Dynamic configuration between proxy caches within an intranet

Abstract

A proxy cache is used for storing frequently-required data by a client, decreasing the server response time. Another way of using proxy caches is forming a proxy cache cooperative group. There are times when proxy caches, which are located in the same Internet service provider network, could cooperate between each other, but they do not know of the existence of other caches. In this paper we are proposing a proxy caches auto-configuration protocol that allows a proxy cache to detect other active caches. When it enters the intranet it detects them, and parameters are sent in order to do an auto-configuration. Another function that the protocol does is the cache monitoring of messages flowing between each other, with the purpose of temporarily or permanently deactivate deficient caches. That is why this protocol helps us to avoid possible-cooperative proxy caches under-utilization and avoids time loss when deficient proxy caches exist. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004.