Achieving web documents using unique document locators

A method of providing a document for which a stored copy has been registered in a repository server that is accessible via a network and provides documents in response to document locators received via the network from clients, the method comprising the steps performed in the repository server of:

• receiving a document locator for the stored copy of the document from a client, the document locator containing a unique key and an original document locator for the document, the original document locator having been used to fetch the document from another server, the fetched document being stored as the stored copy, the unique key being related to the stored copy and the original document locator in a relational table;
• responding thereto by determining the original document locator from the relational table using the unique key, using the original document locator to determine whether the document is currently accessible at the other server;
• and
• when the document is not currently accessible at the other server,
• providing the stored copy to the client using the unique key.

A method of providing a document for which a stored copy has been registered in a repository server that is accessible via a network and provides documents in response to document locators received via the network from clients, the method comprising the steps performed in the repository server of:

• receiving a document locator for the stored copy of the document stored in a data storage and an indication whether the copy or the document is to be provided to a client, the document locator containing an original document locator for the document and a unique key, the original document locator having been used to fetch the document from another server, the fetched document being stored as the stored copy, the unique key being related to the stored copy and the original document locator in a relational table;
• responding thereto when the indication indicates that the stored copy is to be provided by fetching the stored copy using the unique key and providing the stored copy to the client;
• and
• responding thereto when the indication does not indicate that the stored copy is to be provided by determining the original document locator from the relational table using the unique key and using the original document locator to determine whether the document is currently accessible at the other server;
• and
• when the document is not currently accessible at the other server, then fetching the stored copy using the unique key and providing the stored copy to the client.