On-line wizard entry point management computer system and method

• US 20040088394A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kasperkiewicz, Tomasz S., Brinton, Matthew Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• 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 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer

Abstract

This invention is directed to a computer-implemented system and method for regulating the flow of users into an on-line wizard, thereby improving the experience of users entering the wizard. The flow is regulated by an on-line wizard manager that measures the load experienced by one or more servers associated with the on-line wizard. When new user requests to access the on-line wizard are received by the wizard manager, the manager determines whether access to the on-line wizard should be granted immediately or delayed for a period of time based upon the measured load on the servers. If a delay is warranted, the user is presented with information about the delay. After the delay period, the user is granted access to the on-line wizard.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for regulating the flow of users into an on-line wizard, comprising:

measuring the load experienced by one or more servers associated with the on-line wizard;

accepting a new user request to access the on-line wizard; and

based upon the measured load, determining whether access to the on-line wizard should be granted immediately or delayed for a period of time.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, establishing a queue of user requests if access to the on-line wizard is delayed for a period of time.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising, calculating the length of delay required before access to the on-line wizard is granted, the length of delay being a function of the measured load, the number of user requests in the queue and the performance of the one or more servers.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising, displaying to a user associated with the new user request the calculated delay.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising, dynamically displaying the calculated delay remaining to the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to said determining step, detecting whether a queue of user requests already exists and if so, adding the new user request to the queue, and if not, continuing with the determining step.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes comparing the measured server load against a load threshold and a duration threshold, and delaying access to the on-line wizard if the measured server load is above the load threshold and the duration threshold.

8. A management system for controlling access to an on-line wizard, comprising:

a computer having a memory; and

an on-line wizard manager executable on the computer to control access to the on-line wizard based upon the load of one or more servers associated with the on-line wizard.

9. The on-line wizard management system of claim 8, wherein the on-line wizard manager includes an entry point component and a wait page component.

10. The on-line wizard management system of claim 9, wherein the entry point component creates a queue of wizard access requests if the measured load on the one or more servers is above a pre-determined load threshold for a pre-determined duration threshold and wherein the queued access requests are managed by the wait page component.

11. The on-line wizard management system of claim 10, wherein the entry point component grants direct access to the on-line wizard if the one or more servers is below the pre-determined load threshold, or above the pre-determined load threshold but for less than the pre-determined duration threshold, and if a queue of access requests does not already exist.

12. A computer readable medium containing instructions for improving the performance of an on-line wizard, the instructions comprising:

measuring the load experienced by one or more servers associated with the on-line wizard;

accepting a new user request to access the on-line wizard; and

based upon the measured load, determining whether access to the on-line wizard should be granted immediately or whether access to the on-line wizard should be delayed for a period of time.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, establishing a queue of user requests if access to the on-line wizard is delayed for a period of time.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising, calculating the delay required before access to the on-line wizard is granted.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising, displaying to a user associated with the new user request the calculated delay.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising, dynamically displaying the calculated delay remaining to the user.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising, prior to said determining step, detecting whether a queue of user requests already exists and if so, adding the new user request to the queue, and if not, continuing with the determining step.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the determining step includes comparing the measured server load against a load threshold and a duration threshold, and delaying access to the on-line wizard if the measured server load is above the load threshold and the duration threshold.