Active networks enable their users to specify how each packet is processed on network nodes. One of the essential techniques
for active networks is the programmable node approach, which enables network nodes to evolve their packet processing functions
by loading new software components into the nodes. Possible component loading strategies include demand loading. It reduces
the usage of node resources and localizes possible problems, although the component loading time defers packet processing.
This paper discusses the component loading time of the demand loading strategy, and proposes a scheme to shorten the loading
time by masking the propagation delay of components. We have implemented the scheme pre-supplying on a Java-based system and have evaluated its effectiveness. The result shows that the proposed scheme shortens the loading
time of a test component by as much as 70%.
Keywords Management of active networks - Mobile code - Demand loading - Code server - Prefetching