Methods and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of electronic data storage and transmission

A method for transmitting electronic data comprising the steps of:

• storing multiple data files at a server;
• storing multiple data pointers at a client;
• automatically identifying at least one characteristic of each said data file relevant to a threshold criterion for combining said multiple data files;
• automatically determining if said threshold criterion for combining said multiple data files has been satisfied;
• automatically combining said multiple data files into a single combined data file in accordance with said automatic determination if said threshold criterion;
• automatically combining said multiple data pointers into a single combined data pointer at said client;
• automatically associating said single combined data file at said server to said single combined data pointer at said client;
• automatically linking said server to said client via an electronic data communications network;
• automatically effectively compressing at least one request from said client for at least one said data file at said server with said single combined pointer at said client;
• automatically effectively compressing provision from said server of at least one said data file to said client with said single combined data pointer at said client;
• automatically transmitting said data file from said server to said client via said electronic data communications network at an effective network transmission rate greater than a benchmark network transmission rate for said electronic data communications network.