REQUEST INTERCEPTOR IN NETWORK NODES FOR DETERMINING LOCAL STORAGE OF FILE IMAGE SATISFYING PREDETERMINED CRITERIA

A data storage device disposed in a transmission path between a destination node and a data source stores images of files in a memory. The destination node sends data requests to the source via the data transmission path. The storage device includes a data transfer detector that detects transfers of data from the source to the destination node along the data transmission path. A memory manager of the storage device stores only selected ones of the transferred data files in the memory. A data request detector to the storage device detects requests for data passing along the data transmission path. An interceptor of the storage device intercepts and services detected data requests when the requested data has been previously stored in the memory, and the stored requested data file meets predetermined criteria. In this way, the storage device may transfer requested data from the memory to the destination node.