A method and apparatus provide improved cache coherency and more effective
caching operations without placing an undue burden on network links. A
proxy receives a request for a resource and then, depending on
information in the proxy cache, generates a resource request for
transmission to a resource server. The proxy appends a proxy filter to
the request. The resource server maintains one or more volumes of
resources based on some predetermined criterion that can be either static
or dynamic in nature. Upon receipt of the request and the proxy filter
the resource server generates a request response and a piggybacked list
of additional resources selected from the volume with which the requested
resource is associated.