Abstract: A system and method for dynamically selecting a level of compression to be applied to data to be served to a client. The level of compression may be selected on the basis of one or more factors, such as: the bandwidth of a communication link between the client and a server, the amount of data requested by the client, the workload of the server, whether the data are cacheable, etc. The server can readily obtain information such as the amount of requested data and the available CPU time on the server. To determine the bandwidth, the server may conduct a test transfer of a known amount of data to or from the client, or consult a database identifying known or expected bandwidths for specific client connections (or addresses). Based on the selected factor(s), the server dynamically selects a level of compression for the data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, protocol and method for communications over the Internet. The system includes at least one router connectable to a first user or subscriber location. An Internet protocol service processing switch (IPSX) is connected to the at least one router to format or encapsulate the message for secure transmission over the Internet. The message is then preferably transmitted over the Internet via an Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) tunnel for secure transmission to the addressed destination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for steering network packets. According to one embodiment, a mapping associates a processing resource with a network interface module (netmod) and/or a number of line interface ports included within the netmod. In one embodiment, the mapping is configurable within the processing resource and pushed to the netmod. The netmod uses the mapping to steer network packets to the processing resource when the packets conform to the mapping. The mapping may be additionally used to identify a specific process that is to be performed against the packets once the processing resource receives the steered packets from the netmod.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing subscriber profiles in a network environment are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a connection request from a subscriber, wherein the subscriber is associated with a first-level profile identifier, and wherein more than one subscriber can be associated with the first-level profile identifier. The method also includes determining lower-level profile identifiers using the first-level profile identifier. The method further includes creating a connection for the subscriber, where the connection enables forwarding of packets, and where the forwarding of the packets is based on the associated profile identifiers.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for applying metering and rate-limiting in a virtual router environment and supporting a hierarchy of metering/rate-limiting contexts per packet flow. According to one embodiment, multiple first level metering options and multiple second level metering options associated with a hierarchy of metering levels are provided. A virtual routing engine receives packets associated with a first packet flow and packets associated with a second packet flow. The virtual routing engine performs a first type of metering of the first level metering options on the packets associated with the first packet flow using a first metering control block (MCB) and performs a second type of metering of the second level metering options on the packets associated with the first packet flow and the packets associated with the second flow using a second MCB.

Abstract: Methods and Systems are provided for steering network packets and bridging media channels to a single processing resource. A mapping associates a processing resource with a network interface module (Netmod) or a number of line interface ports included within the Netmod. In one embodiment, the mapping is configurable within the processing resource and pushed to the Netmod. The Netmod uses the mapping to steer network packets to the processing resource when the packets conform to the mapping. Moreover, the mapping can be used to identify a specific process that is to be performed against the packets once the processing resource receives the steered packets from the Netmod.

Abstract: A virtual routing platform includes a line interface a plurality of virtual routing engines (VREs) to identify packets of different packet flows and perform a hierarchy of metering including at least first and second levels of metering on the packet flows. A first level of metering may be performed on packets of a first packet flow using a first metering control block (MCB). The first level of metering may be one level of metering in a hierarchy of metering levels. A second level of metering on the packets of the first packet flow and packets of a second flow using a second MCB. The second level of metering may be another level of metering in the hierarchy. A cache-lock may be placed on the appropriate MCB prior to performing the level of metering. The first and second MCBs may be data structures stored in a shared memory of the virtual routing platform. The cache-lock may be released after performing the level of metering using the MCB.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a cache system, operating on behalf of a data server (e.g., web server, application server, database server), to serve one set of data in response to multiple requests that differ in content or form. In particular, the requests may include different session identifiers for identifying different users, clients or sessions, but they target the same basic set of data (e.g., a web page). When a set of data is cached in response to a request having one session identifier, it can also be served in response to another request having a second session identifier because the session identifiers are deleted, masked, replaced or otherwise ignored when searching the cache system for data responsive to the second request. Also, the cache system may include a requestor's session identifier as part of a data identifier (e.g., URI, hyperlink) within data served to the requester.

Abstract: A system and method for applying a partial page change to a browser page formatted according to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). In response to an update request, a first client browser page is updated to a second page by applying one or more partial page changes to the first page, wherein each change comprises an HTML element. Each change may comprise an element unique to the second page or an element that differs from a corresponding element of the first page. A set of changes may comprise a partial page update. In one embodiment of the invention, an origin server may be expressly programmed to receive the update request and serve a partial page update. In another embodiment of the invention, a caching server is configured to generate the partial page update by comparing hash values computed on corresponding elements of the first page and the second page.

Abstract: A method for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to enable efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site. A Web page is accessed out of a plurality of Web pages of a Web site. A set of actions available to a user are determined for the Web page. A set of the next pages linked to the Web page are determined for the Web page. A set of rules are defined that modify the set of actions available to the user or the set of next pages linked to the Web page in accordance with an identity of the user. The set of actions, the set of next pages, and the set of rules are stored in a table data structure for the Web page to track a user flow of the Web page. The table data structure enables the user flow of the Web page to be changed by altering the corresponding set of rules in the table data structure for the Web page.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically selecting a level of compression to be applied to data to be served to a client. The level of compression may be selected on the basis of one or more factors, such as: the bandwidth of a communication link between the client and a server, the amount of data requested by the client, the workload of the server, whether the data are cacheable, etc. The server can readily obtain information such as the amount of requested data and the available CPU time on the server. To determine the bandwidth, the server may conduct a test transfer of a known amount of data to or from the client, or consult a database identifying known or expected bandwidths for specific client connections (or addresses). Based on the selected factor(s), the server dynamically selects a level of compression for the data.

Abstract: A method for a first computer to request documents from a second computer inacludes steps of sending a first request for a first document to the second computer responsive to a first user action, receiving the first document sent by the second computer responsive to the first request; identifying all references to second documents in the received first document; independently of any user action, automatically sending a second request for at least one of the second documents referred to by the identified references; receiving the second document(s) requested by the second request and storing the received second document(s) in a storage that is local to the first computer, and responsive to a user request for one or more of the second documents, attempting first to service the user request from the local storage and sending a third request to the second computer for second document(s) only when the second document(s) is not stored in the local storage.

Abstract: Methods and Systems are provided for bridging heterogeneous media packets using a single processor resource having a virtual bridge. Network interfaces associated with heterogeneous media channels relay network packets to the virtual bridge. The virtual bridge accesses metadata associated with the relayed network packets and translates the network packets to between media formats. The translated network packets are then relayed to an appropriate network interface. In one embodiment, the virtual bridge is dynamically configurable within the processing resource.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically modifying behavior of a compiled application include receiving a first set of compiled instructions for the application. The first set of compiled instructions is modified to generate a modified set of compiled instructions. Modifying the first set of compiled instructions includes inserting a new set of one or more instructions for invoking a first routine that provides new behavior. The first routine is not part of the first set of compiled instructions. These techniques allow an administrator to automatically instrument compiled code of an application to provide new behavior for the application without taking the application offline for substantial periods of time. In particular, the techniques allow a service provider to automatically instrument existing applications, components, and sub-components to measure and respond to server-side performance without taking the applications offline.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for enabling a cache system, operating on behalf of a data server (e.g., web server, application server, database server), to cache and customize one set of data (e.g., a web page) in different ways for different requests (e.g., to include a client's name, account information, a special logo). An application that generates or produces the data on the data server embeds or includes special tags or markers in customizable data, to identify where custom data should be inserted or substituted. The custom data may be included in client requests or retrieved from the cache system, data server or elsewhere. When the cache system receives a new request for cached data that is customizable, the data is retrieved from cache, the custom data is retrieved and inserted at the corresponding tags and the customized data is served.

Abstract: A virtual routing platform includes a line interface a plurality of virtual routing engines (VREs) to identify packets of different packet flows and perform a hierarchy of metering including at least first and second levels of metering on the packet flows. A first level of metering may be performed on packets of a first packet flow using a first metering control block (MCB). The first level of metering may be one level of metering in a hierarchy of metering levels. A second level of metering on the packets of the first packet flow and packets of a second flow using a second MCB. The second level of metering may be another level of metering in the hierarchy. A cache-lock may be placed on the appropriate MCB prior to performing the level of metering. The first and second MCBs may be data structures stored in a shared memory of the virtual routing platform. The cache-lock may be released after performing the level of metering using the MCB.

Abstract: Methods and Systems are provided for steering network packets and bridging media channels to a single processing resource. A mapping associates a processing resource with a network interface module (Netmod) or a number of line interface ports included within the Netmod. In one embodiment, the mapping is configurable within the processing resource and pushed to the Netmod. The Netmod uses the mapping to steer network packets to the processing resource when the packets conform to the mapping. Moreover, the mapping can be used to identify a specific process that is to be performed against the packets once the processing resource receives the steered packets from the Netmod.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, protocol and method for communications over the Internet. The system includes at least one router connectable to a first user or subscriber location. An Internet protocol service processing switch (IPSX) is connected to the at least one router to format or encapsulate the message for secure transmission over the Internet. The message is then preferably transmitted over the Internet via an Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) tunnel for secure transmission to the addressed destination.

Abstract: A method for a first computer to request documents from a second computer includes steps of sending a first request for a first document to the second computer responsive to a first user action, receiving the first document sent by the second computer responsive to the first request; identifying all references to second documents in the received first document; independently of any user action, automatically sending a second request for at least one of the second documents referred to by the identified references; receiving the second document(s) requested by the second request and storing the received second document(s) in a storage that is local to the first computer, and responsive to a user request for one or more of the second documents, attempting first to service the user request from the local storage and sending a third request to the second computer for second document(s) only when the second document(s) is not stored in the local storage.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for delivering personalized content from a first server such as a merchant Web server to a computer accessing a second server such as an affiliate Web server. A system according to the present invention includes a merchant Web server and an affiliate Web server, the affiliate Web server being coupled to the merchant Web server over a computer network. A database of user information is accessible to the merchant Web server, as is a rule base that includes a plurality of configurable rules. User identification may be collected from the computer accessing a Web site controlled by the affiliate Web server and the collected user identification may be sent to the merchant Web server, along with a request for content. User information corresponding to the collected user identification may then be retrieved from the database.