Location independent backup of data from mobile and stationary computers in wide regions regarding network and server activities

• US 20040122832A1
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Heil, Jochen
• Granted Patent: US 8,230,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1296 Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling
• 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 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computerized method and respective system for servicing a request for a networked data transfer from a client system, which is able to be serviced on a particular server system being a member of a plurality of server systems dedicated to service said client requests, in which the server systems are connected via a network and share information about a plurality of client systems, and in which the service is known to consume some non-negligible network bandwidth. In order to balance required bandwidth peaks and to improve user comfort, it is proposed to establish an inter-server communication, which determines the best suited server for providing the service, reflecting pre-collected client history data, favorite service provision times, etc. The method can be applied primarily for backup of data from distributed client systems, or for improving print services.

Claims

1. A method for servicing a request for a networked data transfer from a specific client system out of a plurality of client systems being able to be serviced on a plurality of server systems, said server systems being connected via a network, said method being characterized by the steps of:

in case of a service needed to be provided for a particular client system, setting up a network connection between said client system and a server system;

reading client-specific information relevant for servicing said request from a client profile managed and shared by said plurality of server systems, said information including client-specific history information about the network load associated with former requested services;

determining the bandwidth currently available for the network connection between said client and said server in contact;

determining the content of the client service request;

in case, the determined bandwidth is lower than a predetermined threshold level, establishing an inter-server communication for collecting service performance data from at least a subset of said server systems, said data describing the current usage of said servers, a respective currently available network bandwidth between a respective server, and said service requesting client system, and server availability time periods;

evaluating the collected performance data for making a decision, which one of the plurality of servers is the best suited for servicing said request; and

initiating the servicing of said request to be performed by said best suited server system.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which a home server associated permanently with a subset of said client systems is provided at least for a first contact for said subset of clients.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which that particular server is selected to be the best, which offers the best bandwidth for the service, and which has an available workload slot at a time which is defined as a favorite servicing time at the client side, automatically connecting said requesting client system to said best server system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of in case of a client system being contacted from said best suited server and the client not being available, processing a request which is stored on the activity schedule associated with said server in advance.

5. The method according to claim 1, in which the service comprises the backup of data generated by clients to one or more of said plurality of server systems.

6. The method according to claim 1, in which the service comprises the printing of data generated by clients at one or more of said plurality of server systems, which are arranged as printer servers.

7. A method to be applied for a client system out of a plurality of client systems, for receiving a service from a server system, which is a member of a plurality of server systems dedicated to service client requests, said server systems being connected via a network and sharing information about the plurality of client systems, characterized by the steps of:

if a need for a service is determined to be present for the client system, setting up a network connection between said client system and a server system; and

receiving the identification of the best suited server system for servicing the request.

8. The method according to claim 7, in which the service comprises the backup of data generated by clients to one or more of said plurality of server systems.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of sending the data to be backed up to the best server.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

testing the currently available network bandwidth to a home server associated with said client system; and

sending a backup request to said server, in case the bandwidth is higher than a predetermined threshold level, and/or, if an amount of data exists at the client side for being backed up, which exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

11. A server computer system networked in a pool of server computer systems, having means for accessing a client profile database, said system comprising:

means for in case of a service needed to be provided for a particular client system, setting up a network connection between said client system and a server system;

means for reading client-specific information relevant for servicing said request from a client profile managed and shared by said plurality of server systems, said information including client-specific history information about the network load associated with former requested services;

means for determining the bandwidth currently available for the network connection between said client and said server in contact;

means for determining the content of the client service request;

means for in case, the determined bandwidth is lower than a predetermined threshold level, establishing an inter-server communication for collecting service performance data from at least a subset of said server systems, said data describing the current usage of said servers, a respective currently available network bandwidth between a respective server and said service requesting client system, and server availability time periods;

means for evaluating the collected performance data for making a decision, which one of the plurality of servers is the best suited for servicing said request; and

means for initiating the servicing of said request to be performed by said best suited server system.

12. A client computer system having means for accessing at least one server system said client computer system comprising:

means for if a need for a service is determined to be present for the client system, setting up a network connection between said client system and a server system; and

means for receiving the identification of the best suited server system for servicing the request.

13. A computer program product for instructing a processor to service a request for a networked data transfer from a specific client system out of a plurality of client systems being able to be serviced on a plurality of server systems, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instruction means for in case of a service needed to be provided for a particular client system, setting up a network connection between said client system and a server system;

second program instruction means for reading client-specific information relevant for servicing said request from a client profile managed and shared by said plurality of server systems, said information including client-specific history information about the network load associated with former requested services;

third program instruction means for determining the bandwidth currently available for the network connection between said client and said server in contact;

fourth program instruction means for determining the content of the client service request;

fifth program instruction means for in case, the determined bandwidth is lower than a predetermined threshold level, establishing an inter-server communication for collecting service performance data from at least a subset of said server systems, said data describing the current usage of said servers, a respective currently available network bandwidth between a respective server, and said service requesting client system, and server availability time periods;

sixth program instruction means for evaluating the collected performance data for making a decision, which one of the plurality of servers is the best suited for servicing said request; and

seventh program instruction means for initiating the servicing of said request to be performed by said best suited server system; and

wherein

all said program instructions means are recorded on said medium.

14. A computer program product for instructing a processor to receive a service at a client system out of a plurality of client systems, from a server system which is a member of a plurality of server systems dedicated to service client requests, said server systems being connected via a network and sharing information about the plurality of client systems, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instruction means for if a need for a service is determined to be present for the client system, setting up a network connection between said client system and a server system; and

second program instruction means for receiving the identification of the best suited server system for servicing the request; and

wherein

both said instruction means are recorded on said medium.