WO2002031668A1 - Network data transfer acceleration system and method - Google Patents

Network data transfer acceleration system and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002031668A1
WO2002031668A1 PCT/US2001/027164 US0127164W WO0231668A1 WO 2002031668 A1 WO2002031668 A1 WO 2002031668A1 US 0127164 W US0127164 W US 0127164W WO 0231668 A1 WO0231668 A1 WO 0231668A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
web resource
web
data
remote client
image data
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/027164
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Israel L'heureux
Christopher Peiffer
Original Assignee
Redline Networks, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Redline Networks, Inc. filed Critical Redline Networks, Inc.
Priority to AU2001286975A priority Critical patent/AU2001286975A1/en
Priority to EP01966466A priority patent/EP1323047A4/en
Priority to KR1020027002797A priority patent/KR20020048398A/en
Priority to JP2002534984A priority patent/JP2004511852A/en
Priority to CA002385225A priority patent/CA2385225A1/en
Publication of WO2002031668A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002031668A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/957—Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to data transmission on computer
  • the Internet has experienced explosive growth in recent years.
  • Delay downloading a web page can be caused by a number of factors.
  • a system, method, and device for computer networking are provided.
  • the method typically includes receiving a request for a web resource from a remote
  • the method further typically includes processing at least a portion of the
  • the method also typically includes sending the size-
  • the web resource may be image data, web page source data, or
  • the method includes
  • the web resource receives a request for a web resource from a remote client.
  • the web resource receives a request for a web resource from a remote client.
  • the method further includes
  • the method also includes sending the
  • Non-renderable data may include
  • the method includes
  • modified web resource based on the requested web resource.
  • the device typically is for use on a computer network having a web
  • the remote client is configured to download a web
  • the device typically includes
  • a controller configured to receive a request for the web resource from the remote
  • controller is further configured to accelerate transmission, in real time, of the web
  • requested web resource may include non-renderable data, and the controller may be
  • the device includes a
  • controller configured to receive a request for a web resource from a remote client on a
  • the web resource in real time, and send the compressed web resource to the remote
  • the system typically includes a computer network, a web server, and a
  • the system further typically includes an acceleration device
  • the acceleration device is configured to accelerate transmission of the web resource
  • the web resource may be web page source
  • the acceleration device typically accelerates
  • the acceleration device typically includes
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration system
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration system
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration device
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration device
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration device
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for computer networking according to
  • Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a method for computer networking according to
  • Fig. 8 is a continuation of the flowchart of Fig. 7.
  • Fig. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for accomplishing
  • Fig. 10 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for accomplishing
  • Fig. 11 is a continuation of the flowchart of Fig. 10.
  • Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for transferring image data over a
  • Fig. 13 is a flowchart of a method for transferring web page source data
  • Fig. 14 is a schematic view of a data flow according to one embodiment
  • Fig. 15 is a web page according to one embodiment of the present
  • Fig. 16 is the web page of Fig. 15, shown with an original, unmodified
  • Fig. 17 is a listing of original web page source data.
  • Fig. 18 is a listing of filtered web page source data including a hyperlink
  • Fig. 19 is a listing of the filtered web page source data of Fig. 18,
  • a computer networking system according to
  • System 10 one embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 10. System 10
  • Remote clients 12 are typically computing
  • PCs personal computers
  • PDAs portable data assistants
  • System 10 further includes an acceleration device 18 positioned
  • Acceleration device 18 is
  • Acceleration device 18 is alternatively referred to herein as networking
  • acceleration devices 18 are stand-alone appliances linked to
  • system 10 may include an acceleration device 18' integrated into server 14'.
  • Acceleration devices 18 may be connected to servers 14 in a one-to-one relationship,
  • acceleration devices 18 are connected to servers 14 via Local
  • LANs Local Area Networks
  • remote clients 12 are connected to remote clients 12 via computer
  • Network 16 which is typically a Wide Area Network 16, such as the Internet.
  • clients 12 may be connected to WAN 16 directly via a broadband connection 24, or
  • ISP Internet Service Provider
  • PSTN PSTN
  • a typical operating speed for the PSTN modem connection 26 is
  • direct broadband connection 24 is between about 256K bps to 10 Megabits per
  • second and may be higher.
  • a remote server 28 may be provided to serve additional data to remote
  • third-party content may be referred to herein as third-party content.
  • remote server 28 is an
  • advertising server 28 configured to serve an advertisement to remote client 12.
  • remotely served content may be any suitable remotely served content.
  • remote control may contain graphics, text, images, video, and/or sounds.
  • remote control may contain graphics, text, images, video, and/or sounds.
  • Servers 14, 28 typically are web servers 14, 28 configured to serve a
  • Exemplary browser programs 34 include the Netscape browser
  • the web resource may communicate using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
  • HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
  • FIG. 2 another embodiment of a computer networking system
  • Computer networking system 10' is shown at 10'.
  • server-side acceleration devices 18a typically includes server-side acceleration devices 18a positioned in the same location
  • 10' also typically includes remote client-side acceleration devices 18b positioned
  • acceleration devices 18b are positioned at a dial-up ISP 22a, or at a broadband ISP
  • acceleration devices 18a and 18b are depicted in Fig. 2, acceleration devices 18a and 18b
  • acceleration devices 18a and 18b are standard ASCII protocols such as HTTP, and decreasing the number of bits required for transmission of the web resource.
  • acceleration devices 18a and 18b are also required to reduce the number of bits required for transmission of the web resource.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • TCP includes handshaking and other procedures that require valuable time
  • devices 18a and 18b have the ability to establish persistent connections with each
  • Persistent connections are network connections on sockets that are always kept
  • web resource 30 typically includes web page source
  • Web resource 30 may also include other types
  • Web page source data 32 such as JavaScript applets, cascading stylesheets (CSS), etc.
  • HTML HyperText Markup Language
  • Web page source data 32 includes renderable data 36 and non-
  • renderable data 38 is data that browser 34 is configured to
  • renderable data 36 is data that affects the manner in which browser 34 presents the visual
  • Renderable data 36 includes, but is not limited to, text, images, layout and
  • Non-renderable data 38 is data that is not interpreted by browser 34 in a
  • renderable data 38 also includes formatting instructions, such as HTML tags, which
  • Image data 33 may also
  • non-renderable data such as author, title, comments, and creation date data.
  • acceleration device 18 typically is
  • client 12 by processing web resource 30 to form a modified, size-optimized version of
  • Size-optimized version 30a is smaller in file size than original
  • web resource 30 and therefore takes less time to transfer via computer network 16.
  • web resource 30 includes web page source data 32, size-
  • optimized version 30a of the original web resource 30 typically includes filtered web
  • page source data 32a produced by filtering at least a portion of non-renderable data
  • the size-optimized version 30a of the original data may include a smaller
  • FIG. 15 a web page rendered by browser 34
  • Web page 40 typically includes remotely
  • the text and formatting of web page 40 are determined by formatting
  • page 40 typically is not altered by filtering all or a portion of non-renderable data 38
  • Web page source data 32 contains a hyperlink, shown at 36g in Fig. 17,
  • Hyperlink 36g typically includes a
  • URL uniform resource locator
  • Web page source data 32 also specifies the remotely served content from remote server 28.
  • Hyperlink 36i instructs browser 34 to request image data 33 corresponding to inline
  • the acceleration device upon request by the browser for the image data, the acceleration device is
  • web server typically instructs browser 34 to request an original, unmodified version of
  • image data 33 The original version of image data 33 is ultimately displayed as
  • This script is configured to rewrite the web page in the browser
  • image data 33 a is replaced with a link 36m that points to an original version of the
  • a user of remote client 12 typically establishes a
  • Locator of a desired web page 40 served by web server 14 into browser 34.
  • Browser 34 typically sends a request to the web server 14 to serve the desired web
  • acceleration device 18 is located at the IP address contained within
  • Acceleration device 18 is configured to receive and retrieve the URL for the web server.
  • Acceleration device 18 is configured to receive and retrieve the URL for the web server.
  • acceleration device 18 includes a controller 50
  • CPU central processing unit
  • Acceleration device 18 also typically includes a mass storage device 58 having a
  • Communications program 60 is configured
  • Cache 62 is configured to store
  • Acceleration device 18 also typically includes a network interface 64
  • Network interface 64 is configured to enable acceleration device 18 to send and
  • Acceleration device 18 also may include a digital
  • DSP signal processor
  • DSP 66 Examples of commercially available DSPs suitable for use as DSP 66 are the Texas Instruments.
  • Acceleration device 18 typically
  • the integrated circuit board includes a single integrated circuit board 68.
  • the integrated circuit board contains a
  • bus 70 connecting a network interface 72, memory 74, CPU 76, Application Specific
  • ASIC Integrated Circuit
  • mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the
  • acceleration device 18, 18" may be a stand-alone network appliance 18 or may be
  • ASIC 78 integrated with a web server 14', as shown at 18' in Fig. 1.
  • CPU 76 integrated with a web server 14', as shown at 18' in Fig. 1.
  • memory 74 form a controller 82 configured to process requests for web resources
  • Acceleration device 18' typically
  • Non- volatile memory is typically solid
  • state memoiy such as flash memory or ROM, and contains communication program
  • Ram 88 is available to CPUs 84, 86 for temporary storage of data
  • Acceleration device 18"' typically does not include a mass storage device or
  • cache although alternatively a mass storage device and cache may be included.
  • Components 84, 86, 88, and 90 form a controller configured to process requests for
  • FIG. 6 a method according to one embodiment of the
  • Method 100 typically includes, at 102,
  • method typically includes receiving a request for web resource 30 from remote client
  • the request is sent from remote client browser 12 to the IP
  • the request is typically
  • the method further includes at 106, obtaining original web resource
  • acceleration device 18 may determine that the requested web resource is cached, and
  • the method typically includes processing, at acceleration device
  • the method further includes, sending size-optimized web
  • acceleration device 18 from acceleration device 18 via computer network 16 to requesting remote client 12.
  • the size-optimized web page is received by remote client 12 and is displayed on a
  • the method further includes sending at least the portion of
  • method 100 may include sending from acceleration device 18
  • web resource 30 is
  • the method at 112 may include web page source data 32 and image data 33, and the method at 112 may include web page source data 32 and image data 33, and the method at 112 may include web page source data 32 and image data 33, and the method at 112 may include web page source data 32 and image data 33, and the method at 112 may include web page source data 32 and image data 33, and the method at 112 may
  • Method 100 typically includes listening at 102, receiving a request for web
  • the method includes determining a hardware configuration of the
  • the hardware configuration is typically the number of colors supported
  • the hardware configuration is typically detected by sending an embedded file in web page source data, the file being
  • the hardware configuration may be used to
  • the step of processing web resource 30 is shown in detail at 108 in Fig.
  • Processing web resource 108 typically includes, at 114, determining a remote
  • the remote client typically, the remote client
  • Browser-interpretable file types are typically sent in a request header
  • Processing web resource 108 also typically includes, at 116, determining
  • the web resource is either web page
  • source data 32 such as an HTML file, or image data 33.
  • image data 33 such as an HTML file, or image data 33.
  • method 100 proceeds to step 132 of Fig 8.
  • step 132 of Fig 8. At 120, if the content type of web resource 30 shows that the web resource is web page source data
  • step 122 method 100 proceeds to step 122.
  • processing 108 further includes filtering web page source data
  • Modified web page source data 32a is also referred to herein
  • the method includes filtering the web
  • web page source data is sent to remote client 12.
  • filtering the web page source data is accomplished by
  • all of non-renderable data 38 is filtered from the
  • the non-renderable data is filtered according to a process
  • the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of
  • whitespace refers to space, tab, and other characters in the web page source data 32
  • the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of filtering
  • the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of filtering
  • hard returns shown at 38a in Fig. 17, out of web page source data 32.
  • a return or paragraph tag is used to instruct browser 34 to make a hard return in a file.
  • CR and LF ASCII characters are not
  • the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of filtering
  • Meta tags 38d are tags that contain keywords 38g
  • tags 38d may also be filtered out.
  • the step of filtering 122 includes filtering tags by rewriting tags
  • filtering the web page source file at 122 may include
  • the method may include filtering a portion of the renderable data from the web page source data, and replacing
  • renderably equivalent to the replaced renderable data Renderably equivalent data
  • the present may include
  • method 100 returns to step 124, at which point filtered web page source data 32a is
  • step 114 is Internet Explorer, filtered web page source data 32a is typically
  • step 114 is Netscape, the filtered web page source data 32a is typically compressed
  • the method may include
  • interpretable file type at 114.
  • the method further includes sending the compressed, filtered
  • web page source data 32a from acceleration device 18 to remote client 12 for display
  • the method may also include, either automatically or in response to a
  • method 100 typically includes compressing web resource 30 in an
  • method further includes sending compressed, original web resource 30 to remote
  • method 100 typically includes, at 132, determining whether a smaller version of image
  • the method includes retrieving the smaller version 33a from cache
  • Step 134 is one
  • the method typically includes instructing browser 34 to request
  • the method includes, at 138, sending an
  • remote client 12 displays the original image data as original, unmodified image 46 on web page 40a.
  • Step 138, and step 140 described below, are two illustrative ways of
  • step 112 in Fig. 6.
  • step 138 the method typically returns to
  • method 100 typically includes, at 140, sending original image
  • the image is typically sent to the
  • processing is not performed in real-time, in order to decrease latency in serving the
  • image data 33 may be processed in real-time by DSP 66 of acceleration
  • image data is created in real-time and sent to remote client 12, followed shortly
  • the method further includes, at
  • image data is typically accomplished by, at 156, determining one or more image
  • the image parameters may include number of colors, similarity of colors,
  • the method typically includes
  • user's display 12a is configured to display only 256 colors, and the original image
  • the present method is configured to convert the
  • smaller image 46a may appear identical to original image 46 to
  • the method further includes determining if the image data is
  • the method further includes, at 162, modifying the format of the original image data to
  • acceleration device 18 is configured to receive image
  • This conversion may be performed in real time by a DSP, or may be
  • image data is typically further accomplished by, at 168, determining whether original
  • image data 33 is animated (such as an animated GIF file), and if so, extracting a frame
  • the first frame is extracted, although virtually any
  • suitable frame may be extracted.
  • the first frame is then cached as smaller version 33a
  • the first frame may further be reduced in size by reducing the
  • the method further includes determining whether original image
  • the method further includes, at 174, reducing a
  • JPEG image data 33 size of JPEG image data 33.
  • the resultant image data is cached as smaller version 33a
  • the method further includes determining whether original image
  • the method further includes, at 178, reducing the
  • image data 33 The resultant image data is cached as smaller version 33a of image
  • FIG. 12 a method for transmitting image data according
  • 200 typically includes, at 202, listening for a request from a remote client 12 for web resource 30. Listening at 202, as well as all other steps in methods 200, is typically
  • the method typically
  • the method typically includes, determining whether original
  • image data 33 and an associated smaller version 33a are cached on cache 62. If not,
  • the method proceeds to 208, where the method includes obtaining requested original
  • the method further includes creating a smaller version 33a of
  • image data 33 is derived from, at 211, modifying the image data to
  • the method typically includes, sending smaller version 33a of
  • the method may also include instructing browser 34 to request original
  • the method typically includes sending original version of image data 33 to
  • browser 34 for display as original image 46 in web page 40a.
  • method 200 may proceed directly from obtaining the
  • the method typically includes creating a smaller version 33a
  • step 218 caching the smaller version 33a on cache 62 after an
  • method typically further includes retrieving the original and smaller versions 33, 33a
  • the method subsequently returns to listening at
  • Fig. 13 a method for transmitting web page source data
  • Method 300 is shown generally at 300.
  • 300 typically includes, at 302, listening for a request for web page source data 32 from
  • acceleration device 18 typically performed by acceleration device 18, described above.
  • the method typically includes receiving a request for web page
  • source data 32 such as an HTML file
  • the method further includes obtaining requested web page source data 32 from an
  • the web page source data may also be obtained from cache
  • web page source data 32 includes renderable data 36 and non-
  • the method typically includes filtering
  • non-renderable data 38 from the web page source data, thereby creating a modified and filtered version 32a of the original web page source data.
  • Modified web page source data 32a is smaller in file size than original web page
  • filtering at 308 is accomplished by one or more of filtering
  • the method may include filtering whitespace from web
  • the method may include filtering
  • the method may include filtering tags from the web page source data by
  • the method may
  • the method typically includes sending modified and filtered web
  • the method may also include,
  • page source data may be selected based on a detected browser type and/or browser-
  • Browser 34 is configured to display modified web page source data 32a
  • web page source data 32 via browser 34. That is, the two files 32, 32a look, sound,
  • FIG. 17 an example of original web page source data is
  • web page source data 32 is in the HTML format
  • Web page source data 32 may be a static file or may be dynamically generated.
  • renderable data 36 typically includes renderable data 36 and non-renderable data 38, as described above.
  • Renderable data 36 typically includes HTML tags relating to language and formatting
  • HTML tag 36a such as HTML tag 36a, HEAD tag 36b, TITLE tag 36c, BODY tag 36d, CENTER
  • tag 36e anchor (A) tag 36f, image (IMG) tags 36g, 36i, and heading (HI) tag 36h.
  • Renderable data 36 also includes text data 36j, and linked image data.
  • Image tag 36i is
  • Non-renderable data 38 typically includes hard returns 38a and
  • Non-renderable data further includes
  • meta tags 36d which contain parameters such as the author parameter 36e, and the
  • the content parameter 36f typically contains keywords 36g,
  • data 36 further includes comments 36h. Any and/or all of non-renderable data 36 may be selected from any and/or all of non-renderable data 36.
  • Fig. 18 shows filtered web page source data 32a, with a hyperlink 36k to
  • Fig. 19 shows filtered web page source data 32a', with a hyperlink 36m
  • embedded code typically an applet
  • the above described invention may be used to accelerate data

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Abstract

A system, method and device for computer networking. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method includes receiving from a remote client (12) a request for a web resource containing renderable and non-renderable data. The method further includes filtering at least a portion of the non-renderable data from the requested web resource, thereby creating a modified web resource, The method also includes sending the modified web resource to the remote client (12). Non-renderable data may include whitespace, comments, hard returns, meta tags, keywords, or other data not used by a browser to present a web page.

Description

NETWORK DATA TRANSFER ACCELERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to data transmission on computer
networks, and more particularly to acceleration of transmission of a web resource over
a computer network.
Background of the Invention
The Internet has experienced explosive growth in recent years. The
emergence of the World Wide Web has enabled millions of users around the world to
download easily web pages containing text, graphics, video, and sound data while at
home, work, or from remote locations via wireless devices. These web pages often are
large in size and therefore require a long time to download, causing the user delay and
frustration. Delay often causes users to abandon the requested web page and move on
to another web page, resulting in lost revenue and exposure for many commercial web
sites.
Delay downloading a web page can be caused by a number of factors.
At the server, a large volume of page requests may overload the capacity of the server
and result in unanswered or late-answered requests. Within the computer network,
network congestion and limited bandwidth may cause delay in the transmission of
data. Particularly problematic is the so-called "last mile" between many home users
and their Internet Service Provider. For a majority of Internet users, the last mile is
typically a telephone modem connection configured to operate at speeds at or lower
than 56K baud. For these users, large web pages take an agonizingly long time to
download. It would be desirable to provide a system and method for accelerating
data transmission over a computer network, in order to decrease delay and provide
users with a more pleasurable experience.
Summary of the Invention
A system, method, and device for computer networking are provided.
The method typically includes receiving a request for a web resource from a remote
client and obtaining an original web resource corresponding to the requested web
resource. The method further typically includes processing at least a portion of the
original web resource to form a size-optimized web resource having a smaller file size
than the original web resource. The method also typically includes sending the size-
optimized web resource to the remote client, and sending at least the portion of the
original web resource that was size-optimized to the remote client in an original,
unmodified state. The web resource may be image data, web page source data, or
other web resource.
According to another aspect of the invention, the method includes
receiving a request for a web resource from a remote client. The web resource
typically contains renderable and non-renderable data. The method further includes
filtering at least a portion of the non-renderable data from the requested web resource,
thereby creating a modified web resource. The method also includes sending the
modified web resource to the remote client. Non-renderable data may include
whitespace, comments, hard returns, meta tags, keywords, or other data not used by a
browser to present a web page. According to another aspect of the invention, the method includes
receiving a request for web resource from a remote client and, in real-time, creating a
modified web resource based on the requested web resource. The modified web
resource is typically smaller in size than the requested web resource. The method
further includes sending the modified web resource to the remote client.
The device typically is for use on a computer network having a web
server and a remote client. The remote client is configured to download a web
resource from the web server via the computer network. The device typically includes
a controller configured to receive a request for the web resource from the remote
client, and in response, obtain the requested web resource from the web server. The
controller is further configured to accelerate transmission, in real time, of the web
resource from the web server to the remote client via the computer network. The
requested web resource may include non-renderable data, and the controller may be
configured to filter out at least a portion of the non-renderable data, thereby
accelerating the transmission of the web resource to the remote client via the computer
network.
According to another aspect of the invention, the device includes a
controller configured to receive a request for a web resource from a remote client on a
computer network, obtain the web resource from an associated web server, compress
the web resource in real time, and send the compressed web resource to the remote
client.
The system typically includes a computer network, a web server, and a
remote client configured to download a web resource from the web server via the computer network. The system further typically includes an acceleration device
positioned intermediate the web server and the remote client on the computer network.
The acceleration device is configured to accelerate transmission of the web resource
from the web server to the remote client. The web resource may be web page source
data, image data, or other file. The acceleration device typically accelerates
transmission of web page source data by filtering at least a portion of the non-
renderable data from the web page source data. The acceleration device typically
accelerates transmission of image data by creating a smaller version of the image data
and sending the smaller version to the remote client. An original version of the image
data may be sent to the remote client following the smaller version. The web resource
also may be compressed by the acceleration device before transmission.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration system
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration system
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration device
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration device
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a network data acceleration device
according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method for computer networking according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a method for computer networking according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a continuation of the flowchart of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for accomplishing
the step of filtering web page source data, shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for accomplishing
the step of creating a smaller version of the image data, shown in Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a continuation of the flowchart of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for transferring image data over a
computer network, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a flowchart of a method for transferring web page source data
over a computer network, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 14 is a schematic view of a data flow according to one embodiment
of the present invention.
Fig. 15 is a web page according to one embodiment of the present
invention, shown with a smaller version of the image data.
Fig. 16 is the web page of Fig. 15, shown with an original, unmodified
version of the image data of Fig. 15.
Fig. 17 is a listing of original web page source data. Fig. 18 is a listing of filtered web page source data including a hyperlink
to a smaller version of an inline image, filtered according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 19 is a listing of the filtered web page source data of Fig. 18,
rewritten to include a hyperlink to an original version of the inline image.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring initially to Fig. 1, a computer networking system according to
one embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 10. System 10
typically includes a plurality of remote clients 12 configured to download data from
servers 14 via computer network 16. Remote clients 12 are typically computing
devices, such as personal computers (PCs), portable data assistants (PDAs), web-
enabled wireless telephones, mainframe computers, etc.
System 10 further includes an acceleration device 18 positioned
intermediate each of remote clients 12 and servers 14. Acceleration device 18 is
configured to accelerate the transmission of data between the server 14 and remote
client 12. Acceleration device 18 is alternatively referred to herein as networking
device 18.
Typically, acceleration devices 18 are stand-alone appliances linked to
computer network 16. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention,
system 10 may include an acceleration device 18' integrated into server 14'.
Acceleration devices 18 may be connected to servers 14 in a one-to-one relationship,
or in a one-to-many relationship, as shown. When one acceleration device 18 is linked
to several servers 14, it functions to distribute requests from remote clients 12 to the many servers 14, thereby approximately balancing the load placed on each of the
servers.
Typically, acceleration devices 18 are connected to servers 14 via Local
Area Networks (LANs) 20, and are connected to remote clients 12 via computer
network 16, which is typically a Wide Area Network 16, such as the Internet. Remote
clients 12 may be connected to WAN 16 directly via a broadband connection 24, or
via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 22. Typically, remote client 12 and ISP 22 are
linked via a modem connection through the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN) 26. A typical operating speed for the PSTN modem connection 26 is
approximately 56K bits per second (bps) or less, while a typical operating speed for
direct broadband connection 24 is between about 256K bps to 10 Megabits per
second, and may be higher.
A remote server 28 may be provided to serve additional data to remote
clients 12 via computer network 16. This data is referred to herein as remotely served
content, and in the case where web server 14 and remote server 28 are operated by
different content providers, may be referred to herein as third-party content. Remotely
served content is shown in Figs. 15 and 16 at 42. Typically, remote server 28 is an
advertising server 28 configured to serve an advertisement to remote client 12. In
addition to advertising, it will be appreciated that the remotely served content may be
virtually any other type of information, such as news, weather, stock quotes, etc., and
may contain graphics, text, images, video, and/or sounds. The function of remote
server 28 will be further described below. Servers 14, 28 typically are web servers 14, 28 configured to serve a
web resource, shown at 30 in Fig. 14, to browser programs 34 executed on remote
clients 12. Exemplary browser programs 34 include the Netscape browser
commercially available from Netscape Communications Corporation of Santa Clara,
California^ and the Internet Explorer browser commercially available from Microsoft
Corporation of Redmond, Washington. The web servers and browsers typically
communicate using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The web resource may
be web page source data 32, image data 33, sound data, video data, graphics data,
embedded code such as a JavaScript applet, a stylesheet, or virtually any other
resource accessible and interpretable by a browser via a Uniform Resource Indicator
(UBS).
In Fig. 2, another embodiment of a computer networking system
according to the present invention is shown at 10'. Computer networking system 10'
typically includes server-side acceleration devices 18a positioned in the same location
as described above for acceleration devices 18 of Fig. 1. Computer networking system
10' also typically includes remote client-side acceleration devices 18b positioned
intermediate computer network 16 and a respective remote client 12. Typically,
acceleration devices 18b are positioned at a dial-up ISP 22a, or at a broadband ISP
22b.
In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2, acceleration devices 18a and 18b
function in the manner described below, and also have the additional ability to
communicate with each other using a binary protocol, thereby avoiding use of
standard ASCII protocols such as HTTP, and decreasing the number of bits required for transmission of the web resource. In addition, acceleration devices 18a and 18b
have the ability to establish an Internet Protocol (IP) level connection, and
communicate in the binary protocol without using Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP). TCP includes handshaking and other procedures that require valuable time and
slow down the overall data transmission rate. Therefore, avoiding use of TCP
effectively increases the rate at which data is transferred. Finally, the acceleration
devices 18a and 18b have the ability to establish persistent connections with each
other. Persistent connections are network connections on sockets that are always kept
open once they are established. By keeping a connection open, the acceleration
devices avoid repeating tasks associated with the opening and closing of sockets,
thereby saving valuable time and increasing the overall data transmission rate.
Turning to Fig. 14, web resource 30 typically includes web page source
data 32 and associated image data 33. Web resource 30 may also include other types
of files such as video files, sound files, graphic animation files, embedded code files
such as JavaScript applets, cascading stylesheets (CSS), etc. Web page source data 32
typically is encoded using a markup language such as the HyperText Markup
Language (HTML), while image data 34 typically is encoded in a standard image
format such as the JPEG, GIF, or animated GIF image formats. It will be appreciated
that other suitable file formats may be used for the web page source data and the
image data.
Web page source data 32 includes renderable data 36 and non-
renderable data 38. Renderable data 36 is data that browser 34 is configured to
interpret when rendering a web page 40 using web resource 30. That is, renderable data 36 is data that affects the manner in which browser 34 presents the visual and
aural content and layout of web page 40, as well as the interactive functions of web
page 40. Renderable data 36 includes, but is not limited to, text, images, layout and
formatting instructions, background color, hyperlinks, graphic animations, sounds, etc.
Non-renderable data 38 is data that is not interpreted by browser 34 in a
manner that affects the visual or aural content or layout of web page 40, nor the
interactive function of web page 40. For example, whitespace, hard returns,
comments, meta tags, keywords, etc. are examples of non-renderable data. Non-
renderable data 38 also includes formatting instructions, such as HTML tags, which
browser 34 on remote client 12 is not configured to interpret. Image data 33 may also
contain non-renderable data such as author, title, comments, and creation date data.
As will be discussed in detail below, acceleration device 18 typically is
configured to accelerate transmission of web resource 30 from server 14 to remote
client 12 by processing web resource 30 to form a modified, size-optimized version of
the web resource 30a. Size-optimized version 30a is smaller in file size than original
web resource 30, and therefore takes less time to transfer via computer network 16.
Where web resource 30 includes web page source data 32, size-
optimized version 30a of the original web resource 30 typically includes filtered web
page source data 32a, produced by filtering at least a portion of non-renderable data
38 from original web page source data 32. Where web resource 30 includes image
data 33, the size-optimized version 30a of the original data may include a smaller
version of the image data 33a, produced by altering an image parameter of the image
data and/or modifying the format of the image data, as described below. Turning now to Figs. 15 and 16, a web page rendered by browser 34
based on web resource 30 is shown at 40. Web page 40 typically includes remotely
served content 42, served by remote server 28, as well as heading 44, inline image 46,
and text 48. The text and formatting of web page 40 are determined by formatting
instructions, also referred to as tags, and text data contained within web page source
data 32. It will be understood that the ultimate visual and aural presentation of the web
page 40 typically is not altered by filtering all or a portion of non-renderable data 38
from web page source data 32 by acceleration device 18.
Web page source data 32 contains a hyperlink, shown at 36g in Fig. 17,
to remote server 28 for remotely served content 42. Hyperlink 36g typically includes a
uniform resource locator (URL), and instructs browser 34 to request the image data
for the remotely served content from remote server 28. Web page source data 32 also
contains a hyperlink, shown at 36i in Fig. 17 and at 36k in Fig. 18, to inline image 46.
Hyperlink 36i instructs browser 34 to request image data 33 corresponding to inline
image 46 from web server 14.
As will be described below, according to one embodiment of the present
invention, upon request by the browser for the image data, the acceleration device is
configured to send a smaller version of the image data 33 a, which is presented as size-
optimized inline image 46a. After size-optimized inline image 46a is displayed, the
web server typically instructs browser 34 to request an original, unmodified version of
image data 33. The original version of image data 33 is ultimately displayed as
original, unmodified inline image 46 via browser 34. Typically, the web server
instructs the browser to download the original version of image data 33 by embedding a script (typically JavaScript) or other executable code in web page source data 32 for
web page 40. This script is configured to rewrite the web page in the browser
memory, such that the link 36k that was used to point to the smaller version of the
image data 33 a, is replaced with a link 36m that points to an original version of the
image data 33.
To access web page 40, a user of remote client 12 typically establishes a
connection to computer network 16 via ISP 22, and enters a Uniform Resource
Locator (URL) of a desired web page 40 served by web server 14 into browser 34.
Browser 34 typically sends a request to the web server 14 to serve the desired web
page. Typically, acceleration device 18 is located at the IP address contained within
the URL for the web server. Acceleration device 18 is configured to receive and
process the request sent to web server 14, to accelerate the transmission of web
resource 30 from web server 14 to remote client 12, as described below.
As shown in Fig. 3, acceleration device 18 includes a controller 50
having a memory 52 and central processing unit (CPU) 54 linked by a bus 56.
Acceleration device 18 also typically includes a mass storage device 58 having a
communications program 60 and cache 62. Communications program 60 is configured
to process requests for web resource 30 from remote clients 12 according to the
methods shown in Figs. 6-13 and described below. Cache 62 is configured to store
web resources 30, such as web page source data 32, filtered web page source data 32a
and image data 33, 33a, previously requested by remote clients 12.
Acceleration device 18 also typically includes a network interface 64
coupled to bus 56 and to an external network connection to computer network 16. Network interface 64 is configured to enable acceleration device 18 to send and
receive data via computer network 16. An example of a suitable network interface is
the Intel Ethernet Pro 100 network card, commercially available from Intel
Corporation of Hillsboro, Oregon. Acceleration device 18 also may include a digital
signal processor (DSP) 66 configured to create a smaller version 33a of image data 33
in real-time, according to the methods described below in detail in Figs. 10-12.
Examples of commercially available DSPs suitable for use as DSP 66 are the Texas
Instruments 6501/6503 digital signal processors, commercially available from Texas
Instruments, Inc., of Dallas, Texas.
In Fig. 4, another embodiment of an acceleration device according to the
present invention is shown generally at 18". Acceleration device 18" typically
includes a single integrated circuit board 68. The integrated circuit board contains a
bus 70 connecting a network interface 72, memory 74, CPU 76, Application Specific
Integrated Circuit (ASIC) 78, and mass storage device 80. ASIC 78 typically contains
the communication program 60, while mass storage device 80 typically contains the
cache 62, described above. It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the
acceleration device 18, 18" may be a stand-alone network appliance 18 or may be
integrated with a web server 14', as shown at 18' in Fig. 1. ASIC 78, CPU 76, and
memory 74 form a controller 82 configured to process requests for web resources
according to the methods described below.
In Fig. 6, yet another embodiment of an acceleration device according to
the present invention is shown generally at 18'". Acceleration device 18'" typically
includes a plurality of co-processing CPUs 84, 86 linked to each other and to RAM 88, non-volatile memory 90, and network interface 92 by a bus 94. Components 84-94
are typically mounted to a circuit board 96. Non- volatile memory is typically solid
state memoiy such as flash memory or ROM, and contains communication program
60, described above. Ram 88 is available to CPUs 84, 86 for temporary storage of data
when the CPUs are processing web requests according to the methods described
below. Acceleration device 18"' typically does not include a mass storage device or
cache, although alternatively a mass storage device and cache may be included.
Components 84, 86, 88, and 90 form a controller configured to process requests for
web resources according to the methods described below.
Turning now to Fig. 6, a method according to one embodiment of the
present invention is shown generally at 100. Method 100 typically includes, at 102,
listening at acceleration device 102 for a request for web resource 30. At 104, the
method typically includes receiving a request for web resource 30 from remote client
browser 12. Typically, the request is sent from remote client browser 12 to the IP
address that the remote client browser associates with a web server 14, but which is
actually assigned to an associated acceleration device 18. The request is typically
received at acceleration device 18.
The method further includes at 106, obtaining original web resource
corresponding to the requested web resource from web server 14. Typically, the
original web resource is obtained by acceleration device 18. Alternatively,
acceleration device 18 may determine that the requested web resource is cached, and
may obtain the requested web resource from cache 62. At 108, the method typically includes processing, at acceleration device
18, at least a portion of original web resource 30 to form size-optimized web resource
30a having a smaller file size than original web resource 30. Typically web resource
30 is processed based on its file type, according to the steps shown in Figs. 7-8.
At 110, the method further includes, sending size-optimized web
resource 30a to remote client 12. Typically size-optimized web resource 30a is sent
from acceleration device 18 via computer network 16 to requesting remote client 12.
The size-optimized web page is received by remote client 12 and is displayed on a
display 12a associated with remote client 12.
At 112, the method further includes sending at least the portion of
original web resource 30 that was size-optimized to the remote client in an original,
unmodified state. Thus, method 100 may include sending from acceleration device 18
to remote client 12 all of original web resource 30 in an original unmodified state, or
may include sending only a portion of original web resource 30 in an original
unmodified state. According to one embodiment of the invention, web resource 30
may include web page source data 32 and image data 33, and the method at 112 may
include sending only original image data 33 in an original, unmodified state.
Turning now to Figs. 7 and 8, method 100 of Fig. 6 is shown in greater
detail. Method 100 typically includes listening at 102, receiving a request for web
resource 30 at 104, and obtaining requested web resource 30 at 106, as described
above. At 105, the method includes determining a hardware configuration of the
remote client. The hardware configuration is typically the number of colors supported
by display 12a, as well as the resolution of display 12a. The hardware configuration is typically detected by sending an embedded file in web page source data, the file being
configured to instruct the browser to send the hardware configuration to the web
server in subsequent communications. The hardware configuration may be used to
determine an optimum image data format for image data sent to remote client 12, as
described below.
The step of processing web resource 30 is shown in detail at 108 in Fig.
7-11. Processing web resource 108 typically includes, at 114, determining a remote
client browser type and/or browser-interpretable file type. Typically, the remote client
browser is either the Netscape browser, or the Internet Explorer browser, discussed
above, or a browser compatible with one of these two browsers. Of course, it will be
appreciated that other browser types may also be detected. The remote client browser
type will be used to determine a compression algorithm for compressing data at steps
124 and 128. Browser-interpretable file types are typically sent in a request header
from the remote client 12, and may include file types such as GZIP, DEFLATE,
WAVELET compression and other file formats.
Processing web resource 108 also typically includes, at 116, determining
a content type of web resource 30. Typically, the web resource is either web page
source data 32, such as an HTML file, or image data 33. The method typically
determines the content type of the web resource by examining the file extension, such
as .html, .jpg, .gif, etc.
At 118, if the content type of web resource 30 shows that web resource
30 is image data 33, then method 100 proceeds to step 132 of Fig 8. At 120, if the content type of web resource 30 shows that the web resource is web page source data
32, then method 100 proceeds to step 122.
At 122, processing 108 further includes filtering web page source data
32, thereby creating modified web page source data 32a, smaller in size than original
web page source data 32. Modified web page source data 32a is also referred to herein
as filtered web page source data 32a. Typically, the method includes filtering the web
page source data 32 in real-time, after the request is received and before the filtered
web page source data is sent to remote client 12.
Typically, filtering the web page source data is accomplished by
filtering at least a portion of non-renderable data 38 from web page source data 32. In
one embodiment of the invention, all of non-renderable data 38 is filtered from the
web page source data 32. Alternatively, only a portion of the non-renderable data is
filtered from the web page source data.
Typically, the non-renderable data is filtered according to a process
shown in Fig. 9. At 146, the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of
filtering whitespace from the web page source data. As used herein, the term
whitespace refers to space, tab, and other characters in the web page source data 32
that will not be rendered in web page 40, shown at 38b and 38c in Fig. 17.
At 148, the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of filtering
comments from the web page source data 32. Comments appear in web page source
data 32 in the form shown at 38h in Fig. 17.
At 150, the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of filtering
hard returns, shown at 38a in Fig. 17, out of web page source data 32. In HTML, a return or paragraph tag is used to instruct browser 34 to make a hard return in a file.
However, in ASCII a return is accomplished either by a carriage return character (CR)
and/or a line feed character (LF). Typically, CR and LF ASCII characters are not
rendered by browser 34. Therefore, either or both of these characters may be filtered
out of web page source data 32. In one embodiment of the invention, the method
includes filtering out only the second of two consecutive CRLF character
combinations. Thus, where CRLF CRLF appears in the web page source data 32, the
second CRLF is filtered out and the first is left intact in the modified web page source
data 32a. Due to formatting differences between browser types, the method may also
include deleting hard returns in a manner based on browser type detected at step 114.
At 152, the step of filtering 122 typically includes a substep of filtering
meta tags, shown at 38d in Fig. 17. Meta tags 38d are tags that contain keywords 38g
used by Internet search engines to categorize and index web page 40. These meta tags
38d and the keywords 38g contained therein are not rendered by browser 34, and are
thus typically filtered out of web page source data 32. Author and other data in meta
tags 38d may also be filtered out.
At 154, the step of filtering 122 includes filtering tags by rewriting tags
in lowercase letters. Rewriting the tags in lowercase letters tends to reduce the size of
the image data after compression by a method such as GZIP or DEFLATE. Thus,
rewriting tags in lowercase letters results in a filtered web page source data 32a with a
smaller file size than original web page source data 32.
Additionally, filtering the web page source file at 122 may include
filtering renderable data in a loss-less manner. For example, the method may include filtering a portion of the renderable data from the web page source data, and replacing
the portion of the renderable data with substitute renderable data smaller in size and
renderably equivalent to the replaced renderable data. Renderably equivalent data is
data that is interpreted by browser 34 in a visually, aurally, and interactively identical
manner. One example of substituting renderably equivalent data is substituting a set of
formatting instructions with an equivalent stylesheet. Thus, the present may include
substituting a stylesheet for a set of formatting instructions in web page source data
32.
Returning to Fig. 7, once filtered web page source data 32a is produced,
method 100 returns to step 124, at which point filtered web page source data 32a is
compressed in real-time at the acceleration device. If the detected browser type from
step 114 is Internet Explorer, filtered web page source data 32a is typically
compressed using the GZIP compression algorithm. If the detected browser type from
step 114 is Netscape, the filtered web page source data 32a is typically compressed
using the DEFLATE compression algorithm. Alternatively, the method may include
detecting whether GZIP, DELFATE, or other compression algorithm is a browser-
interpretable file type at 114.
At 126, the method further includes sending the compressed, filtered
web page source data 32a from acceleration device 18 to remote client 12 for display
via browser 34. The method may also include, either automatically or in response to a
request from the user, sending the original web page source data 32 to the remote
client browser after sending compressed, filtered web page source data 32a to the
browser. If at 120, it is determined that web resource 30 is not web page source
data 32, then method 100 typically includes compressing web resource 30 in an
original, unmodified state, in real-time, using a compression algorithm selected based
on browser type or browser-interpretable file format, as described above. At 130, the
method further includes sending compressed, original web resource 30 to remote
client 12 via computer network 16.
If at 118 it is determined that web resource 30 is image data 33, then
method 100 typically includes, at 132, determining whether a smaller version of image
data 33a is cached on cache 62. If a smaller version of the image data 33a is already
stored on cache 62, the method includes retrieving the smaller version 33a from cache
62 and, at 134, sending smaller version 33a of the image data to remote client 12 for
display via browser 34 as smaller image 46a on web page 40. Step 134 is one
exemplary way of accomplishing step 110 of Fig. 6.
At 136, the method typically includes instructing browser 34 to request
original image data 33. Typically, this is accomplished by rewriting or replacing a
hyperlink in web page source data 32. The hyperlink is shown before rewriting at 36k
in Fig. 18, and after rewriting at 36m in Fig. 19. Before rewriting, hyperlink 36k
points to the smaller version 33a of the image data, and, after rewriting, hyperlink
36m points to original image data 33. Rewriting the hyperlink prompts browser 34 to
request the original version of image data 33.
In response to this request, the method includes, at 138, sending an
original, unmodified version of image data 33 to remote client 12. Browser 34 on
remote client 12 displays the original image data as original, unmodified image 46 on web page 40a. Step 138, and step 140 described below, are two illustrative ways of
accomplishing step 112 in Fig. 6. From step 138, the method typically returns to
listening for new requests for web resources at step 102 in Fig. 7.
If at step 132, it is determined that a smaller version 33a of the image
data is not cached, then method 100 typically includes, at 140, sending original image
data 33 to browser 34 on remote client 12. Browser 34 displays original image data 33
as image 46 on the web page. Thus, the first time that acceleration device 18
encounters a request for a particular image data 33, the image is typically sent to the
requesting remote client without first sending a smaller version 33a of the image data.
This is because, according to one preferred embodiment of the invention, image
processing is not performed in real-time, in order to decrease latency in serving the
requested image data to remote client 12.
Alternatively, according to another preferred embodiment of the
invention, image data 33 may be processed in real-time by DSP 66 of acceleration
device 18. According to this embodiment of the invention, a smaller version 33a of the
image data is created in real-time and sent to remote client 12, followed shortly
thereafter by the original image data 33.
After the original image is sent at 140, the method further includes, at
142, creating a smaller version 33a of original image data 33 and, at 144, caching the
smaller version 33a on cache 62. After caching the smaller version 33a, the method
subsequently returns to listening for new requests for web resource at 1 2 in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 10, the step of creating the smaller version 33a of the
image data is typically accomplished by, at 156, determining one or more image
parameters. The image parameters may include number of colors, similarity of colors,
file size, resolution, or other image parameters. At 158, the method typically includes
selecting an optimum data format for the image data based on browser interpretable
data format(s) determined at 114, a hardware configuration of remote client 12,
determined at 105, and the image parameter(s) determined at 156. For example, if the
user's display 12a is configured to display only 256 colors, and the original image
data 33 includes millions of colors, the present method is configured to convert the
file format of the image data to a 256 color file format and send the 256 color image to
the remote client as smaller version 33 a. By way of this example, it will be understood
that the smaller version 33a of the image file may be generated by means of loss-less
compression. That is, smaller image 46a may appear identical to original image 46 to
the user of remote client 12, because the user's hardware configuration is not
configured to fully display the colors or resolution of the original image 46.
At 160, the method further includes determining if the image data is
already stored in the optimum file format. If so, the method proceeds to Fig. 11. If not,
the method further includes, at 162, modifying the format of the original image data to
he optimum data format. Thus, acceleration device 18 is configured to receive image
data in one format such as JPEG, for example, and convert the image data into another
optimum format, such as GIF, before sending the image to the requesting remote
client 12. This conversion may be performed in real time by a DSP, or may be
performed "off line" by caching an image file in the optimum format for future requests and sending the image file in an unmodified format to the current requesting
remote client 12.
As shown in Figs. 11, step 142 of creating the smaller version 33a of the
image data is typically further accomplished by, at 168, determining whether original
image data 33 is animated (such as an animated GIF file), and if so, extracting a frame
of the image data at 170. Typically, the first frame is extracted, although virtually any
suitable frame may be extracted. The first frame is then cached as smaller version 33a
of the image data. The first frame may further be reduced in size by reducing the
number of colors or reducing a quality parameter associated with the first frame, as
described below.
At 172, the method further includes determining whether original image
data 33 is in a JPEG format. If so, the method further includes, at 174, reducing a
quality parameter associated with JPEG image data 33. This reduces the overall file
size of JPEG image data 33. The resultant image data is cached as smaller version 33a
of image data 33.
At 176, the method further includes determining whether original image
data 33 is in a GIF format. If so, the method further includes, at 178, reducing the
number of colors in the GIF image data. This reduces the overall file size of GIF
image data 33. The resultant image data is cached as smaller version 33a of image
data 33.
Turning now to Fig. 12, a method for transmitting image data according
to another embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 200. Method
200 typically includes, at 202, listening for a request from a remote client 12 for web resource 30. Listening at 202, as well as all other steps in methods 200, is typically
performed by acceleration device 18, described above. At 204, the method typically
includes receiving a request for original image data 33 from a browser 34 on remote
client 12.
At 206, the method typically includes, determining whether original
image data 33 and an associated smaller version 33a are cached on cache 62. If not,
the method proceeds to 208, where the method includes obtaining requested original
image data 33 from web server 14.
At 210, the method further includes creating a smaller version 33a of
image data 33. Typically, this is accomplished by, at 211, modifying the image data to
an optimum format, at 212, extracting a frame of animated image data, at 214,
reducing a quality parameter associated with image data, and/or at 216, or reducing
the number of colors associated with the image data. These steps are described in
detail above.
At 218, the method typically includes, sending smaller version 33a of
image data 33 to browser 34 of remote client 12 for display as smaller image 46a on a
web page 40. The method may also include instructing browser 34 to request original
version of image data 33, typically by rewriting a hyperlink, as described above. At
220, the method typically includes sending original version of image data 33 to
browser 34 for display as original image 46 in web page 40a.
Alternatively, method 200 may proceed directly from obtaining the
original image from web server 14 at 208, to sending the original image to remote
client 12 at 220, thereby reducing latent processing time at acceleration device 18. In this embodiment, the method typically includes creating a smaller version 33a
according to step 218 and caching the smaller version 33a on cache 62 after an
original image 33 is sent to remote client 12 at 220. The method subsequently returns
to listening at 202.
If, at 206, it is determined that original image 33 and associated smaller
version 33a of the image previously created according to step 210, is cached, then the
method typically further includes retrieving the original and smaller versions 33, 33a
from the cache at step 222, and sending the original and smaller versions 33, 33a to
the remote client 12 at steps 218, 220. The method subsequently returns to listening at
202.
Turning now to Fig. 13, a method for transmitting web page source data
according to another embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 300. Method
300 typically includes, at 302, listening for a request for web page source data 32 from
a remote client 12. The step of listening, as well as all other steps of method 300, are
typically performed by acceleration device 18, described above.
At 304, the method typically includes receiving a request for web page
source data 32, such as an HTML file, from a browser 34 on remote client 12. At 306,
the method further includes obtaining requested web page source data 32 from an
associated web server 14. The web page source data may also be obtained from cache
62 if it is static web page source data stored thereon.
Typically, web page source data 32 includes renderable data 36 and non-
renderable data 38, as described above. At 308, the method typically includes filtering
at least a portion of non-renderable data 38 from the web page source data, thereby creating a modified and filtered version 32a of the original web page source data.
Modified web page source data 32a is smaller in file size than original web page
source data 32.
Typically, filtering at 308 is accomplished by one or more of filtering
substeps 310-316. At 310, the method may include filtering whitespace from web
page source data 32, as described above. At 312, the method may include filtering
comments from the web page source data, as described above. At 314, the method
may include filtering hard returns from the web page source data, as described above.
At 316, the method may include filtering tags from the web page source data by
rewriting the tags in lowercase, as described above. In addition, the method may
include filtering non-renderable commands such as HTML tags that browser 34
cannot interpret.
At 318, the method typically includes sending modified and filtered web
page source data 32a to browser 34 on remote client 12. The method may also include,
before sending the modified web page source data 32a, compressing modified web
page source data 32a. The compression algorithm used to compress the modified web
page source data may be selected based on a detected browser type and/or browser-
interpretable data format, as described above.
Browser 34 is configured to display modified web page source data 32a
as web page 40. The visual and aural presentation of modified web page source data
32a via browser 34 is typically identical to the visual and aural presentation of original
web page source data 32 via browser 34. That is, the two files 32, 32a look, sound,
and interact in the same manner for a user of browser 34. Turning now to Fig. 17, an example of original web page source data is
shown generally at 32. Typically, web page source data 32 is in the HTML format,
and may be a static file or may be dynamically generated. Web page source data 32
typically includes renderable data 36 and non-renderable data 38, as described above.
Renderable data 36 typically includes HTML tags relating to language and formatting,
such as HTML tag 36a, HEAD tag 36b, TITLE tag 36c, BODY tag 36d, CENTER
tag 36e, anchor (A) tag 36f, image (IMG) tags 36g, 36i, and heading (HI) tag 36h.
Renderable data 36 also includes text data 36j, and linked image data. Image tag 36i is
a hyperlink to an original version of the image data 33.
Non-renderable data 38 typically includes hard returns 38a and
whitespace such as tabs 38b and spaces 38c. Non-renderable data further includes
meta tags 36d, which contain parameters such as the author parameter 36e, and the
content parameter 36f. The content parameter 36f typically contains keywords 36g,
which are used by search engines to catalog and index the web page. Non-renderable
data 36 further includes comments 36h. Any and/or all of non-renderable data 36 may
be filtered out of web page source data 32 according to the embodiments of the
present invention.
Fig. 18 shows filtered web page source data 32a, with a hyperlink 36k to
smaller version 33a of image data 33. Whitespace, hard returns, meta tags (including
author, and content-related keywords) and comments have been removed. Browser 34
interprets web page source data 32a to display web page 40 (having smaller image
46a) on remote client 12. Because web page source data 32a has the non-renderable
data filtered from it, and because it contains a hyperlink to a smaller image file 33 a, it requires less time to download than web page source data 32. Thus, the user may view
web page 40 more quickly using the herein described data transmission methods than
using conventional methods.
Fig. 19 shows filtered web page source data 32a', with a hyperlink 36m
to original image data 33. Typically, embedded code (typically an applet) is inserted
into the web page source data 32 to cause the browser 34 to rewrite the filtered web
page source data 32a to the form shown at 32a', as described above. Browser 34
interprets web page source data 32a' to display web page 40a on remote client 12.
Thus, while having the benefit of being able to download web page 40 quickly, the
user is eventually able to view an original version 46 of image data 33.
The above described invention may be used to accelerate data
transmission over a computer network, in order to decrease delay and provide users
with a more pleasurable experience.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described
with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will
understand that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The description of the
invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of
elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to
any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. The foregoing
embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all
possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application. Where the
claims recite "a" or "a first" element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring
nor excluding two or more such elements.

Claims

WE CLAIM:
1. A method for computer networking, comprising:
receiving a request for a web resource from a remote client;
obtaining an original web resource corresponding to the requested web
resource;
processing at least a portion of the original web resource to form a size-
optimized web resource having a smaller file size than the original web resource;
sending the size-optimized web resource to the remote client; and
sending at least the portion of the original web resource that was size-
optimized to the remote client in an original, unmodified state.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the web resource is image data.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, determining an
optimum image data format for the image data.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining a
browser-interpretable file format and selecting the optimum image data format based
at least in part on the browser interpretable file format.
5. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining an image
parameter and selecting the optimum image data format based at least in part on the
image parameter.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the image parameter is selected
from the group consisting of number of colors, similarity of colors, and file size.
7. The method of claim 3, further comprising modifying the original
image data format to the optimum data format.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein processing at least the portion of
the original web resource includes creating a smaller version of the image data.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein creating a smaller version of the
image data includes reducing the quality parameter in image data in JPEG format.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein creating a smaller version of the
image data includes reducing the number of colors in image data in GIF format.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the image data is animated.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein creating a smaller version of
the animated image data includes extracting a frame of the animated image data.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the extracted frame is in GIF
format, and creating a smaller version includes reducing the number of colors of the
first frame.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein after creating the smaller version
of the image data, the smaller version of the image data is cached.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising instructing the remote
client to request the original, unmodified web resource.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing the remote client to
request the original, unmodified web resource is accomplished by rewriting web page
source data to include a hyperlink to the original, unmodified web resource.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the web resource is web page
source data.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein processing at least a portion of
the original web resource includes filtering web page source data thereby creating
modified web page source data, smaller in size.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the web page source data
includes non-renderable data, and filtering includes filtering at least a portion of the
non-renderable data from the web page source data.
20. The method of claim 19, where in the non-renderable data is
selected from the group consisting of whitespace, comments, hard returns, keywords,
meta tags and commands not interpretable by the remote client.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein filtering the web page source
data includes filtering tags by rewriting tags in lowercase letters.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein after creating the modified web
page source data, the modified web page source data is cached.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for a web
resource from a remote client includes receiving a request from a remote client
browser via a computer network.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the computer network is a
WAN.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein WAN is the Internet.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein obtaining original web resource
corresponding to the requested web resource includes requesting and receiving the
original web resource from a web server.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein original web resource is
received from the web server via a LAN.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein obtaining the original web
resource corresponding to the requested web resource includes retrieving the original
web resource from a cache.
29. The method of claim 1, wherein processing at least the portion of
the original web resource includes compressing the web resource in real-time.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising, detecting a browser-
interpretable data format and selecting a compression algorithm based on the detected
browser-interpretable data format.
31. The method of claim 29, where compressing the web resource
includes compressing using the GZIP compression algorithm.
32. The method of claim 29, where compressing the web resource
includes compressing using the DEFLATE compression algorithm.
33. A method for use in computer networking, the method
comprising:
receiving a request for a web resource from a remote client, the web
resource containing renderable and non-renderable data;
filtering at least a portion of the non-renderable data from the requested
web resource, thereby creating a modified web resource; and
sending the modified web resource to the remote client.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the remote client includes a
browser and the non-renderable data is not renderable by the browser.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein the web resource is image data.
36. The method of claim 33, wherein the web resource is web page
source data.
37. The method of claim 35, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes whitespace.
38. The method of claim 35, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes comments.
39. The method of claim 35, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes hard returns.
40. The method of claim 35, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes meta tags.
41. The method of claim 35, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes keywords configured to be interpreted by a search engine.
42. The method of claim 35, wherein filtering further includes
filtering tags of the web page source data by rewriting the tags in lowercase.
43. The method of claim 35, wherein filtering includes filtering
renderable data that the remote client is not configured to interpret.
44. The method of claim 43, further comprising detecting a browser
type of a browser executed on the remote client, determining an HTML tag that the
browser is not configured to interpret, and filtering the non-interpretable HTML tag.
45. The method of claim 35, further comprising, filtering a portion of
the renderable data from the web page source data, and replacing the portion of the
renderable data with substitute renderable data smaller in size and renderably
equivalent to the replaced renderable data.
46. The method of claim 35, wherein the substitute renderable data
includes a stylesheet.
47. The method of claim 33, further comprising, sending an original,
unfiltered version of the requested web resource to the remote client.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the original, unfiltered version
of the requested web resource is sent to the remote client in response to a subsequent
request from the remote client for the original, unfiltered version.
49. The method of claim 33, further comprising, compressing the
modified web resource before sending it to the remote client.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein the modified web resource is
compressed using loss-less compression.
51. A method for use in computer networking, the method
comprising:
receiving a request for a web resource from a remote client;
in real-time, creating a modified web resource based on the requested
web resource, the modified web resource being smaller in size than the requested web
resource; and
sending the modified web resource to the remote client.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein the request is received at an
acceleration device.
53. The method of claim 51, wherein the acceleration device is linked
to an associated web server via a LAN, the method further comprising, before creating
the modified web resource, transferring the web resource from the web server to the
proxy server.
54. The method of claim 51, wherein the web resource is web page
source data.
55. The method of claim 51 , wherein the web resource is image data.
56. The method of claim 51, further comprising, sending an original,
unmodified version of the requested web resource to the remote client.
57. The method of claim 51, wherein the original, unmodified
version of the requested web page resource is sent to the remote client in response to a
subsequent request from the remote client for the original, unmodified version.
58. A networking device for use on a computer network having a
web server and a remote client, wherein the remote client is configured to download a
web resource from the web server via the computer network, the device comprising, a controller configured to receive a request for the web resource from the remote client,
and in response, obtain the requested web resource from the web server, and in real¬
time, accelerate transmission of the web resource from the web server to the remote
client via the computer network.
59. The networking device of claim 58, wherein the controller
includes a network communications program logic stored on an ASIC.
60. The networking device of claim 58, wherein the controller
includes a CPU coupled to a memory, and a network communications program stored
in memory and executable by the CPU.
61. The networking device of claim 58, wherein the requested web
resource includes web page source data containing non-renderable data, and the
controller is configured to filter out at least a portion of the non-renderable data,
thereby accelerating the transmission of the web page source data to the remote client
via the computer network.
62. The networking device of claim 61, wherein the controller is
further configured to send an original, unfiltered version of the web page source data
to the remote client, after sending the filtered web page source data to the remote
client.
63. The networking device of claim 62, wherein the requested web
resource includes image data, and the controller is configured to create a smaller
version of the image data, thereby accelerating the transmission of the web resource to
the remote client via the computer network.
64. The networking device of claim 63, wherein the controller is
further configured to send an original, unmodified version of the image data to the
remote client, after sending the smaller version of the image data to the remote client.
65. A system for use in computer networking, the system comprising:
a computer network;
a web server;
a remote client configured to download a web resource from the web
server via the computer network; and
an acceleration device positioned intermediate the web server and the
remote client on the computer network, the acceleration device being configured to
accelerate transmission of the web resource from the web server to the remote client.
66. The system of claim 65, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to receive a request for requested web resource from the remote client and
is further configured to obtain the requested web resource from the web server or a
cache.
67. The system of claim 65, wherein the web server and the
acceleration device are connected via a LAN.
68. The system of claim 65, wherein the computer network is a
WAN.
69. The system of claim 67, wherein WAN is the Internet.
70. The system of claim 65, wherein the remote client includes a
web browser configured to download web resource from the web server.
71. The system of claim 65, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to accelerate transmission by processing at least a portion of the original
web resource to form a size-optimized web resource having a smaller file size than the
original web resource.
72. The system of claim 71, wherein at least a portion of the original
web resource is image data.
73. The system of claim 72, wherein the acceleration device is further
configured to determine an optimum image data format for the image data.
74. The system of claim 73, wherein the acceleration device is further
configured to determine a browser-interpretable file format and select the optimum
image data format based at least in part on the browser interpretable file format.
75. The system of claim 73, wherein the acceleration device is further
configured to determine an image parameter and select the optimum image data
format based at least in part on the image parameter.
76. The system of claim 75, wherein the image parameter is selected
from the group consisting of number of colors, similarity of colors, and file size of the
image data.
77. The system of claim 73, wherein the acceleration device is further
configured to modify the original image data format to the optimum data format.
78. The system of claim 72, wherein the acceleration device is further
configured to form the size-optimized web resource by creating a smaller version of
the image data.
79. The system of claim 78, wherein the image data is a JPEG file
and the acceleration device is configured to reduce a quality parameter of the JPEG
file.
80. The system of claim 78, wherein the image data is a GIF file and
the acceleration device is configured to reduce a number of colors of the GIF file.
81. The system of claim 78, wherein the image is animated and the
acceleration device is configured to extract a frame from the animated image data.
82. The system of claim 81, wherein the extracted frame is a first
frame of the animated image data.
83. The system of claim 82, wherein the animated image data is an
animated GIF image and the acceleration device is. configured to create the smaller
version of the animated image data by a reduction of the number of colors in the first
frame.
84. The system of claim 78, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to cache the smaller version of the image data.
85. The system of claim 78, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to send an original, unmodified version of the image data to the remote
client, after sending the smaller version of the image data to the remote client.
86. The system of claim 71, wherein at least a portion of the web
resource is web page source data, the web page source data containing renderable data
and non-renderable data.
87. The system of claim 81, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to filter at least a portion of the non-renderable data, thereby creating
modified web page source data, smaller in size than the original web page source data.
88. The system of claim 87, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes whitespace.
89. The system of claim 87, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes comments.
90. The system of claim 87, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes hard returns.
91. The system of claim 87, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes meta tags.
92. The system of claim 87, wherein the filtered portion of the non-
renderable data includes keywords configured to be interpreted by a search engine.
93. The system of claim 87, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to filter tags by rewriting tags of the web page source data in lowercase
letters.
94. The system of claim 87, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to cache the modified web page source data.
95. The system of claim 87, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to send an original, unmodified version of the web page source data to the
remote client, after sending the modified web page source data to the remote client.
96. The system of claim 65, wherein the acceleration device is
configured to compress the web resource in real-time before transmission to the
remote client.
97. A device for use in transferring data over a computer network,
wherein the computer network connects a web server to a browser executed by a
remote client, the device comprising, a controller configured to execute a
communication program, the communication program being configured to receive a
request for a web resource from the remote client, obtain the web resource from the
web server, compress the web resource in real time, and send the compressed web
resource to the remote client.
98. The device of claim 97, wherein the communication program is
configured to read the request for the web resource and determine a browser-
interpretable compression format.
99. The device of claim 98, wherein the controller is configured to
compress the web resource using the browser-interpretable compression format.
100. The device of claim 97, further comprising a network interface
linked to the controller.
101. The device of claim 100, wherein the network interface is
configured to connect to the web server via a LAN.
102. The device of claim 100, wherein the network interface is
configured to connect to the remote client via a WAN.
PCT/US2001/027164 2000-10-06 2001-08-31 Network data transfer acceleration system and method WO2002031668A1 (en)

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KR1020027002797A KR20020048398A (en) 2000-10-06 2001-08-31 Network data transfer acceleration system and method
JP2002534984A JP2004511852A (en) 2000-10-06 2001-08-31 System and method for speeding up transfer of network data
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EP1323047A4 (en) 2005-03-16
CA2385225A1 (en) 2002-04-18
US20050080876A1 (en) 2005-04-14
KR20020048398A (en) 2002-06-22
AU2001286975A1 (en) 2002-04-22
US7308490B2 (en) 2007-12-11
US6834297B1 (en) 2004-12-21
JP2004511852A (en) 2004-04-15

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