System and method for improving internet communication by using intermediate nodes
A method for fetching a content from a web server to a client device is disclosed, using tunnel devices serving as intermediate devices. The client device accesses an acceleration server to receive a list of available tunnel devices. The requested content is partitioned into slices, and the client device sends a request for the slices to the available tunnel devices. The tunnel devices in turn fetch the slices from the data server, and send the slices to the client device, where the content is reconstructed from the received slices. A client device may also serve as a tunnel device, serving as an intermediate device to other client devices. Similarly, a tunnel device may also serve as a client device for fetching content from a data server. The selection of tunnel devices to be used by a client device may be in the acceleration server, in the client device, or in both. The partition into slices may be overlapping or non-overlapping, and the same slice (or the whole content) may be fetched via multiple tunnel devices.
1. A method for use by a client device that utilizes a resource and that comprises, or consists of, a portable or mobile device, for use with a criterion associated with a utilization level of the resource, and for use with a first content that is identified in the Internet by a first identifier, that is publicly-accessed, that is stored in a web server, and that is available from the web server for any requesting client device over the Internet, the method comprising:
connecting, by the client device to a first server over the Internet;
measuring, by the client device, a utilization level of the resource that comprises a processor or a Central Processing Unit (CPU);
determining, whether the measured utilization level satisfies the criterion;
sending, by the client device to the first server over the Internet, in response to the determining that the measured utilization level satisfies the criterion, a message that is indicative of the measured utilization level;
receiving, by the client device from a requesting device over the Internet, the first identifier, after the sending of the message;
sending, by the client device to the web server over the Internet, in response to the receiving of the first identifier, a request for the first content that comprises the received first identifier and the source address of the client device, so that the web server is only aware of the client device as the requesting device;
receiving, by the client device from the web server over the Internet, the first content in response to the sending of the request; and
sending, by the client device to the requesting device over the Internet, the received first content,
wherein the resource utilization comprises the processor or the Central Processing Unit (CPU) time of executing one or more threads or processes, wherein the resource utilization comprises the processor or CPU idling time, or wherein the resource utilization comprises the processor or CPU executing a system idle process, and
wherein the criterion is satisfied when the measured utilization level is above or below the threshold level.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the message comprises the measured utilization level.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the first identifier comprises receiving of the first identifier from the first server.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the sending of the received first content comprises sending of the received first content to the first server.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the first identifier comprises receiving of the first identifier from a second server that is distinct from the first server.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the sending of the received first content comprises sending of the first received content to the second server.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the first identifier is in response to the sending of the message.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the utilization level comprises periodically measuring of the utilization level.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the sending of the message comprises periodically sending of the message.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the sending of the message is performed every 10, 20, 30, 50, or 100 milliseconds, every 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 seconds, or every 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 minutes.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the utilization level comprises continuously measuring of the utilization level.
12. The method according to claim 1 , for use with a threshold level, wherein the sending of the message is in response to the measured utilization level crossing the threshold level.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the client device is configured to be in first and second states, the method further comprising:
responsive to the determining that the utilization of the resource satisfies the criterion, shifting to, or staying in, the first state; and
responsive to the determining that the utilization of the resource does not satisfy the criterion, shifting to, or staying in, the second state.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the sending of the message is in response to being in, or shifting to, the first state.
15. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the first server from the client device, the message; and
sending, by the first server to the client device, the first identifier in response to the received message.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the resource further comprises, or consists of, a hardware component in the client device.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the hardware component comprises, or consists of, a memory in the client device, and wherein the resource utilization is based on, or comprises, an amount of used or unused location or space of the memory.
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the resource comprises, or consists of, input or output capability.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the resource comprises, or consists of, communication bandwidth of communication with another device over the Internet.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the resource comprises, or consists of, communication bandwidth of communication with the first server over the Internet, or wherein the resource utilization is based on, or according to, IETF RFC 2914.
21. The method according to claim 1 , further for use with a second content that is identified by a second identifier and is stored in a web server, the method further comprising:
receiving, by the client device over the Internet, the second identifier;
sending, by the client device to the web server, the received second identifier;
receiving, by the client device from the web server, the second content in response to the sending of the second identifier; and
sending, by the client device over the Internet, the received second content.
22. The method according to claim 1 , further for use with a second content that is identified by a second identifier and is stored in an additional web server, the method further comprising:
receiving, by the client device over the Internet, the second identifier;
sending, by the client device to the additional web server, the received second identifier;
receiving, by the client device from the additional web server, the second content in response to the sending of the second identifier; and
sending, by the client device over the Internet, the received second content.
23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication between the client device with the first server is based on, or is according to, Transmission Control Protocol over Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol or connection.
24. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting comprises establishing a connection with the first server, and wherein the communication with the first server is over the established connection.
25. The method according to claim 24 , wherein the established connection is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection that is established by performing ‘Active OPEN’ or ‘Passive OPEN’.
26. The method according to claim 24 , wherein the established connection is using a tunneling protocol.
27. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication by the client device with the first server is based on, or is according to, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and the established connection is using a tunneling protocol.
28. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first content comprises a part or whole of a computer files, text data, audio data, voice data, multimedia data, video data, or a computer program.
29. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first content comprises a part of, or a whole of, a web-site page.
30. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the client device is a vehicular device configured to be in a vehicle.
31. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the client device is further storing, operating, or using, a client operating system.
32. The method according to claim 31 , wherein the client operating system consists or, comprises of, or is based on, one out of Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Linux, and Google Chrome OS.
33. The method according to claim 31 , wherein the client operating system consists of, comprise, or is based on, one out of Android version 2.2 (Froyo), Android version 2.3 (Gingerbread), Android version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), Android Version 4.2 (Jelly Bean), Android version 4.4 (KitKat), Apple iOS version 3, Apple iOS version 4, Apple iOS version 5, Apple iOS version 6, Apple iOS version 7, Microsoft Windows® Phone version 7, Microsoft Windows® Phone version 8, Microsoft Windows® Phone version 9, and Blackberry® operating system.
34. The method according to claim 31 , wherein the client operating system consists of, comprise, or is based on, one out of Android TV, Android Auto, or Android Wear.
35. The method according to claim 31 , wherein the client operating system is a mobile operating system.
36. The method according to claim 35 , wherein the mobile operating system is one out of Android version 2.2 (Froyo), Android version 2.3 (Gingerbread), Android version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), Android Version 4.2 (Jelly Bean), Android version 4.4 (KitKat), Apple iOS version 3, Apple iOS version 4, Apple iOS version 5, Apple iOS version 6, Apple iOS version 7, Microsoft Windows® Phone version 7, Microsoft Windows® Phone version 8, Microsoft Windows® Phone version 9, and Blackberry® operating system.
37. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising executing an application, and wherein the application comprises a web browser.
38. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the web browser consists of, comprises of, or based on, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera™, or Mozilla Firefox®.
39. The method according to claim 37 , wherein the web browser is a mobile web browser.
40. The method according to claim 39 , wherein the mobile web browser consists of, comprises of, or based on, Safari, Opera Mini™, or Android web browser.
41. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone.
42. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first identifier comprises, or consists of, is an IP address or a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
43. The method according to claim 42 , wherein the IP addresses is in IPv4 or IPv6 form.
44. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the web server uses HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and responds to HTTP requests via the Internet, or wherein the web server uses HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) and responds to HTTPS requests via the Internet.
45. The method according to claim 44 , wherein the sending of the first identifier to the web server comprises sending of a HTTP or HTTPS request.
46. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication with the first server or the web server is based on, or uses, HTTP or HTTPS persistent connection.
47. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising periodically sending, by the client device to the first server, an ‘heartbeat’ message that comprises a status of the client device, or is in response to the status of the client device.
48. The method according to claim 47 , wherein the status is based on the measured utilization level.
49. The method according to claim 47 , wherein the time period between sent multiple ‘heartbeat’ messages is at least 10 milliseconds, 20 milliseconds, 30 milliseconds, 50 milliseconds, 100 milliseconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 50 seconds, or 100 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, minutes 5, or 10 minutes.
50. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the client device comprises, or is part of, a household appliance.
51. The method according to claim 50 , wherein the appliance comprises, consists of, or includes, a major appliance that is an air conditioner, a dishwasher, a clothes dryer, a drying cabinet, a kitchen stove, a water heater, a washing machine, a trash compactor, a microwave oven, or an induction cooker.
52. The method according to claim 51 , wherein the appliance comprises, consists of, or includes, a major appliance that is a freezer or a refrigerator.
53. The method according to claim 51 , wherein the appliance comprises, consists of, or includes, a small appliance that is a television (TV) set.
54. The method according to claim 51 , wherein the appliance comprises, consists of, or includes, a small appliance that is a CD or DVD player, a camcorder, a still camera, a clock, an alarm clock, a video game console, a HiFi or home cinema, a telephone, or an answering machine.
55. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the client device to the first server, a physical geographical location.
56. The method according to claim 55 , wherein the physical geographical location corresponds to the actual physical geographical location of the client device.
57. The method according to claim 55 , wherein the physical geographical location comprises a continent, a country, a state or province, a city, a street, a ZIP code, a longitude, a latitude, or any combination thereof.