Prediction-based caching system

Abstract

Example embodiments provide a prediction-based caching system. The caching system receives a request for current requested information from a client device. The caching system causes retrieval of the current requested information from one of a cache or a source. The caching system then transmits the current requested information to the client device. The caching system also determines a predicted request for information. The caching system retrieves predicted results based on the predicted request from the source, and stores the predicted results in a cache for faster retrieval.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, from a client device, a request for current requested information;   causing retrieval of the current requested information from a cache or a source for the current requested information based on the request;   transmitting, using a hardware processor, the current requested information to the client device;   determining a predicted request associated with the request for the current requested information;   retrieving, from the source, predicted results based on the predicted request; and   storing the predicted results in the cache, wherein the predicted results are stored in the cache for a predetermined period of time and are shared among different users at different user devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing retrieval of the current requested information from the cache or the source comprises simultaneously searching both the cache and the source, and wherein transmitting the current requested information comprises transmitting the current requested information from whichever of the cache or the source returns the current requested information first. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing retrieval of the current requested information from the cache or the source comprises:
 searching the cache first; and   subsequently searching the source when the current requested information is not found in the cache.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted request is determined based on the request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted request is determined based on the current requested information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request includes the predicted request. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 storing the current requested information in the cache.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, from a client device, a request for current requested information;   causing retrieval of the current requested information from a cache or a source for the current requested information based on the request, wherein the cache is searched first and the source for the current requested information is subsequently searched when the current requested information is not found in the cache;   transmitting, using a hardware processor, the current requested information to the client device;   determining a predicted request associated with the request for the current requested information;   retrieving predicted results, from the source, based on the predicted request; and   storing the predicted results in the cache, wherein the predicted results are stored in the cache for a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the predicted request is determined based on the request. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the predicted request is determined based on the current requested information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the request includes the predicted request. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the current requested information comprises directory information and the predicted results comprise information for a sub-directory or sub-file. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the current requested information comprises a page of information and the predicted results comprise one or more further pages of information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the current requested information comprises a portion of a game and the predicted results comprise one or more adjoining portions or levels of the game. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the current requested information comprises a map of an area and the predicted results comprises maps of sub-portions of the area. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, from a client device, a request for current requested information;   causing retrieval of the current requested information from a cache or a source for the current requested information based on the request, wherein the cache is searched first and the source for the current requested information is subsequently searched when the current requested information is not found in the cache;   transmitting, using a hardware processor, the current requested information to the client device;   determining a predicted request associated with the request for the current requested information;   retrieving predicted results, from the source, based on the predicted request; and   storing the predicted results in the cache, wherein the predicted results stored in the cache are shared among different users at different user devices.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predicted request is determined based on the request. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predicted request is determined based on the current requested information. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the request includes the predicted request. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predicated results in the cache are shared among users within a particular group of users.