 
     
     
         13 . The network element of  claim 12 , wherein the request is generated by a browser. 
     
     
         14 . The network element of  claim 12 , wherein the information regarding the contents of the storage medium comprises information regarding the contents that is relevant to responding to the request.