Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for compound request processing. In one embodiment, a server maintains a cache of data items it has provided to a client. When the client requests a data item from the server, the server retrieves the data item and also retrieves all available associated data items. The server determines which associated data items are unchanged. Then, the server transmits the data item along with information indicating whether associated data items are unchanged. In one embodiment, when a client wishes to request an associated data item, it first determines whether the server indicated that the associated data item is unchanged. If the associated data item is unchanged, the client uses the copy of the associated data item in the client's cache. If the associated data item is changed, the client requests the associated data item from the server.

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First Claim