System and method for serving a web site from multiple servers

• US 20020002602A1
• Filed: 04/16/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sons of Innovation LLC
• Original Assignee: Sons of Innovation LLC
• Inventors: Rooks, Michael Robert, Wilson, Glenn Sydney, Kouts, Michael, Vange, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/835,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5021 Priority
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5088 involving task migration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/14 Routing performance; Theoretical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/193 at the transport layer, e.g. TCP related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1458 Denial of Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 : based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 : based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 : using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1031 : Controlling of the operation of servers by a load balancer, e.g. adding or removing servers that serve requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 : Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 : Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 : Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 : Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 : Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 : Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 : taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 : Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 : Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for serving web pages to a client in response to a client request specifying a resource. An originating web server having a first address upon which the requested resource resides is coupled to obtain content from content source. The originating web server has a request interface for receiving requests from a network and a response interface for sending responses to the requests. A communication network is coupled to the originating web server. A front-end server is provided having a second address and at least one interface for communicating with a client application and the originating web server. The front-end server is coupled to both obtain the request-specified resources and augment the request specified resources using unspecified resources to generate a response to the client request from the originating web server.

Claims

1. A system for serving web pages to a client in response to a client request specifying a resource, the system comprising:

a first web server having a first address, the first web server having a request interface for receiving requests and a response interface for sending responses to the requests;

a communication network coupled to the first web server;

a second web server having a second address and implementing interface processes for communicating with a client application and for communicating with the first web server, the second web server coupled to both obtain at least some of the request-specified resources from the first web server and augment the obtained resources using resources within the second web server to generate a response to the client request.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first web server is located at a web site hosting center and implements multiple web sites.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second web server further comprises:

means for detecting a busy condition in the first web server; and

means for substituting resources within the second web server for the resources within the first web server when the busy condition is detected.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the substituted resources comprise a redeemable coupon.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second web server further comprises:

means for detecting a condition in which the first web server is unavailable; and

means for substituting resources within the second web server for the specified resources when the first web server is unavailable.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the substituted resources comprise a redeemable coupon.

7. A method for serving web pages to a client in response to a client request specifying a network resource, the method comprising:

providing an originating web server upon which the requested resource resides, the originating web server having a request interface for receiving requests and a response interface for sending responses to the requests;

providing a front-end server;

redirecting a client request addressed to the originating web server to the front-end server;

using the front-end server to obtain at least some of the request-specified resources from the originating web server;

augmenting the obtained resources using resources within the front-end server to generate a response to the client request; and

communicating the augmented response from the front-end server to the client.

8. A web site comprising:

an originating web server coupled to the network and executing software to access a first set of content and functionality in response to requests from a web client;

a front-end server coupled to the network and executing software to access a second set of content and functionality in response to requests from the web client;

a first communication channel supporting request and response communication between the web client and the front-end server;

a second communication channel supporting communication between the front-end server and the originating web server; and

means operating cooperatively between the originating web server and the front-end server for receiving requests for web pages from the web client and serving web pages to the requesting web client in response to the received requests.

9. The web site of claim 8 further comprising means for directing request and response traffic from the first channel to the second channel.

10. A system for serving content from a plurality of network resources comprising:

a first server that is an originating web server for a first set of resources;

a second server that is an originating web server for a second set of resources;

a request interface within the first server for receiving requests specifying the first server, the first server responding to the request by generating a response using the first set of resources and generating a request to the second server in order to use the second set of resources when generating the response; and

a request interface within the second server for receiving requests specifying the second server, the second server responding to the request by generating a response using the second set of resources and generating a request to the first server in order to use the second set of resources when generating the response.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and second set are not mutually exclusive.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and second sets are mutually exclusive.

13. A method for serving content from a plurality of servers comprising:

generating a request for content, the request being associated with a specified address;

providing a server having the address specified in the request;

directing the request to the server having the specified address and having at least a portion of the network resources specified in the request;

causing the server to serve a first portion of the request from the server itself; and

causing the server to serve a second portion of the request from a second tier web server.

14. A system for serving content from a plurality of network resources comprising:

a first web server comprising a first set of resources and coupled to serve requests received from a first plurality of network appliances by accessing the first set of resources in response to requests generated by the first plurality of network appliance;

a second web server comprising a second set of resources and coupled to serve requests from a second plurality of network appliances by accessing the second set of resources in response to requests generated by the second plurality of network appliances; and

a communication channel between the first and second web servers such that a request received on the first web server for content of the second web server are served by causing the first web server to access the second web server to obtain the content and servicing the request from the first web server.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein requests received on the second web server for content of the first web server are served by causing the second web server to access the first web server to obtain the content and servicing the request from the second web server to obtain content from content source, the originating web server having a request interface for receiving requests from a network and a response interface for sending responses to the requests.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the first tier web server fetches content from the second tier web server and serves the fetched content such that it is the originating server for the fetched content.

17. A system for serving web pages to a network client comprising:

a network;

an origin web server coupled to the network;

a client coupled to the network and generating requests directed to the origin web server;

a gateway machine in communication with the client, the gateway machine configured to receive requests from the client, obtain web pages from the origin web server in response to the received request, and serve the obtained pages to the client;

means for detecting a busy condition in the origin server;

means responsive to the busy condition for serving a page generated by the gateway machine in response to the client request.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the gateway machine comprises web server software capable of generating static and dynamic web pages.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for serving substitute pages places the gateway machine in a role of the origin server.

20. A method for serving web pages to a network client comprising:

generating requests from the network client, the requests specifying a network resource that is configured to generate a desired web page;

routing the requests through a gateway machine that maintains a connection with the network resource;

detecting a busy condition in the network resource; and

serving an alternate page from the gateway machine to the network client in response to detecting a busy condition.

21. A system for serving web pages to a network client comprising:

a network;

an origin web server coupled to the network;

a client coupled to the network;

a gateway machine in communication with the client, the gateway machine configured to receive requests from the client, obtain web pages from the origin web server in response to the received request, and serve the obtained pages to the client;

means for detecting when the origin server becomes unavailable; and

means responsive to origin server becoming unavailable for serving an alternate page from the gateway machine to the client.

22. A system for caching network resources comprising:

an origin web server operable to provide responses containing network resources in response to requests for the contained resources;

an first intermediary server having a cache therein and coupled to receive the responses and to receive the requests for network resources;

mechanisms within the first intermediary server for determining whether the requested network resources are within the cache; and

mechanisms within the first intermediary server for serving the requested network resources from the cache when requested network resources are within the cache.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the network resources are associated with a priority value and the cache comprises a priority sensitive cache that selectively stores the network resources in the cache based at least in part on the associated priority.

24. The system of claim 22 further comprising a second intermediary server having a cache therein, the second intermediary server being coupled to coupled to receive the responses and to receive the requests for network resources.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising a communication channel coupling the first intermediary server and the second intermediary server.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the network resources are associated with a priority value and the communication channel is responsive to the priority value to regulate the manner in which data is communicated between the first intermediary server and the second intermediary server.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the cache comprises a passive cache that caches network resources as they pass through the intermediary server.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the cache comprises an active cache that caches network resources in response to encoded instructions within the network resource.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the cache comprises an active cache that caches network resources in anticipation of requests for the network resource.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the cache comprises an active cache that caches network resources in response to instructions from another intermediary server.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the intermediary server comprises a front-end server located on a client-side of a network.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein the intermediary server comprises a back-end server located on an originating server-side of a network.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein the intermediary server comprises:

a front-end computer having a cache therein and located on a client-side of a network; and

a back-end server having a cache therein located on an originating server-side of a network.

34. A method for serving web pages in response to requests from a network client, wherein the requests specify content desired by the user of the network client, the method comprising:

providing a gateway server configured to receive requests specifying content;

providing a plurality of network servers, at least one of the network servers housing the specified content, and at least one of the network servers housing alternative content;

in response to a received request, generating requests in the gateway server to at least one of the network servers;

in response to the request received from the gateway server, generating requests in the at least one network server to at least one other network server;

serving a response from the gateway server, wherein the response includes content selected from the group consisting of specified content from the gateway server, specified content from one of the network servers, specified content from an origin server, alternate content from the gateway server, and alternate content from one of the network servers.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the act of routing the requests to a gateway server.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the selection of content included in the response from the gateway server is selected by the gateway server.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the selection of content included in the response from the gateway server is selected by one of the network servers.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the response from the gateway server comprises at least two portions selected from the group consisting of specified content from the gateway server, specified content from one of the network servers, specified content from an origin server, alternate content from the gateway server, and alternate content from one of the network servers.