Abstract: A Fast method of retrieving Internet web pages based on pre-caching of web pages and their objects. Access by web browsers to these objects are faster since the objects are available in the web browser's local memory cache in advance of actually needing them. Thus, when the web browser needs these objects, no network delays are experienced due to having to get them from the web server located some distance away over the Internet. In addition, a computer efficient method is provided that allows for the statistical selection of which objects to pre-cache. This pre-caching method avoids excessive pre-caching of objects that are statistically insignificant but costly in their use of computer resources. Thus, with pre-caching only the objects most likely to be used in subsequent web browser interactions will take up the computer resources in the pre-caching process.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for measuring a round trip response time for a transaction performed by a computer in a network environment. The method comprises the steps of starting a software timer when a transaction is initiated at a browser of the computer, and sending the transaction to a server in the network environment. The server services the transaction, and generates a response to the transaction. When the response is received at the browser the software timer is stopped. The start time is subtracted from the stop time to calculate a round trip response time.