Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Multicomputer data transferring via shared memory – Accessing another computer's memory
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-27
2001-08-07
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Multicomputer data transferring via shared memory
Accessing another computer's memory
C709S217000, C711S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272534
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and systems for efficiently storing web pages at a server for quick downloading at a remote device in communication with the server.
BACKGROUND ART
Traditional web servers depend on sequential access to HTML (HyperText Markup Language) pages by loading hyperlinked pages as the client requests them while navigating through the current page. Each client initiated hit involves a random access to the memory, even if multiple clients access the same page. Thus, overall latency is high even when there is an overlap in the access. Latency refers to the amount of time it takes a web server to respond to a client beginning from the time the request was sent by the client to the server. To reduce latency in the network, some proposals have been made to have local machines, mostly proxy servers, to prefetch the pages linked to the current page before the client actually “hits” them. However, since all web pages may not be requested by the client, storage is wasted. Furthermore, bandwidth is also wasted. If a user is on a public area network, the user will pay for the time of access or number of bytes transferred every time he/she uses the bandwidth. Consequently, if the network is busy, aggressive prefetching can be expensive.
File servers, on the other hand, typically utilize a hierarchical storage manager (HSM) in managing access of data stored on disk and tape. An application program in an HSM configuration examines memory usage in the hard drive. Instead of putting all files, or data, on the hard drive, the program will keep a subset of the files on the hard drive and the rest on the tape. By ensuring that the most currently or frequently used files are on the hard drive, most accesses are satisfied by accesses to the hard drive, i.e., hits.
If the file required is not on the hard drive, i.e., a miss, a memory request is sent to the tape. Since the tape is slower than the disk, the time to retrieve the file is higher. Since the access is usually to the disk, this penalty is only apparent on a small percentage of the accesses. Thus, the main motivation for using HSM is cost. Tape is significantly cheaper and denser than a hard drive. However, in some file requests, latency will suffer.
Thus, there exists a need for a method and system for efficiently storing scaleable amounts of data at a web server that can be quickly accessed by a client without compromising bandwidth.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a method and system for efficiently storing web pages at a server for quick downloading at a remote device in communication with the server.
In carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a method is provided for efficiently storing web pages for quick downloading at a remote device in a computer network including a server computer having a fast memory for storing a plurality of home web pages, a disk memory for storing a first plurality of web pages linked to the home web pages, and a storage device coupled to the computer fore storing a second plurality of web pages linked to the home web pages. The method includes the step of receiving a first signal from the remote device at the server computer indicating selection of one of the plurality of home pages. The method also includes the step of transferring at least one of the first plurality of web pages linked to the selected home page from the disk memory to the fast memory in response to the first signal. Still further, the method includes the step of transmitting a second signal from the disk memory to the storage device in response to the first signal. Finally, the method includes the step of transferring at least one of the second plurality of web pages linked to the selected home page from the storage device to the disk memory in response to the second signal wherein anticipated web pages linked to the selected home page are quickly accessible by the remote device.
In further carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a web server is also provided for carrying out the steps of the above described method. The web server includes a fast memory for storing a plurality of home web pages and for receiving a first signal from the remote device indicating selection of one of the plurality of home pages. The web server also includes a disk memory for storing a first plurality of web pages linked to the home web pages and for transferring at least one of the first plurality of web pages linked to the selected home page to the fast memory in response to the first signal. The disk memory is further provided for transmitting a second signal in response to the first signal. The web server further includes a storage device for storing a second plurality of web pages linked to the home web pages, receiving the second signal, and transferring at least one of the second plurality of web pages linked to the selected home page to the disk memory in response to the second signal wherein anticipated web pages linked to the selected home page are quickly accessible by the remote device.
The above object and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Maung Zarni
Storage Technology Corporation
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