Abstract: A system for presenting dynamic content to a user of a client device in a non-intrusive manner is implemented in a method including the steps of retrieving dynamic content to be presented to a user, and presenting the dynamic content to the user at a time selected in accordance with a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A system for dynamically transcoding data transmitted between computers is implemented in an apparatus for use in transmitting data between a network server and a network client over a communications link. The apparatus includes a parser coupled to a transcode service provider. The parser is configured to selectively invoke the transcode service provider in response to a predetermined selection criterion.

Abstract: A dynamically-chainable network proxy is implemented in a method for chaining a network proxy to a destination device, wherein the network proxy is coupled to a source device and a plurality of destination devices, including the step of receiving a request from the source device at the network proxy. The network proxy then selects one of the plurality of destination devices to serve the request, with the selection made according to a predetermined selection criterion. The network proxy reformats the request to designate the selected destination device, and then forwards the reformatted request to the selected destination device.

Abstract: A system for determining whether an entity that issued a message is pre-configured to receive a response according to an enhanced communications protocol is implemented in a method which includes the steps of receiving a message and parsing the message to selectively classify the entity as an enhanced entity if the message conforms to the enhanced communications protocol.

Abstract: A method for collecting statistics from a network device configured to service requests from one or more other devices coupled thereto includes the steps of maintaining a log file containing one or more entries associated with each request serviced by the network device; identifying a page-level request serviced by the network device; and generating statistics associated with the servicing of the page-level request by the network device from the log file entries associated with the page-level request.

Abstract: A system for collecting and displaying performance improvement information for a computer is implemented in a method for providing performance improvement information to a client device. The method includes the steps of receiving a request from the client device for network content, retrieving the requested network content, and transmitting the network content to the client computer with information relating to a performance improvement associated with the retrieval and/or transmission of the network content.

Abstract: A system for dynamically controlling a network device is implemented in a network device including a parser and a service provider. The parser includes instructions for selectively invoking the service provider in response to a command parsed from an external input received by the network device.

Abstract: A method for determining effective link speed for communications from a first device to a second device coupled by a communications link includes the steps of transmitting a packet from the first device to the second device; receiving a responsive packet at the first device; and determining an effective link speed for communications between the first device and the second device using a period of time between the transmission and receipt.

Abstract: A system for enhancing data access over a communications link is disclosed. In accordance with a particular embodiment, a system for retrieving an object over a computer network includes a network client with a browser for rendering an object to a user and a user interface enabling the user to establish an encoding preference. A remote scaling server is coupled between the network client and the computer network, and includes a remote proxy and an encode service provider. The remote scaling server is configured to request a user-specified encoding preference from the network client, retrieve an object from the computer network using the remote proxy, encode the object using the encode service provider in accordance with the requested user-specified encoding preference, and transmit the encoded object to the network client using the remote proxy. The disclosed system thus enables users to dynamically influence the trade-off between quality of content and download speed.