Patent ID: 6144996
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: G06F,G06K,G06T,H04L

Abstract:
A method for delivering an object to a requestor at a local computer, said method comprising the operations of:(a) receiving, at an intermediate computer, a request for an object that is primarily stored on a remote computer, the local computer being capable of coupling to the intermediate computer via a first network, and the intermediate computer being capable of coupling to the remote computer via a second network;(b) determining whether the requested object is available from an object store associated with the intermediate computer, the object store providing temporary secondary storage for objects;(c) when said determining (b) determines that the requested object is available from the object store,(c1) retrieving the requested object from the object store, and(c2) supplying the retrieved object obtained from the object store to the requestor; and(d) when said determining (b) determines that the requested object is being obtained but is not presently available from the object store,(d1) awaiting for a determined amount of time for the requested object to become available from the object store,(d2) subsequently retrieving the requested object from the remote computer when the requested object is still not available after said awaiting for the determined amount of time, and(d3) thereafter supplying the retrieved object obtained from the remote computer to the requestor.