Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates intercepting browser communication protocol requests at a client. In addition, the system optionally fulfills the requests with content which is locally cached on the client rather than with content from a web server, which is located externally from the client. During operation, the system receives a communication protocol request at a browser's communication protocol stack. In response to the request, the system identifies a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the request. The system also determines if an item of content identified by the URL can be retrieved from a local cache. If so, the system fulfills the request from the local cache.

Abstract: An extensible and replaceable network-oriented component system provides a platform for developing network navigation components that operate on a variety of hardware and software computer systems. These navigation components assist users in navigating from information locations quickly and accurately. Also, these navigation components may be modified or replaced with new navigation components for embedding various types of information therein. Communication among these components is achieved through novel application programming interfaces (APIs) to facilitate integration with an underlying software component architecture. Such a highly-modular cooperating layered-arrangement between the network component system and the component architecture allows any existing component to be replaced, and allows new components to be added, without affecting operation of the network component system.

Abstract: An opening part of an extensible and replaceable network-oriented component system opens asynchronous information by maintaining a placeholder until an actual data type determination is made. While this placeholder is being maintained, the progress of the opening process may be monitored and displayed. Upon determining the actual data type of the asynchronous information, the appropriate display part for the data type may be obtained. The network-oriented system includes a novel application programming interface for the opening part that facilitates integration with an underlying software component architecture. Such a highly-modular cooperating layered-arrangement between the network component system and the component architecture allows the opening part to be replaced, extended or modified by other opening-type components, while ensuring that these latter components "seamlessly" interact with existing components and component editors of the system.