Abstract: Features are disclosed for determining which content item or items are likely to be requested by a particular user or device, or by a group of users or devices. The determined content items may be obtained independently of a request from the users or devices, and substantially current versions of the content items may be maintained at a server system, such as an intermediary system. Visual representations of the content items may be generated to reduce processing requirements at a user device. When the content items are determined to be likely to be requested by a particular user, a predicted time may also be determined, and the visual representations may be generated such that they are available at the predicted time.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for determining preferred content request modes for client computing devices when initiating content requests. The request modes may correspond to direct requests (e.g., requests made from a client device directly to a content sever hosting requested content) or to indirect requests (e.g., requests made from the client device to the content server via an intermediary system). The preferred request modes made be based on a statistical analysis of performance data (e.g., prior content load times) obtained from one or more client computing devices for a given content item, group of content items (e.g., domain), and the like.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for selecting preferred content request modes on a client computing device when initiating content requests. The request modes may correspond to direct requests (e.g., requests made from a client device directly to a content sever hosting requested content) or to indirect requests (e.g., requests made from the client device to the content server via an intermediary system). The preferred request modes made be based on a statistical analysis of performance data (e.g., prior content load times) observed or recorded by the client computing device in connection with prior content requests. Randomly selected request modes may be used to provide additional data for performance analysis.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for generating request decision models for use by client computing devices to determine request paths or modes for content requests. The request modes may correspond to direct requests (e.g., requests made from a client device directly to a content server hosting requested content) or to indirect requests (e.g., requests made from the client device to the content server via an intermediary system). The request decision models may be trained by a machine learning algorithm using performance data (e.g., prior content load times), contextual information (e.g., state information associated with devices at times content requests are executed), and the like.

Abstract: A system and process are disclosed for providing users with page previews during page loading events, such that the delay experienced before the display of page content is reduced. The previews may include screenshots of the pages or of portions thereof, and may be generated periodically and cached by the system for delivery to user devices. The process of generating and delivering the previews via the Internet or some other network may be implemented partly or wholly within an intermediary system that sits logically between the user devices and content servers. The process may be used with existing browsers without the need for any browser modifications, or may be used with a “preview-aware” browser that includes special program code for providing page previews.

Abstract: A system and process are disclosed for providing users with page previews during page loading events, such that the delay experienced before the display of page content is reduced. The previews may include screenshots of the pages or of portions thereof, and may be generated periodically and cached by the system for delivery to user devices. The process of generating and delivering the previews via the Internet or some other network may be implemented partly or wholly within an intermediary system that sits logically between the user devices and content servers. The process may be used with existing browsers without the need for any browser modifications, or may be used with a “preview-aware” browser that includes special program code for providing page previews.

Abstract: A system and process are disclosed for providing users with page previews during page loading events, such that the delay experienced before the display of page content is reduced. The previews may include screenshots of the pages or of portions thereof, and may be generated periodically and cached by the system for delivery to user devices. The process of generating and delivering the previews via the Internet or some other network may be implemented partly or wholly within an intermediary system that sits logically between the user devices and content servers. The process may be used with existing browsers without the need for any browser modifications, or may be used with a “preview-aware” browser that includes special program code for providing page previews.