Method for improving the performance of a web service by caching the most popular (real-time) information

A method on a Web server coupled to a database for serving data files stored in the database the Web server linked to a plurality of client systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• maintaining an access log as part of a database server with data files most frequently accessed based upon counts of accesses by a plurality of client systems, wherein the data files are retrieved at least in part from the database server coupled to a database storage and the access log contains each access request of the data files;
• storing the data files listed in the access long in cache, wherein each of the data filed are identified with at least one category of a search criteria received from the client systems;
• receiving a request for at least one of the data files based upon at least one search criteria received from at least one of the client systems;
• reviewing the access log to determine whether the data files requested are listed in the access log;
• transmitting the data files requested from the cache if the data files requested are listed in the access log;
• transmitting the data files requested from the database if the data files requested are not listed in the access log;
• updating the access log to list the data files requested so that the most request data files are listed;
• and
• presenting to the client systems a list which includes the at least one category of a seach criteria representing the data file that are most frequently accessed based upon counts of accesses from the clients.

A computer readable medium comprising programming instructions for a Web server coupled to a database for serving data files stored in the database, the Web server linked to a plurality of client systems, the programming instructions comprising:

• reading an access log as part of a database server to collect data identifying pages that are most frequently accessed based upon counts of accesses by a plurality of clients, wherein the pages are retrieved at least in part from the database server coupled to a database storage;
• storing one or more pages in a cache as identified by the access log, where each access request of the pages are identified in the access log with at least one category of a search criteria received from the clients;
• receiving an access request from one or more clients for a page based upon the search criteria received from the clients;
• retrieving the page from the cache if the page which has been requested was previously stored in cache and if the page which has been requested was not previously stored in cache then retrieving the page from database storage;
• transmitting the page to the one or more clients requesting the page;
• and
• presenting to the clients a list which Includes the at least one category of a seach criteria representing the pages that are most frequently accessed based upon counts of accesses from the clients.

A Web server for serving Web pages to a plurality of client systems linked via a network therewith, the server comprising:

• an interface coupled to a database for reading database storage;
• an access log to collect data identifying pages that are most frequently accessed based upon counts of accesses by the clients, wherein the pages are retrieved at least in part from a database server coupled to a database storage and the access log contains each access request of the data files;
• a cache as part of the database server for storing one or more pages therein as identified by the access log, whereby each of the pages are identified in the access log with at least one category of a search criteria received from the clients;
• means for receiving an access request from one or more clients for a page based upon the search criteria received from the clients;
• means for retrieving the page from the cache if the page which has been requested was previously stored in cache and If the page which has been requested was not previously stored in cache then retrieving the page from database storage;
• means for transmitting the page to the one or more clients requesting access along with a list of at least the pages that are most frequently accessed from the clients based on tho access log.