CZ2000260A3 - Internet buffering system - Google Patents

Abstract

The way the system server is used to balance the flow Internet content. Set geographically spaced balancing norths (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d) serves different geographic regions and information acquired in related to one of the balancing servets (140) are essentially distributed to all other balancing servers (14Q).

Description

Internet balancing system

Technical field

The invention relates to a method, system and caching of information content of the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the last few years, the Internet has evolved into the fastest growing means of communication and is expected to become the main information transfer system in the future. The Internet is becoming increasingly popular and the number of its users is growing at a dizzying pace. Everyone can access any information on the network - text, images, audio or video - that any network user can download from anywhere in the world. This can be attributed to the incredible popularity of the Internet and its most widely used form - the World Wide Web.

However, the popularity of the Internet, and in particular the use of the Internet web application, places huge demands on network capacity. The information flow on the Internet is doubling every three months, and there are no signs that this rate should slow down. Of course, eventually such exponential growth must slow down, but it seems that we still have a long way to go.

Currently, only a small number of Personal Computers (PCs) have Internet access. It is assumed that most of those who have already invested or will invest in a PC will eventually want to connect to the Internet. Furthermore, communication speeds between users and the Internet infrastructure are increasing rapidly. New data transmission technologies such as ISDN, cable TV modems and xDSL are emerging.

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Home electronics manufacturers come with cheap devices to access the Internet using ordinary television sets.

These and other factors contribute to the increasing difficulty 5 in accessing information on the Internet, as the system is generally overloaded. In many parts of the world, the main problem is the available bandwidth. Also, the transmission of information between the US and Europe is limited by the transmission capacity of the transatlantic link. The current transmission capacity is simply insufficient to meet the ever-increasing demand for the Internet.

There are basically two conventional solutions to this problem. The first is to increase the bandwidth and switching capacity. This is happening, but at the expense of huge costs and the need to overcome significant technical problems.

The second option is to use caching techniques. Basically, balancing involves monitoring the flow of the Internet and keeping the most frequently requested Web files in a place that is closer to the user than the original files. This, of course, requires storing a local copy of the Web page in question. For example, a copy of the US CNN homepage may be temporarily cached in the European proxy server, thereby allowing European users to access the CNN homepage without burdening the transatlantic link. The benefits are faster access to information for users and reduced network load. The overall information content of the Web is unlikely to be measurable, but the vast majority of the flow that is actually monitored is a relatively small subset of this information. A 10-20 GB (Gigabyte) cache will reduce (spring 1997), depending on the size and homogeneity of the user community, the information flow within the community by 30-50%.

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However, in spite of the level of balancing techniques achieved, in some parts of the world, such as South and Eastern Europe, South America, India and the Far East, the available bandwidth of existing communication systems is so small that the desired use of the Internet cannot be ensured by existing means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a balancing solution that shortens Internet access times and allows for a further significant increase in the number of users and the Internet-transmitted information stream, especially in low-bandwidth areas.

According to the invention, said object is achieved by a method, system and server for balancing Internet content information according to the appended claims.

The invention is based on the discovery that a linguistically and culturally homogeneous geographic region often differs in both shape and size from an economically and technically optimal region that should serve a single cache server. Thus, such an area is served by a plurality of geographically spaced servers. Furthermore, the invention is based on the assumption that users from such a linguistically and culturally homogeneous geographical area will also have homogeneous preferences regarding the information pages visited. Thus, information stored based on user requests in one of the cache servers should be passed to other servers in the area, as it can be assumed that if one user is interested in specific information, this information will be of interest to other users from the same language and culturally homogeneous areas. The larger the user community, the greater the likelihood that someone will be interested in one of the files already copied.

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According to the invention, a plurality of geo-caching servers, each serving a separate geographic region but having a common denominator, for example, that together serve a culturally and / or linguistically defined group of users or region, is updated with substantially the same information whenever one of these caching servers searches for information based on the user's request.

Cultural and linguistic homogeneity can be defined by demarcating the area of settlement by the nation, demarcating areas of use of a particular language, demarcating a particular religion, demarcating the degree of technological maturity, demarcating an economic unit, or combinations thereof, etc.

deployed

Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers is located in a linguistically and culturally defined global geographic region or geographically defined community. Further, each of the cache servers preferably serves a respective local region within a geographical area or community.

For example, the German-speaking parts of Germany, Austria,

Switzerland and Italy can be considered a culturally and linguistically homogeneous global area. Then, a plurality of cache servers that will operate in accordance with the invention can be deployed in this area. Of this set of servers that cover the global region defined above, one (or more) servers may serve the first region, covering, for example, the northern part of Germany, the second (or more) servers serving the second region, covering the eastern part of Germany, the third (or more) the server can serve the third region, which covers the central part of Germany, the fourth (or more) server can φ φ · φ · φ · φφ φφ »

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serve the fourth region, which covers Switzerland and the northern part of Italy, and finally the fifth server can serve the fifth region, including Austria.

Note that the defined geographical area of the invention may not be a homogeneous, continuous area bounded by a closed boundary, but may also be a plurality of geographically separated subregions that together define the area of the invention.

According to the inventor's assessment, in some parts of the world, such as India and South America, the bandwidth capacity of telecommunications networks is so low that it is in fact more convenient to send a particular packet of information to all cache servers within a defined global area already on demand from a single user, rather than letting another user search the network a second time to get the same information. The rules for determining whether and when to perform distributed balancing can be defined in many different ways based on a particular environment and are discussed in more detail below.

The distribution of information to a plurality of cache servers according to the invention can be performed in many different ways. One way is to use the Internet itself. However, this would place even greater demands on network transmission capacity. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the information to the plurality of cache servers is distributed via universal data communication, which moreover preferably takes place over dedicated data channels separate from Internet channels.

In a preferred embodiment, information to the plurality of cache servers is distributed over a satellite link. Each server preferably has access to an uplink for

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sending information, and all servers receive an incoming link that brings information sent from one of the servers. The hardware and software to handle such distribution may be appropriate to the cache server itself, or may be provided, for example, by an Internet service provider or a satellite communications link provider. Similarly, the information flow management and decision-making software within the system can, as is obvious to those skilled in the art, be located in a cache server, an ISP or any other convenient location. If a satellite system is used, the satellite link can also be used to transmit and forward requests to other parts of the world, for example from Europe to the US and vice versa.

In an alternative embodiment, all cache servers in the system are connected via data channels to the central controller. For example, the central control unit may control whether to copy information, how to distribute it, and so on.

The distributed caching technique of the invention may be adapted to various criteria determining what to distribute and what not depending on, for example, community size, cache server capacity, available network communication capacity, caching system provider goals, etc. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention which refer to a particular communication format or application corresponding to the type of information service provided by the local storage means. For example, only so-called TCP queries to the WWW port. In another example, the balancing provider may choose to copy only from specific addresses (such as .org or .com addresses), or only after a certain number of requests (such as three independent requests), and so on.

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The processing means required to make such decisions may be part of each of the cache servers, the aforementioned central control unit, an ISP device or other device operating in conjunction with the cache servers.

Also, requirements regarding an information content provider located in a region served by one of the cache servers of a plurality of cache servers may be handled in different ways in various embodiments of the invention.

In the first two embodiments of the invention, it is assumed that the local request for information from the end user to the ISP is of local importance only. Thereafter, information (a) is never copied because the local user should always have easy access to the local content provider; (b) is stored only in the local cache server and is not distributed by. entire set of geographically located cache servers, since the request is likely to have only local significance. In this context, the attribute is local to the characteristics of one of the regions.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the response to a request for information from an end user to information content providers both located in the same region need not be processed by the cache server serving that region, but the information obtained should be distributed to all others. on the system, as the local user will always have easy access to the local information content provider (hence there is no need for local caching), but the user outside the region will not be that easy (hence, there is a need for caching outside the region).

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In a further embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that the cache server capacity is sufficient to handle all requests, and therefore there is no need to treat information relating to local Internet content providers differently than others. Subsequently, copying the information on one system server results in distributing the same information to all cache servers in the system.

In another embodiment of the invention, depending on the choice of decision-making rules within the system, there is a list of Internet content content providers that are omitted from equalization. Then, in each cache server, the incoming information request is checked against the list for whether or not to equalize.

Depending on the desired level of service, the copied information will only be stored in cache servers for a certain amount of time. For example, buffers can work first-in-first-out. According to another example, certain information may be provided with an update request that specifies the maximum amount of time that the copied information can be used, respectively. for which it is considered current. Of course, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in this and other aspects the invention may be combined with various other types of conventional alignment techniques.

Further, each of the cache servers may form a plurality of sub-servers connected, preferably by means of a high-speed switch means, to a cache manager that controls the operation of the server. Further, the number of cache servers in the system is not limited. Each server can also be used by more than one Internet service provider.

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If one of the cache servers fails, it can be quickly bypassed within the system and at least some services can be restored while the cache server is repaired or replaced. The balancing functions can be provided within the system from another server in another region. An advantage of the invention is that the auxiliary cache server maintains the same content as the shutdown server, thus ensuring that the stored information is up to date for the end users of the shutdown server region.

Although the invention has been described in connection with an Internet communication system, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention can be used in other similar types of global information communication systems that may occur in the future and which may suffer similar types of communication problems. The invention is not limited to Internet applications.

Further, although the invention has been described in particular in connection with the application of a worldwide web, it is understood that it can be equally applicable to other types of network applications.

Overview of pictures

Other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent. from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an Internet buffer system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the configuration of the cache server that forms part of the system of Fig. 1;

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Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a cache server arrangement;

alternative

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of another 5 alternative arrangement of the cache server;

In FIG. 5 evolutionary diagram activities carried out balancing server according to FIG. 4; 10. FIG. 6 Yippee evolutionary diagram activities carried out balancing server according to FIG. 3;

Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an Internet buffer system according to the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an Internet equalization system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of an Internet balancing system according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. The linguistically and / or culturally defined region 200 comprises four geographical regions A, B, C and D. For example, the region 200 may be the British Isles and regions A, B, C and D may be

Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Northern England and Southern England.

In each of the regions A, B, C and D, there is at least one Internet service provider 110a, 110b, 110c and HOd that provides Internet access 10QQ in that region.

Each of the Internet service providers 110a, 110b, 110c and HOd provides an Internet connection to a number of end users 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d and a number of Information Content providers 130a, 130b, 130c and 130d. It is understood that although the end user 120 and the information provider 130 are

1 as a separate entity, the end user may actually be the content provider at the same time.

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Each service provider is connected to at least one Internet cache server 140a, 140b, 14Qc and 140d. Each cache server 140 provides cache functions for all end users 120 within the region. Each cache server 140a, 140b, 140c, and 140d is connected to a satellite device 150a, 150b, 150c, and 150d, and can thus transmit information via satellite 160 to all other cache servers within the region 200.

We will now describe the operation of the system of FIG. 1. When, for example, service provider 110a in region A receives a request from user 120a for information provided by content provider 13Qe located in region E, which in this case lies outside region 200 (e.g. America), the service provider 110a first checks the associated cache server 14a to see if it stores an updated copy of the requested information. If so, the requested information is sent to the end user from the cache server. However, if a copy of the requested information is not available in the cache server 140a, the Internet Service Provider 110a forwards the request to the default content provider 130e over the Internet 100. After the content provider 130e returns the requested information over the Internet 100, the service provider 110a delivers the information to the end user and at the same time updates the cache server 140a with the received information. The update procedure includes sending updated information via satellite device 150a and satellite 160 to other cache servers 140b, 140c and

14Qd in other regions B, C and D and thus update all system servers with the same information. After the upgrade, none of the end users 120 in the area 200 is needed anymore

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access to the original content provider 130e over the Internet as it can use copies stored locally in the respective cache server. If one of the servers is full before the update, the information stored in it for the longest time (since the last request by the end user) is deleted from the server. Each server can use several methods to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information stored in it, ie, reliable copies of the original pages.

In the following figures, the same numerical designations are used to simplify and illustrate elements having the same functions as those described in connection with FIG. The balancing server that is part of the system of FIG. 1 is further described with reference to FIG. 2. Three terminals or stations

120 end users are connected to the multiplexing unit

17Q, which may be a multi-user modem or LAN router, depending on the type of user system. The multiplexing unit 170 is coupled to the interceptor 110 through which the service provider has access to the Internet 100.

The multiplexing unit 170 multiplexes the communication to and from the user terminals 120.

If the user 120 wishes to obtain information provided, for example, in the form of WWW home pages by an ISP (not shown) whose original publication location is somewhere on the Internet 100, he sends an information request via the multiplexing unit 170 to the ISP 110, namely HTTP request to the WWW port. From the service provider 110, the request is routed over the Internet 100 to the content provider. The content provider responds to the request and sends the requested information via the Internet 100 and via the service provider 110 back to the user 120.

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However, in the arrangement of FIG. 2, the information request from the user 120 is first evaluated by the service provider with the interceptor 110. The interceptor determines whether the requested information, such as the information provided by the content provider, exists as a copy or the like in the local cache server 140 arranged to communicate directly with the interceptor 110. If a copy or similar form of the requested information is available in the local server 140, the request from the user is redirected directly to the server 140, which then returns the requested information to the user. In this case, the information is already available on all cache servers within the area 200 of FIG. 1 and there is no need to redistribute it.

However, if interceptor 110 detects that a copy or other form of information of interest does not exist on the local cache server 140, it sends an information request from the user 120 over the Internet 100, as is normally the case for Internet communications. Interceptor 110 then monitors the response

Internet 100 to user 120 and upon receiving the requested information, the cache server 140 updates it.

The storage of new or updated information in cache server 140 is, according to the invention, accompanied by the distribution of the new or updated information to other cache servers of the same region 200 of Figure 1. This distribution is triggered, for example, by either cache server 140 or interceptor 110 at the service provider. link to satellite 160, which passes the information to all cache servers in the area. Similarly, the cache server 140 receives new or updated information from another cache server in the area through an incoming link from the satellite 160. * ft ft * ft ftft ·· ft *

Note that the interceptor 110 in this example only captures communications of a certain type. For example, it only captures end-user information requests from the Web. Other types of communication services, such as e-mail and others, are passed through interceptor 110 unaffected.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative arrangement of the cache server. The arrangement of FIG. 3 differs from that of FIG. 2 only in that the service provider interceptor 110 is connected not only to the cache server 140 but also to the cache memory 112. Compared to the cache server 140 of the invention whose storage capacity is several hundred GB, cache 112 has a capacity much smaller, for example only about one GB. In buffer 112, substantially all information passing through the interceptor 110 is stored, but only for a relatively short time.

A cache consisting of memory areas 112 and a lookup table 111, which serves to record what information is currently stored in the memory area, serves as the interceptor working memory 110. Thus, when the interceptor 110 records a request for information from the user 120 , first checks its cache 111, 112 for the required information. The buffer server 140 is then contacted only if the requested information cannot be found in cache 112. The operation of the arrangement of FIG. 3 further monitors the operation of the above-described arrangement of FIG. 2, except that all information related to each request for information from the user 120 is temporarily stored in cache 112, both information received from the Internet 100 and information received from the cache server 140. However, the cache server 140 is updated only when new information is received from the Internet 100.

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In addition, the buffer 112 can use information of a type other than the information stored in the cache server 140. For example, in addition to keeping web information the same as the cache server 140, information corresponding to other types of queries may be stored in cache 112. Also, the information stored in buffer 112 is not automatically distributed! to other cache servers / memories in the area.

Another alternative embodiment of the cache server arrangement is shown in FIG. 4. In this arrangement, the service provider 110 forwards all Web requests to the cache server 140, which then either responds to the requests if the requested information is already stored therein or handles retrieving this information from Internet 100, either via satellite 100 or through another Internet connection 141 to the Internet. Upon receiving the requested information, the cache server 140 updates itself, at its own discretion, updates the other memories via satellite 160, and forwards the information via the service provider 110 to the end user 120.

Note that in the arrangement of FIG. 4, the service provider 110 can still handle other types of services, such as e-mail and others, directly without forwarding them through the cache server.

An example of the operations performed by the cache server 140 of FIG. 4 will now be described in the flowchart of FIG. 5. After activation in step S1, the cache server from the end user receives in S2 an information request regarding a particular content provider. In step S3, the cache server determines whether it has a copy of the requested information. If so, it delivers the required information in step S4 to the end user, and the process ends in step 510 (of course, step S10 may be a return to S1).

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If it is determined in step S3 that a copy of the requested information is stored in step S5, in which the cache server sends a request for this information over the Internet 5 to the designated content provider. It receives the requested information in step S6 and forwards it to the end user in step S7. In step S8, the received information is stored in the cache server and finally, in step S9, it is distributed to all other cache servers 10 within the area 200 of FIG. 1. The received new, not yet recorded information is stored in all cache servers in the area and make it easily accessible to all users within the area.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart of the operation performed by the interceptor or service provider 110 of Fig. 3. Upon activation in step S11, the interceptor 110 reads in S12 information request regarding a particular content provider that has come from an end user. In step S13, the interceptor 110 checks cache table 112 to see if the memory 112 contains the requested information. If so, proceed to step S15 described below. If not, a step S14 follows, in which the interceptor sends a query to the cache server 140 to determine if the requested information is available to the server. If the response is positive, the process proceeds to step S15, in which the user request is intercepted, and step S16, in which the requested information is supplied to the user, either from memory 112 or from server 140. However, if the response is negative, , in which the interceptor is set to go through and the request is passed through the Internet to the designated content provider. Next, the process proceeds to step S18, where the interceptor waits for the content provider to respond to the end user. After passing the information through the interceptor on its path to the end-user in the cache server, the process continues at step 519 and the interceptor in step 519 stores the previously unavailable information in the cache server 140 and distributes it to all other cache servers in step S20. within the region 200 of FIG.

1. The received new, unrecorded information shall be stored in all cache servers in the area and shall be easily accessible to all users within that area. Each time information is received from the network or from the cache server, a copy thereof is preferably stored in cache 112.

Fig. 7 shows another exemplary embodiment of an Internet leveling system according to the invention. The system of Fig. 7 differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 only in that the response of the content provider 130e, which in this case is outside the area 200, to the information request sent by the end user 120a is not sent back via the Internet 100. , but directly via satellite 160 to servers 140a, 140b, 140c, and 140d, which are updated automatically. The cache server 140a and the service provider 110a then treat the transmission of the requested information to the end user 120a.

Embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows another exemplary Internet buffer system according to FIG. 25 The buffer servers in area 200 that serve areas A, B, C and D respectively are connected to the central controller 190 by data channels. The central control unit 190 controls the decision of what information is to be stored in the respective cache servers and how to distribute to 30 other cache servers within the area 200. In this case, information between the cache servers can be transmitted either by satellite link or data channels through the central controller 190

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It will be understood that various decision schemes relating to the manner of performing information retention relevant to local requirements, e.g., information requirements from the end user 120a to the content provider 130a, both located in the same area A, discussed in detail above in the Summary of the Invention. , including the necessary decision processes, can be implemented either in each of the cache servers 140, at each of the service providers 110, or in the central controller 190 (see Figs.

8).

It is also contemplated that the design and function of the elements described with reference to the drawings will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Since the invention has been described only with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations, modifications and changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims, should not be construed to be limited only in relation to the disclosed embodiments.

Claims (25)

PATENT CLAIMS A method of balancing the flow of Internet information, comprising the steps of: The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step is performed in conjunction with a cache server that serves the end user, the end user being located in a geographic region served by the cache 3. The method of claim 2, comprising the step of storing the information in the cache server. 20 May The method of claim 3, comprising the step of storing the information in the cache server only if the content provider is located outside the region. 5 located outside the region. 5 acquires in connection with the operation of one of the cache servers; means for distributing the obtained information to substantially all of the cache servers. 5. The method of claim 3 comprising 25 the step of storing the information in the cache server only if the content provider is located within the region. 5 obtain information sent from the content provider Internet to the end user upon request for information from the end user; distributing information to a set of geographically dispersed cache servers. The method of claim 2, comprising performing the distribution step only if: 30 content provider located outside the region. The method of claim 2, comprising performing the distribution step only if the content provider is located within the region. ft * ft ft • ftft • ftft ftftft ftft * • ftftft ftft ftft in • · ft ftft Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises distributing information to a plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers by means of universal data communication. The method of claim 8, comprising distributing information to the plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers via a satellite link. 10 in the same region as the server, it does not store the information and distribute it to a set of geographically distributed cache servers. An Internet cache server according to claim 29, 30 or 10 only if the content provider is located within the region. The Internet caching system of claim 14, wherein the retrieval means is arranged to obtain information in connection with the transmission of information from the Internet content provider to the end user resulting from a particular request for information from the end user. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises distributing information only based on the output of a rule that determines for each information obtained whether to distribute to a plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers serve different geographic regions. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers are distributed in a linguistically or culturally defined region. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers are distributed in a linguistically or culturally defined region that includes said regions. that 14 to 24, characterized in that the geographically located cache servers are located in a linguistically or culturally defined region. An Internet caching system according to any one of claims 14 to 24, characterized in that the geographically dispersed caching servers are located in a linguistically or culturally defined region that comprises said regions. 27. An Internet cache server located in a geographic region so that it can primarily serve users in that region, comprising: means for obtaining information sent by the Internet content provider 15 to the end user located within the region as a result of a particular request for information from the end user; means for distributing the obtained information to a plurality of geographically located cache servers that preferably serve different geographic regions. The Internet cache server of claim 27, wherein the cache servers are located in a linguistically or culturally defined geographical area. An Internet cache server according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that it comprises processing means for determining whether the particular retrieved information should be copied to the server. 30. An Internet cache server according to claim 27, 28 or 29, comprising processing means for determining whether the particular retrieved information is to be distributed to a plurality of geographically distributed cache servers. The Internet cache server of claim 29, wherein the decisions made by the processing means are based on whether or not the content provider is located in the region. The Internet cache server of claim 29, 30 or 31, wherein the processing means is configured to instruct the server that when both the end user and the Internet content provider are located. 14, An Internet leveling system comprising: a set of geographically distributed cache servers; means for obtaining Internet information that is 15 31, characterized in that the processing means is configured to instruct the server that when the Internet content provider is located in the same region as the server, it has to store the information and not to distribute the information to a plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers. The Internet cache server of claim 29, 30 or 31, wherein the processing means is configured to instruct the server that when the Internet content provider is located in the same region as 15 arranged to distribute information to the plurality of cache servers using universal data communication. 15 user, the end user is located in a geographic region served by one of the cache servers. 15 server. The Internet cache system of claim 15, wherein one of the cache servers is 17. Internet balancing system according to claim 16, characterized by one of balancing servers j® arranged so order information saved only in event, that 25 content provider located outside the region. The Internet cache system of claim 16, wherein one of the cache servers is arranged to store the information only when The 30 content provider is located within the region. This To This To This To This The Internet cache system of claim 15, wherein the distribution means is arranged to distribute information to the plurality of cache servers only if the content provider 20 to distribute the information to the plurality of cache servers over a satellite link. The Internet cache system of claim 15, wherein the distribution means is arranged to provide information to the plurality of cache servers. 20 arranged to store the information. An Internet balancing system according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein the distribution means is An Internet buffer system according to claim 21, wherein the distribution means is arranged An Internet balancing system according to any one of claims 14 to 22, characterized in that it comprises processing 25 means for determining whether the retrieved information is to be distributed to a plurality of geographically dispersed cache servers. The Internet cache system of claims 14 to 23, characterized by spaced cache servers serving different geographic regions. according to any one of the preceding claims, being geographically arranged so as to claim 2 of the claims. 25. An Internet balancing system according to any one 25 server, does not store information, but only has information to a set of geographically distributed cache servers to distribute.