Information dissemination system with central and distributed caches

A system for disseminating information over a wide area network, comprising:

• a) at least one site for disseminating data to remote users on said network, said at least one site having a network address associated therewith and being accessible over said wide area network, and said data including cacheable and non-cacheable parts;
• b) a central caching unit having a network address associated therewith for storing cacheable data from said at least one site;
• c) means for establishing communication between said at least one site and said central caching unit for transferring cacheable data to said central caching unit;
• d) a plurality of local access nodes for permitting said remote users to access said wide area network;
• e) distributed local caching units associated with said local access nodes for locally storing cacheable data;
• f) a communications system distinct from said wide area network for establishing communication between said central caching unit and said local caching units for the transfer of cacheable data directly from said central caching unit to said local caching units;
• and
• g) routing means at said local access nodes for responding to user requests for data by establishing a connection to a destination address on said network where the requested data is located, said routing means including local routing tables containing the network address of said central caching unit and responding to connection requests from said remote users to retrieve data located at said central caching unit by first establishing a connection with the local caching unit at the associated local node to retrieve the requested data therefrom if present, and if the requested data is not present at said local caching unit, establishing a connection over said network with said central caching unit to retrieve said requested data over the wide area network.