One embodiment provides a system that facilitates querying of historical network information. During operation, the system generates a query for historical information associated with interest and content object packets, wherein a name for an interest is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level, wherein the query is based on a name prefix that includes one or more contiguous name components. The system transmits the query to a responding entity. In response to receiving the historical information from the responding entity, the system performs an operation that increases network efficiency based on the historical information, thereby facilitating a protocol for querying the historical information to increase network efficiency.