Advanced content and data distribution techniques
A method and apparatus for displaying locally stored content objects is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a message containing one or more parameters indicative of one or more characteristics of a client, and sending one of a plurality of groups of one or more content objects from a set of content objects to the client based on the one or more parameters, wherein each of the plurality of groups is suited for use with clients having a different set of one or more parameters.
1. A method comprising:
downloading, by a device intermediary to a plurality of clients and a server, a table of contents identifying contents of a newer version of a content object published by a content provider via the server for a channel subscribed to by a client of the plurality of clients, the content object comprising a plurality of files, the table of contents indicating names, lengths and checksums of the plurality of files;
comparing, by the device, checksums of the plurality of files for the content object identified by the table of contents with checksums of files of the content object stored on the device to determine one or more files of the newer version of the content object that represents a difference between the newer version and an earlier version of the content object;
signaling, by the device, the client to download only the one or more files of the newer version of the content object while the client is using the earlier version of the content object, the one or more files of the newer version being combinable with the earlier version of the content object to enable the client to have access to the newer version of the content object.
2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising specifying a range of data corresponding to data in the newer version of the content object corresponding to the the one or more files of the newer version of the content object that is to be downloaded.
3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the range of data comprises a byte range.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subscribing, by the client, to the channel of the content provider publishing one or more content objects.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using, by the client, the earlier version of the content object until the newer version of the content object is download.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deleting, by the client, the earlier version of the content object upon completion of downloading the newer version of the content object.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the device responsive to completion of the download of the newer version of the content, a message to the client to disable the earlier version of the content object.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising choosing, by the device, the newest version of the content object from a top of an object list.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a same name for the newer version of the content object as the earlier version of the content object.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a web page that specifies a name for the content object to appear in the web page does not need to be changed when a newer version of the content object is published by the content provider.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using by the client the earlier version of the content object for a web page while the newer version of the content object is downloaded and switching to using the newer of the content object for the web page upon completion of the download of the content object.
12. An article of manufacture having one or more recordable media which, when executed by a system, causes the system to perform a method comprising:
downloading, by a device intermediary to a plurality of a clients and a server, a table of contents identifying contents of a newer version of a content object published by a content provider via the server for a channel subscribed to by a client of the plurality of clients, the content object comprising a plurality of files, the table of contents indicating names, lengths and checksums of the plurality of files;
comparing, by the device, checksums of the plurality of files for the content object identified by the table of contents with checksums of files of the content object stored on the device to determine one or more files of the newer version of the content object that represents a difference between the newer version and an earlier version of the content object; and
signaling, by the device, a client to download only the one or more files of the newer version of the content object while the client is using the earlier version of the content object, the one or more files of the newer version being combinable with the earlier version of the content object to enable the client to have access to the newer version of the content object.
13. The article of manufacture defined in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises specifying a range of data corresponding to data in the newer version of the content object corresponding to the one or more files of the newer version of the content object that is to be downloaded.
14. The article of manufacture defined in claim 13 wherein the range of data comprises a byte range.
15. The article of manufacture defined in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises subscribing, by the client, to the channel of the server publishing one or more content objects.
16. The article of manufacture defined in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises using, by the client, the earlier version of the content object until the newer version of the content object is downloaded.
17. The article of manufacture defined in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises deleting, by the client, the earlier version of the content object upon completion of downloading the newer version of the content object.
18. The article of manufacture defined in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises sending, by the device responsive to completion of the download of the newer version of the content object, a message to the client to disable the earlier version of the content object.
19. The article of manufacture defined in claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises choosing, by the device, the newest of the content object from a top of an object list.