Reduction of meta data in a network

1. A computer implemented method of processing a data string in a web page, comprising:

mapping data string to a fixed-length string, wherein said fixed length string includes a unique identifier associating said data string with said web page;

replacing the data string in the web page with the fixed-length string;

maintaining a correlation between the fixed-length string and the data string such that the data string can be determined using the fixed-length string, wherein the correlation is memory-based with a table mapping the fixed length string to the data string, or function-based with a reversible hash correlating the fixed length string and the data string; and

transmitting the page with said fixed-length string.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed on a web server which provides said web page.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said method is performed on an intermediate server which receives said web page from a web content server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said web page has a unique page ID.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step (a) comprises generating a random identifier for said data string and creating a table associating said random identifier with said data string.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said data string comprises at least one universal resource locator.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said data string comprises meta-data.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said data string comprises a plurality of universal resource locators, each said universal resource locator being mapped into a table uniquely associated with said web page, each said universal resource locator having a unique identifier.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step (b) comprises generating a new web page wherein said data string is replaced with said fixed-length string.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said data string comprises a plurality of universal resource locators, and each said universal resource locator is replaced with a fixed-length string.

11. A computer implemented method of converting meta-data in a web page to a fixed-length string, comprising:

converting a string of meta-data to a random fixed-length data string, wherein said fixed length string includes a unique identifier associating said string with said web page;

associating the string of meta-data with the fixed-length data string;

replacing the associated string of meta-data in the web page with the fixed-length data string;

maintaining a correlation between the fixed-length string and the metadata such that the data string can be determined using the fixed-length string, wherein the correlation is memory-based with a table mapping the fixed length string to the string of metadata, or function-based with a reversible hash correlating the fixed length string and the metadata; and

transmitting the page with said fixed-length string.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step (a) comprises performing a fixed-length hash on said data string, uniquely identifying said web page, and combining said uniquely identified said web page with said fixed-length hash.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said step (a) comprises performing a reversible hash on said string of meta-data and associating a key with said web page.

14. A method of processing a web page, including a string of meta-data transmitted on a network, comprising:

converting a string of meta-data to a fixed-length string, wherein said fixed length string includes a unique identifier associating said data string with said web page;

mapping said string meta-data to a fixed-length string;

maintaining a correlation between the fixed-length string and the string of meta-data such that the string of meta-data can be determined using the fixed-length string, wherein the correlation is memory-based with a table mapping the fixed length string to the string of meta-data, or function-based with a reversible hash correlating between the fixed length string and the string of meta-data; and

transmitting the fixed-length string with in place of the string of meta-data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said web page is provided with a unique ID.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said step (a) comprises generating a random identifier for said fixed-length string and creating a table associating said random identifier with said fixed-length string.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said string of meta-data comprises at least one universal resource locator.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said step (b) comprises generating a new web page wherein said meta-data string is replaced with said fixed-length string.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said step (a) comprises performing a fixed-length hash on said meta-data, uniquely identifying said web page, and combining said unique identifier for said web page with said fixed-length hash.

20. A computer implemented method of processing a web page comprising:

converting a URL on a first web page into a fixed-length string which is transmitted to a user, wherein said fixed length string includes a unique identifier associating said data string with said web page;

mapping said URL to a fixed-length string;

maintaining a correlation between the fixed-length string and the URL such that the URL can be determined using the fixed-length string, wherein the correlation is memory-based with a table mapping the fixed length string to the URL or function-based with a reversible hash correlating the fixed length string and the URL;

receiving a request from the user for information associated with the fixed-length string;

determining the URL from the fixed-length string; and

using the URL associated with the fixed-length string to find a second page to provide information to the user.