On-line image caching control for efficient image display

A method for on-line controlling caching of an image on a viewing device to efficiently display the image on the viewing device. The method comprises the following steps: (a) sending from a server to the viewing device an image tag included in a hypertext language code, the image tag having attributes, the attributes specifying the image; (b) parsing the hypertext language code including the image tag; (c) searching for a copy of the image in a cache memory of the viewing device using the image tag attributes; (d) displaying the copy of the image if the copy of the image is found in the cache memory and is current; (e) fetching the image from the server if the copy of the image is not found in the cache memory or if the copy of the image is not current; and (f) storing the fetched image and the image tag attributes in the cache memory.