In an
internet access system which includes a
satellite link, a distributed
proxy server (68) is provided which reduces a
delay associated with the retrieval of inline objects of web pages. The distributed
proxy server (68) includes an access point component (70) and a
satellite gateway component (72). The access point component (70) runs on the
client (browser) side of the
satellite link and communicates with web browsers (20A-20N). The satellite gateway component (72) runs on
the internet side of the satellite link and communicates with web servers (26). As a
web page is retrieved over the satellite link, the satellite gateway component (72) parses the base file component of the
web page to identify any references to inline objects of the
web page, and prefetches each such inline object. The distributed
proxy server thereby eliminates the delays normally associated with (a) waiting for the
web browser (20) to receive the base component and request the object(s), and (b) waiting for the browser's object request(s) to be transmitted over the satellite link. The prefetched objects are transmitted over the satellite link to the access point component (70), which in-turn stores the prefetched objects in an object cache (71). When a
web browser (20) requests an inline object, the access point component (70) checks the cache (71), and if the object resides therein, returns the object to the browser (20) without forwarding the object request over the satellite link. Traffic over the forward satellite link is thus reduced. The method implemented by the distributed proxy
server (68) can also be used to reduce delays and traffic over other types of links, including non-
wireless links.