YALOZ, Ariel (6 Tnuat Hamery Street, Kiryat Ono, 55286, IL)
SHTERENZON, Roman (2/15 Hazait Street, Tirat Carmel, 39020, IL)
ELROM, Ron (3 Shlonsky Street, Ra'anana, 43592, IL)
WYLER, Eran (4 Kikar Malachi Hanavi Street, Modi'in, 71722, IL)
YALOZ, Ariel (6 Tnuat Hamery Street, Kiryat Ono, 55286, IL)
SHTERENZON, Roman (2/15 Hazait Street, Tirat Carmel, 39020, IL)
ELROM, Ron (3 Shlonsky Street, Ra'anana, 43592, IL)
| C L A I M S 1. An internet communication system comprising: a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to receive web page content and to communicate said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and a plurality of web browsers, each operative to receive said web page content from said bandwidth utilization optimization server using said binary protocol and to render said web page content. 2. An internet communication system according to claim 1 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, to urge at least some of said plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. 3. An internet communication system according to either of claims 1 and 2 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content received thereby. 4. An internet communication system according to claim 3 and wherein said bandwidth utilization server is also operative to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. 5. An internet communication system according to claim 1 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of said plurality of browsers, to filter out some of said web page content. 6. An internet communication method comprising: receiving, by a server, web page content and communicating said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, said web page content using said binary protocol and rendering said web page content. 7. An internet communication method according to claim 6 and also comprising performing analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, urging at least some of said plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. 8. An internet communication method according to either of claims 6 and 7 and also comprising reducing the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content. 9. An internet communication method according to claim 8 and also comprising reducing the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. 10. An internet communication method according to claim 6 and also comprising performing analysis of said web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of said plurality of browsers, filtering out some of said web page content. 11. An internet communication method comprising: employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server for reducing bit content of pictures forming part of web page content requested by a web browser, said reducing being in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. 12. An internet communication method according to claim 11 and also comprising: receiving, by said server, web page content and communicating said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and receiving, by said web browser, said web page content using said binary protocol and rendering said web page content. 13. An internet communication method according to either of claims 11 and 12 and also comprising performing analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, urging at least some of said plurality of web browsers to prefetch and cache additional web content. 14. An internet communication method according to any of claims 11 - 13 and also comprising reducing the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content. 15. An internet communication method according to claim 11 and also comprising performing analysis of said web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of said plurality of browsers, filtering out some of said web page content. 16. An internet communication system comprising: a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to reduce bit content of pictures forming part of web page content requested by a web browser, said reducing being in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. 17. An internet communication system according to claim 16 and wherein: said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to receive web page content and to communicate said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and said web browser is also operative to receive said web page content from said bandwidth utilization optimization server using said binary protocol and to render said web page content. 18. An internet communication system according to either of claims 16 and 17 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, to urge at least some of said plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. 19. An internet communication system according to any of claims 16 - 18 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content received thereby. 20. An internet communication system according to claim 16 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of said plurality of browsers, to filter out some of said web page content. 21. An internet communication method comprising: employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of a web page requested by at least one of a plurality of web browsers and, based on results of said analysis, to urge at least some of said plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. 22. An internet communication method according to claim 21 and wherein said analysis comprises: composing a list of additional web content which will be needed by said browser to render said web page; and transmitting said list to said browser together said web page. 23. An internet communication method according to claim 22 and wherein said composing includes performing at least one of parsing said web page to ascertain which additional web content is needed to render said web page and performing a statistical analysis of web content which was necessary to render said web page on previous occasions. 24. An internet communication method according to any of claims 21 - 23 and also comprising: communicating at least one of said web page and said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, at least one of said web page and said web page content using said binary protocol and rendering said web page and said web page content. 25. An internet communication method according to any of claims 21 - 24 and also comprising: reducing the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content; reducing the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content; and performing analysis of said web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of said plurality of browsers, filtering out some of said web page content. 26. An internet communication system comprising: a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to perform analysis of a web page requested by at least one of a plurality of web browsers and, based on results of said analysis, to urge at least some of said plurality of web browsers to prefetch and cache additional web content. 27. An internet communication system according to claim 26 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to compose a list of additional web content which will be needed by said browser to render said web page and transmit said list to said browser together said web page. 28. An internet communication system according to claim 27 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform at least one of parsing said web page to ascertain which additional web content is needed to render said web page and performing a statistical analysis of web content which was necessary to render said web page on previous occasions. 29. An internet communication system according to any of claims 26 - 28 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to communicate at least one of said web page and said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and said web browser is also operative to receive, by a plurality of web browsers, at least one of said web page and said web page content using said binary protocol and rendering said web page and said web page content. 30. An internet communication system according to any of claims 26 - 29 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content, to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content, and to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of said plurality of browsers, to filter out some of said web page content. 31. An internet communication method comprising: employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of web page content requested by a web browser and, based on instructions received from said browser, to filter out some of said web page content. 32. An internet communication method according to claim 31 and comprising: receiving, by said server, web page content and communicating said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, said web page content using said binary protocol and rendering said web page content. 33. An internet communication method according to either of claims 31 and 32 and also comprising performing analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, urging at least some of said plurality of web browsers to prefetch and cache additional web content. 34. An internet communication method according to any of claims 31 - 33 and also comprising reducing the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content. 35. An internet communication method according to claim 34 and also comprising reducing the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. 36. An internet communication system comprising: a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to perform analysis of web page content and, based on instructions received from a web browser, to filter out some of said web page content. 37. An internet communication system according to claim 36 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to communicate said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and said web browser is also operative to receive, by a plurality of web browsers, said web page content using said binary protocol and to render said web page content. 38. An internet communication system according to claim 37 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, to urge at least some of said plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. 39. An internet communication system according to any of claims 36 - 38 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content. 40. An internet communication system according to claim 39 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. 41. An internet communication method comprising: employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server to receive and recognize identical web page elements which appear repeatedly at a multiplicity of web sites having different original URLs; and employing said bandwidth utilization optimization server to replace the original URLs of at least some of said identical web page elements with a common URL such that the elements will be requested using the common URL, irrespective of the original URLs of the elements. 42. An internet communication method according to claim 41 and also comprising employing said bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of web page content requested by a web browser and, based on instructions received from said browser, to filter out some of said web page content. 43. An internet communication method according to claim 41 and comprising: receiving, by said server, web page content and communicating said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, said web page content using said binary protocol and rendering said web page content. 44. An internet communication method according to any of claims 41 - 43 and also comprising employing said bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, to urge at least some of said plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. 45. An internet communication method according to any of claims 41 - 44 and also comprising employing said bandwidth utilization optimization server to reduce the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content, and to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. 46. An internet communication system comprising: a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to receive and recognize identical web page elements which appear repeatedly at a multiplicity of web sites having different original URLs and to replace the original URLs of at least some of said identical web page elements with a common URL such that the elements will be requested using the common URL, irrespective of the original URLs of the elements. 47. An internet communication system according to claim 46 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of web page content requested by a web browser and, based on instructions received from said browser, to filter out some of said web page content. 48. An internet communication system according to claim 47 and wherein: said server is operative to receive web page content and to communicate said web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof; and said web browser is operative to receive said web page content using said binary protocol and to render said web page content. 49. An internet communication system according to any of claims 46 - 48 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of said web page content and, based on results of said analysis, to urge at least some of said plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. 50. An internet communication system according to any of claims 46 - 49 and wherein said bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of said web page content based on information contained in said web page content, and to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of said web page content in accordance with information, contained in said web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to said picture in said received web page content. |
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Reference is made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/368,717, filed July 29, 2010 and entitled "IG BROWSER PROXY", the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a) (4) and (5)(i).
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to internet bandwidth utilization optimization.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The following publications are believed to represent the current state of the art:
Gurusinghe et. al.; "On-the-fly Inter-proxy Data Compression for Web Access"; http://www.sanog.org/resources/sanog4-pradeepa-proxy.pdf; and
Mike Belshe & Roberto Peon; "SPDY Protocol"; http://mbelshe.github.com/SPDY-Specification/draft-rnbelshe- spdy-00.xml. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides improved systems and methodologies for internet bandwidth utilization optimization.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication system including a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to receive web page content and to communicate the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and a plurality of web browsers, each operative to receive the web page content from the bandwidth utilization optimization server using the binary protocol and to render the web page content.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, to urge at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content received thereby. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization server is also operative to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of the plurality of browsers, to filter out some of the web page content.
There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication method including receiving, by a server, web page content and communicating the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, the web page content using the binary protocol and rendering the web page content. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method also includes performing analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, urging at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the method also includes reducing the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content. Preferably, the method also includes reducing the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content. Preferably, the method also includes performing analysis of the web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of the plurality of browsers, filtering out some of the web page content.
There is further provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication method including employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server for reducing bit content of pictures forming part of web page content requested by a web browser, the reducing being in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method also includes receiving, by the server, web page content and communicating the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and receiving, by the web browser, the web page content using the binary protocol and rendering the web page content. Preferably, the method also includes performing analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, urging at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the method also includes reducing the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content. Preferably, the method also includes performing analysis of the web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of the plurality of browsers, filtering out some of the web page content.
There is yet further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication system including a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to reduce bit content of pictures forming part of web page content requested by a web browser, the reducing being in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to receive web page content and to communicate the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and the web browser is also operative to receive the web page content from the bandwidth utilization optimization server using the binary protocol and to render the web page content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, to urge at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content received thereby. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of the plurality of browsers, to filter out some of the web page content.
There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication method including employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of a web page requested by at least one of a plurality of web browsers and, based on results of the analysis, to urge at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the analysis includes composing a list of additional web content which will be needed by the browser to render the web page, and transmitting the list to the browser together the web page. Preferably, the composing includes performing at least one of parsing the web page to ascertain which additional web content is needed to render the web page and performing a statistical analysis of web content which was necessary to render the web page on previous occasions. Preferably, the method also includes communicating at least one of the web page and the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, at least one of the web page and the web page content using the binary protocol and rendering the web page and the web page content. Preferably, the method also includes reducing the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content, reducing the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content, and performing analysis of the web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of the plurality of browsers, filtering out some of the web page content.
There is further provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication system including a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to perform analysis of a web page requested by at least one of a plurality of web browsers and, based on results of the analysis, to urge at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to compose a list of additional web content which will be needed by the browser to render the web page and transmit the list to the browser together the web page. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform at least one of parsing the web page to ascertain which additional web content is needed to render the web page and performing a statistical analysis of web content which was necessary to render the web page on previous occasions. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to communicate at least one of the web page and the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and the web browser is also operative to receive, by a plurality of web browsers, at least one of the web page and the web page content using the binary protocol and rendering the web page and the web page content.
Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content, to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content, and to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on instructions received from at least one of the plurality of browsers, to filter out some of the web page content.
There is yet further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication method including employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of web page content requested by a web browser and, based on instructions received from the browser, to filter out some of the web page content.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method also includes receiving, by the server, web page content and communicating the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, the web page content using the binary protocol and rendering the web page content. Preferably, the method also includes performing analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, urging at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the method also includes reducing the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content. Preferably, the method also includes reducing the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content.
There is yet further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication system including a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to perform analysis of web page content and, based on instructions received from a web browser, to filter out some of the web page content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to communicate the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and the web browser is also operative to receive, by a plurality of web browsers, the web page content using the binary protocol and to render the web page content.
Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, to urge at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content.
There is yet further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication method including employing a bandwidth utilization optimization server to receive and recognize identical web page elements which appear repeatedly at a multiplicity of web sites having different original URLs, and employing the bandwidth utilization optimization server to replace the original URLs of at least some of the identical web page elements with a common URL such that the elements will be requested using the common URL, irrespective of the original URLs of the elements.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method also includes employing the bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of web page content requested by a web browser and, based on instructions received from the browser, to filter out some of the web page content. Preferably, the method also includes receiving, by the server, web page content and communicating the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and receiving, by a plurality of web browsers, the web page content using the binary protocol and rendering the web page content.
Preferably, the method also includes employing the bandwidth utilization optimization server to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, to urge at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the method also includes employing the bandwidth utilization optimization server to reduce the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content, and to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content.
There is yet further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention an internet communication system including a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to receive and recognize identical web page elements which appear repeatedly at a multiplicity of web sites having different original URLs and to replace the original URLs of at least some of the identical web page elements with a common URL such that the elements will be requested using the common URL, irrespective of the original URLs of the elements.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of web page content requested by a web browser and, based on instructions received from the browser, to filter out some of the web page content. Preferably, the server is operative to receive web page content and to communicate the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof, and the web browser is operative to receive the web page content using the binary protocol and to render the web page content.
Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to perform analysis of the web page content and, based on results of the analysis, to urge at least some of the plurality of web browsers to pre-fetch and cache additional web content. Preferably, the bandwidth utilization optimization server is also operative to reduce the bandwidth of the web page content based on information contained in the web page content, and to reduce the bit content of pictures forming part of the web page content in accordance with information, contained in the web page content, as to the frame dimensions assigned to the picture in the received web page content.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an example of the operation of an internet communication system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an example of the operation of a particular feature of the internet communication system of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating operation of another particular feature of the present invention; and
Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of another example of the operation of a particular feature of the internet communication system of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified pictorial illustration of an example of the operation of an internet communication system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a particular feature of the present invention that the system preferably includes a bandwidth utilization optimization server operative to receive web page content and to communicate the web page content using a binary protocol in a bandwidth reduced form without changing the format thereof. A plurality of web browsers are each operative to receive the web page content from the bandwidth utilization optimization server using the binary protocol and to render the web page content.
The bandwidth utilization optimization server preferably functions as a proxy server which intercepts requests from web browsers to web servers to download web pages. As seen in Fig. 1, at least one bandwidth utilization optimization proxy server (BUOPS) 100 is provided, which communicates with a content distribution server 102, which is part of a content distribution network 104. Content distribution network 104 is preferably deployed worldwide, and preferably communicates with a plurality of web servers 106 at various disparate locations worldwide. BUOPS 100 preferably intercepts requests from web browsers 108 to web servers 106 to download web pages. It is appreciated that requests from web browsers 110 which communicate directly with content distribution network 104 or with web servers 106 are not intercepted by BUOPS 100.
Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a simplified pictorial illustration of an example of the operation of a particular feature of the internet communication system of Fig. 1. It is a particular feature of the present invention that BUOPS 100 is operative to reduce the bandwidth to be utilized while downloading a web page to browsers 108 based on information contained in the web page.
For example, Fig. 2 shows a case where web page 120 comprises a frame
122 for displaying a picture 124, the frame having frame dimensions which are smaller than the actual dimensions of picture 124. In this case, BUOPS 100 is operative to reduce the bit content of picture 124 to correspond to the frame dimensions of frame 122.
It is yet another particular feature of the present invention that BUOPS 100 is operative to perform analysis of the content of web page 120 and, based on instructions received from a browser 108, to filter out at least some of the content of web page 120. For example, as seen in Fig. 2, web page 120 may include an advertisement 130. Based on instructions received from a browser 108, BUOPS 100 creates a modified web page 132 which is downloaded to browser 108, and which does not include advertisement 130.
It is yet a further particular feature of the present invention that upon receiving a web page from a web server 106, BUOPS 100 preferably performs analysis of the content of the web page and, based on results of the analysis, urges at least some of web browsers 108 to pre-fetch and cache additional web content linked thereto. For the purposes of the present application, the term "pre-fetching" is defined as downloading a content element from the web in anticipation of the content element being needed to render a web page in a web browser, prior to the web browser actually ascertaining that the content element is needed to complete the rendering of the web page.
For example, as seen in Fig. 3, a client requests a web page from a web server (300), and the BUOPS intercepts the response from web server (302). The BUOPS then analyzes web page included in the response from the web server, and composes a list of page elements which will be needed by the client to render the web page (304). The analysis of the web page may include, for example, parsing of the web page to ascertain which page elements are needed to render the web page and performing a statistical analysis of page elements which were necessary to render the same web page on previous occasions.
After composing the list of web page elements, the BUOPS transmits the list to the client together with web page (306). Upon receiving the list, the client preemptively downloads the web page elements on the list (308) without first needing to independently ascertain, through analysis of the web page, that the web page elements are necessary for rendering of the web page. Preferably, upon downloading the web page elements on the list, the client renders the web page (310). Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a simplified pictorial illustration of another example of the operation of a particular feature of the internet communication system of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 4, a client 400 initially requests download of a web page 402 from a web site AAA.COM (404). Web page 402 references a movie player. The BUOPS 100, intercepts web page 402, recognizes the movie player referenced therein and replaces the reference to the movie player by a reference to a known URL which corresponds to the movie player, which is downloaded to client 400 and cached. Later when the same client 400 requests a different web page 410 which also references the same movie player, BUOPS 100 intercepts web page 410 and replaces the reference to the movie player by a reference to the same URL which was earlier referenced and cached at client 400.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the invention also includes various combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing and which are not in the prior art.
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