Abstract: A user device includes an interface and one or more processors. The interface is configured to communicate over a network. The one or more processors are configured to evaluate a pre-load scheduling condition with respect to a user application installed in the user device, and to schedule pre-loading of the user application depending on the pre-load scheduling condition.

Abstract: A user device includes a display screen and one or more processors. The display screen is configured to display content to a user. The one or more processors are configured to pre-load a user application by running at least part of a program code of the user application in a background, including enabling the program code of the user application to pre-render a visual display of the user application in the background, and, in response to the user accessing the user application, to transfer the pre-rendered visual display to a foreground, thereby displaying the visual display to the user on the display screen.

Abstract: A user device includes a memory and one or more processors. The memory is configured to store one or more user applications installed in the user device. The one or more processors are configured to select one or more operations, which are to be performed in normal launching of a user application but not in background pre-loading of the user application, to pre-load the user application before the user application is accessed by a user, including skipping the one or more selected operations, and to complete the one or more skipped operations in response to the user accessing the user application.

Abstract: A system (20) includes one or more interfaces and multiple processors. The one or more interfaces are configured to communicate over a communication network (40). At least a first processor from among the processors is included in a user device (24) and at least a second processor from among the processors is included in a server (52) external to the user device. The processors are configured to track content items that are provided by one or more content sources (36) and to deliver the content items to one or more applications (32) installed in the user device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including a method for use with a first content delivery network (CDN) and a second CDN that are used by a content source. A processor is used to identify that a device is requesting an exchange of content with the content source, identify a property of the requested exchange of content, and based on the property, select one of the first CDN and the second CDN. Subsequently, content is exchanged between the device and the selected CDN. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method includes, in a processor (44) of a user device (24), preloading one or more user applications (26) in a background mode, in which activities associated with preloaded user applications are hidden from a user of the user device. An activity, which is invoked in the processor and is associated with a given preloaded user application, is detected. An assessment is made by the processor, whether the activity is a preload-initiated activity that is invoked due to preloading of the given user application, or whether the activity is a user-initiated activity that is invoked due to an action by the user. If the activity is assessed to be a preload-initiated activity, the activity is handled using a first handling scheme. If the activity is assessed to be a user-initiated activity, the activity is handled using a second handling scheme, different from the first handling scheme.

Abstract: A method includes caching content items in a cache memory of a communication terminal connected to a communication network. A content item, which is cached in the cache memory, is presented to a user of the communication terminal. An extent of freshness of the cached content item presented to the user is assessed. Presentation of the cached content item is conditionally modified depending on the assessed extent of freshness.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including a method for use with a first content delivery network (CDN) and a second CDN that are used by a content source. A processor is used to identify that a device is requesting an exchange of content with the content source, identify a property of the requested exchange of content, and based on the property, select one of the first CDN and the second CDN. Subsequently, content is exchanged between the device and the selected CDN. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including a method for use with a first content delivery network (CDN) and a second CDN that are used by a content source. A processor is used to identify that a device is requesting an exchange of content with the content source, identify a property of the requested exchange of content, and based on the property, select one of the first CDN and the second CDN. Subsequently, content is exchanged between the device and the selected CDN. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus (24, 60) includes a network interface (64) and one or more processors (44, 68). The network interface is configured for communicating over a communication network (32). The one or more processors are configured to prefetch content items over the communication network, from a content source (28) to a cache memory (52) of a user device (24), wherein at least a content item among the content items includes a cache directive specified by the content source, to modify the cache directive specified by the content source, and to serve the content item having the modified cache directive to a user application (36) running in the user device, so as to cause the user application to process the content item responsively to the modified cache directive.

Abstract: A system (20) includes one or more interfaces and multiple processors. The one or more interfaces are configured to communicate over a communication network (40). At least a first processor from among the processors is included in a user device (24) and at least a second processor from among the processors is included in a server (52) external to the user device. The processors are configured to track content items that are provided by one or more content sources (36) and to deliver the content items to one or more applications (32) installed in the user device.

Abstract: A method includes prefetching to a memory of a user device one or more content segments of a content item, which includes multiple content segments and an index that specifies storage locations of the content segments. The index is modified to indicate that the prefetched content segments are to be retrieved from the memory of the user device. At least part of the content item is delivered by retrieving at least some of the content segments in accordance with the modified index.

Abstract: A method includes caching content items in a cache memory of a communication terminal connected to a communication network. A content item, which is cached in the cache memory, is presented to a user of the communication terminal. An extent of freshness of the cached content item presented to the user is assessed. Presentation of the cached content item is conditionally modified depending on the assessed extent of freshness.

Abstract: A method includes prefetching advertisement items from one or more advertisement sources over a network to an advertisement cache of a user terminal. In response to an indication that a content item is expected to be consumed by the user terminal, a request for an advertisement item to be presented in association with the content item is sent from the user terminal over the network. An instruction to present a selected advertisement item is received in the user terminal in response to the request. If the selected advertisement item is available in the advertisement cache, the selected advertisement item is retrieved from the advertisement cache, and the retrieved advertisement item is presented in association with the content item.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including a method for use with a first content delivery network (CDN) and a second CDN that are used by a content source. A processor is used to identify that a device is requesting an exchange of content with the content source, identify a property of the requested exchange of content, and based on the property, select one of the first CDN and the second CDN. Subsequently, content is exchanged between the device and the selected CDN. Other embodiments are also described.