Application and network-based long poll request detection and cacheability assessment therefor

A system for determining whether to cache content received from long poll requests of a mobile application, the system comprising:

• a processor coupled to a machine-readable memory;
• means for, detecting that requests generated by the mobile application are long poll requests using relative timings between a first request initiated by the mobile application, a first response received responsive to the first request, and a second request initiated subsequent to the first request also by the mobile application;
• means for, determining that content received for the mobile application is cacheable, when the received responses indicate repeatability, using the responses received responsive to the requests generated by the mobile application;
• means for, storing the content received for the mobile application as cache elements in a local cache responsive to determining that cache-ability;
• means for, responding to subsequent requests generated by the mobile application using the cache elements stored in the local cache, to satisfy the subsequent requests without a need to send the subsequent requests over a wireless network;
• means for, detecting a second response received for the second request;
• and
• means for, detecting repeatability in timing of the first request and the first response and of the second request and the second response;
• wherein, the content received for the mobile application is stored as cache elements in the local cache of the mobile device if the timing is detected to be repeatable.

A machine-readable memory having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform a method for detecting requests for a persistent connection from an application, the method comprising:

• determining relative timings between a first request initiated by the application, a response received responsive to the first request, and a second request initiated subsequent to the first request also by the application;
• using the relative timings to determine whether requests generated by the application are long poll requests;
• wherein, the relative timings are determined by:
• determining a first request time when the first request is initiated;
• determining a response time when the response to the first request is received;
• determining a second request time when the second request, subsequent to the first request initiated by the application;
• wherein, the application is a mobile client residing on a mobile device;
• storing the content received for the application as cache elements in a local cache of the mobile device responsive to determining cache-ability in responses for the requests generated by the application;
• and
• responding to a subsequent request generated by the application using the cache elements stored on the mobile device, to satisfy the subsequent request without a need to send the subsequent request over a wireless network.

A system for caching content received for long poll requests initiated at a mobile device, the system comprising:

• a local proxy on the mobile device which determines relative timings between a first request initiated by the application, a response received responsive to the first request, and a second request initiated subsequent to the first request also by the application;
• wherein, the relative timings are used to determine whether requests generated by the application are long poll requests;
• the local proxy further stores the content received for the application as cache elements in a local cache of the mobile device responsive to detection that at least two responses received for the requests from the application are the same;
• a proxy server external to the mobile device, the proxy server being able to wirelessly communicate with the local proxy on the mobile device;
• wherein, the local proxy responds to a subsequent request generated by the application using the cache elements stored on the mobile device, to satisfy the subsequent request without a need to send the subsequent request over a wireless network;
• wherein, the proxy server monitors a host for updated responses different from those stored in the local cache for corresponding requests initiated by the application on the mobile device;
• wherein, the proxy server is able to wirelessly communicate with multiple mobile devices in a wireless network and monitor the host on behalf of multiple mobile devices running the same application.