Partial file caching and read range resume system and method
US6199107A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/9574
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for caching partial downloads of network content and using that cached partial content to satisfy requests for content from client applications, in a manner that is invisible to the application. A network interface receives a request for content corresponding to cached partial content, determines what portion is cached and what portion is missing, and requests from the server only the missing range of content. When the missing content is received in a partial range response, it is merged with the cached content to provide the full content requested. The interface further transforms the range response to a response that the application is expecting and is capable of handling. Benefits include reduced client latency, reduced server load and improved network utilization. In an alternate enhancement, the interface uses pointers to track client requests for content with the amount of content received and cached for that content, to give the application the illusion of having random access to the content.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.