Prefetching the means for document transfer: A new approach for reducing Web latency

Edith Cohen*, Haim Kaplan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

User-perceived latency is recognized as the central performance problem in the Web. We systematically measure factors contributing to this latency, across several locations. Our study reveals that DNS query times, TCP connection establishment, and start-of-session delays at HTTP servers, more so than transmission time, are major causes of long waits. Wait due to these factors also afflicts high-bandwidth users and has detrimental effect on perceived performance. We propose simple techniques that address these factors: (i) pre-resolving host-names (pre-performing DNS lookup), (ii) pre-connecting (prefetching TCP connections prior to issuance of HTTP request), and (iii) pre-warming (sending a `dummy' HTTP HEAD request to Web servers). Trace-based simulations demonstrate a potential to reduce perceived latency dramatically. Our techniques surpass document prefetching in performance improvement per bandwidth used and can be used with non-prefetchable URLs. Deployment of these techniques at Web browsers or proxies does not require protocol modifications or the cooperation of other entities. Applicable servers can be identified, for example, by analyzing hyperlinks. Bandwidth overhead is minimal, and so is processing overhead at the user's browser. We propose scalable deployment solutions to control the potential overhead to proxies and particularly to Web servers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)854-863
Number of pages10
JournalProceedings - IEEE INFOCOM
Volume2
StatePublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes
Event19th Annual Joint Conference of the IEEE Computer and Communications Societies - IEEE INFOCOM2000: 'Reaching the Promised Land of Communications' - Tel Aviv, Isr
Duration: 26 Mar 200030 Mar 2000

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prefetching the means for document transfer: A new approach for reducing Web latency'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this