Method and apparatus for transmitting compressed data transparently over a client-server network

Abstract

Client-transparent methods and apparatus are taught for compressing and transmitting requested network server data and uncompressing this data on client browsers. A network request for a file from a typical client specifies a list of acceptable encoding schemes. In response, the file is compressed using a substantially lossless encoding format or codes that is one of the acceptable encoding schemes listed. In some embodiments, compression is performed dynamically in response to requests. A particular content delivery server may be chosen to handle each network request for a file at least partly based upon one or more criteria indicating a relative quality of connectivity between the selected server and the requesting client. Compression is performed as a further element of a content delivery business service, and may be performed either dynamically or statically and in either a centralized or distributed manner. A proxy-server may be used to intercept and automatically modify client requests, in order to facilitate compression, transmittal, and decompression of network data to requesting clients in a client-transparent manner.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.