System and method for pre-fetching content in a proxy architecture

A network apparatus for providing a proxy service to retrieve content over a data network from a content server, the apparatus comprising:

• an interface configured to forward a request for the content over the data network towards the content server, wherein an upstream proxy in communication with the content server determines a plurality of objects corresponding to the content based on the request, the upstream proxy generating a list specifying the objects that are to be pre-fetched according to a criterion;
• and
• a downstream proxy configured to receive the generated list in response to the request and to receive the pre-fetched objects on the list, wherein the downstream proxy selectively holds a subsequent request associated with an object specified on the list.

A network apparatus for providing a proxy service to retrieve content over a data network from a content server, the apparatus comprising:

• an interface configured to receive a request for the content over the data network from a downstream proxy;
• and
• an upstream proxy configured to determine a plurality of objects corresponding to the content in response to the request, and to generate a list specifying the objects that are to be pre-fetched according to a criterion, wherein the generated list is transmitted to the downstream proxy in response to the request, the upstream proxy retrieving the objects in the list from the content server, the objects on the list being forwarded to the downstream proxy, wherein the downstream proxy selectively holds a subsequent request associated with an object specified on the list.

A system for supporting retrieval of a web page over a data network from a web site, the system comprising:

• a downstream proxy configured to receive a request message from a browser to retrieve the web page;
• and
• an upstream proxy configured to parse the web page to determine an object embedded in the web page, wherein a promise list is generated specifying the embedded object that is to be pre-fetched according to a criterion, the promise list being transmitted to the downstream proxy, wherein the upstream proxy pre-fetches the embedded object from the web site, wherein the upstream proxy determines whether to forward one of the pre-fetched embedded object to the downstream proxy based on a comparison of cookies associated with one of the pre-fetched objects supplied, respectively, by the browser and the web site.