Abstract: A method for accelerating reception, over a network, of an object requested from a source server by an end user browser comprises using an accelerator to determine a minimal amount of content that is a fraction of the content of the object, transmitting the minimal amount of content to the end user browser and reassembling the requested object at the end-user. The minimal content includes a dynamic object with instructions and references to static components cached in the browser. The referenced static components are determined heuristically through comparisons with components of previous objects received from the same domain.

Abstract: Caches are disposed in the Internet for storing and updating copies of objects having dynamic content. Update characteristics of the objects are determined, and a time to live (TTL) parameter for the objects is adjusted based upon the update characteristics. Generally, the object is updated if its TTL is less than its age. The TTL for an object may be adjusted to (i) maintain its probability of error below a predetermined error probability threshold; (ii) maintain its error rate below a predetermined error probability threshold; or (iii) maintain its delay time below a predetermined delay threshold. Preferably, the caches are dedicated machines and are placed so that Web browsing passes through the cache instead of going all the way to the original sites, in many different locations, ideally within the network of ISPs providing the Internet connectivity to the highest number of users in those locations.