Abstract: A distributed processing system that has a host and at least one connected work station. Each information object requested by the work station from the host is stored at the work station and is retained according to a predetermined hierarchy of priorities. When the work station initiates a request for an information object, the work station storage is first interrogated for the object and it is obtained therefrom if present. Only if the object is not in work station storage, is a request then transmitted to the host to obtain the information object.

Abstract: A distributed processing system includes a host and at least one connected work station. At the host there are included heuristic logic circuits which respond to information objects received at the host to determine the likelihood of use of each such object by the work station. Information objects likely to be used at the work station are voluntarily transmitted by the host to the work station prior to a request being made by the work station.