Pointcast, Inc.

Joseph C Pistriotto

Katrina Montinola

A computer network including a client, at least one caching proxy server, and a destination computer is described. In a specific embodiment, a client computer may request particular types of information by including a category ID in request messages. In order to reduce network traffic, the destination computer may redirect the client's request messages to a caching proxy server, which is preferably located behind the same firewall or gateway as the client. The destination computer may initiate the redirection of client computer requests after receiving an HTTP proxy.sub.-- GET request message from the client. The destination computer sends a message to the caching proxy server specifying the categories of request that the client computer will direct to the caching proxy server. The proxy server forwards this message to the client computer. The client computer uses the information contained in this message to direct requests messages to a specific caching proxy server based on a category ID.

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Belmont, CA, United States of America

Joseph C Pistriotto