System and method for storing and processing web service requests

• US 10,116,762 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Frerking, John Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US13/960,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1004 Server selection for load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A system is provided that is adapted to service web-based service requests. In one implementation, a caching service is provided for storing and servicing web service requests. In one implementation, virtual computer systems may be used to service requests in a more reliable manner. Different operating modes may be configured for backup redundancy and the caching service may be scaled to meet service requests for a particular application. Also, methods are provided for exchanging timestamp information among web service transaction systems to reduce the amount of processing capability and bandwidth for ensuring database consistency.

Claims

1. A system for processing web service requests, the system comprising:

a server configured to receive and process web service requests, the server comprising a plurality of components comprising;

a plurality of virtual computer systems that service received web service requests from one or more client systems, wherein each of the plurality of virtual computer systems is operable in both an active/standby mode or an active/active mode;

a logical storage system coupled to the plurality of virtual computer systems, wherein each of the plurality of virtual computer systems shares a common storage that stores the received web service requests;

a request handler element that distributes a web service request to at least one of the plurality of virtual computer systems for processing; and

an internal port coupling at least two of the plurality of virtual computer systems, wherein the received web service requests are replicated between the at least two of the plurality of virtual computer systems across the internal port, and wherein the internal port is not available to the one or more client systems;

an entity that monitors an expiration of a database record associated with at least one web service request; and

corresponding entities that execute among at least two of the plurality of virtual computer systems, wherein the entities compare timestamps associated with the database record associated with the at least one web service request;

wherein the entity deletes the database record associated with the at least one web service request when the compared timestamps stored by at least two of the corresponding entities have expired.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the web service requests include at least one of a group comprising:

a representational state transfer (REST) service request; and

a simple object access protocol (SOAP) service request.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a load balancing element that distributes the web service requests among a plurality of server systems.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of virtual computer systems are located within a partition.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein a web service application is assigned to a particular partition.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising transaction server components that process web service transactions.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the logical storage system further comprises a common database shared by the plurality of virtual servers upon which web service requests are transacted.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two of the plurality of virtual computer systems execute within separate computer systems.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the virtual computer systems are located in different data centers.