Client server model

• US 20040249944A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IO Global Limited
• Inventors: Roxburgh, David, Beddus, Simon A, Farley, Patrick B, Hosking, Michael R
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

The invention addresses the problems of server overload by installing an integrity manager (32) which intercepts calls from the client (10) to the server (12) and delays them. In addition the Integrity manager (32) can be downloaded automatically when a server service is first invoked.

Claims

1. A method of controlling service requests to a first module acting as a server module from a second module acting as a client module, the method comprising:

at the second module, a control intermediary intercepting and controlling transmission of service requests to the first module.

2. A method according to claim 1, the step of controlling transmission of service requests comprising delaying and/or inhibiting transmission of service requests to the first module.

3. A method according to claim 1, the intermediary controlling transmission of service requests in accordance with control information received from the first module.

4. A method according to claim 3, in which the control information received from the first module is available locally to the intermediary from a store of the second module.

5. A method according to claim 3, in which service requests relate to one or more of a plurality of service capabilities provided by the first module, in which the transmission of a service request is controlled depending upon the service capability or capabilities to which the request relates.

6. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

the first module receiving from the second module in addition to the control information an address of a third module of the computer system, said third module being suitable for providing a service capability in the event that the control intermediary inhibits transmission of service requests for the same service capability.

7. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

the control intermediary periodically polling the first module to obtain updated control information.

8. A method according to claim 7, the control information comprising a polling rate for the intermediary.

9. A method according to claim 7, the step of polling comprising providing an identification of the second module and/or user, the method further comprising:

at the first module, selecting control information to send to the second module based on the identification of the second module and/or user.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at the first module, identifying an unacceptable service request from a second module if the first module lacks an indication that a control intermediary is operating at the second module.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

at the first module, upon receiving an unacceptable service request the first module transmitting to the second module instructions for implementing a control intermediary at the second module.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at the first module, upon receiving a first service request for a service capability transmitting to the second module instructions for implementing a control intermediary at the second module.

27. A storage medium carrying computer readable code representing instructions for causing one or more computers to perform the method according to claim 1 when the instructions are executed by one or more computers.

28. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing instructions for causing one or more computers to perform the method according to claim 1 when the instructions are executed by one or more computers:

13. A computer system comprising a first module acting as a server module and a second module acting as a client module arranged to send service requests to the first module, the second module comprising a control intermediary arranged to intercept and control transmission of service requests to the first module.

14. A system according to claim 13, in which:

the control intermediary is arranged to control transmission of service requests by delaying and/or inhibiting transmission of the service requests.

15. A system according to claim 13, in which:

the control intermediary is arranged to control transmission of service requests in accordance with control information received from the first module.

16. A system according to claim 15, in which:

the intermediary is arranged to access the control information locally from a store of the second module.

17. A system according to claim 15, in which service requests relate to one or more of a plurality of service capabilities provided by the first module, and in which:

the intermediary is arranged to control transmission of a service request depending upon the service capability or capabilities to which the request relates.

18. A system according to claim 15, in which:

the first module is arranged to send to the second module an address of a third module of the computer system in addition to the control information, said third module being suitable for providing a service capability in the event that the control intermediary inhibits transmission of service requests for the same service capability.

19. A system according to claim 15 in which:

the control intermediary is arranged to periodically poll the first module to obtain updated control information; and

the first module is arranged to send updated control information to the second module upon receipt of polling by the second module.

20. A system according to claim 19, the control information comprising a polling rate for the intermediary.

21. A system according to claim 19, in which:

the control intermediary is arranged to provide an identification of the second module and/or user when polling the first module; and

the first module is arranged to select control information to send to the second module based on the identification of the second module and/or user.

22. A system according to claim 13, in which:

the first module is arranged to identify an unacceptable service request from the second module if the first module lacks an indication that a control intermediary is operating at the second module.

23. A system according to claim 22, in which:

the first module is arranged to, upon receipt of an unacceptable service request, transmit to the second module instructions for implementing a control intermediary at the second module.

24. A method according to claim 13, in which:

the first module is arranged to, upon receipt of a first service request for a service capability, transmit to the second module instructions for implementing a control intermediary at the second module.

25. A computer arranged to act as a first module of the system according to claim 13.

26. A computer arranged to act as a second module of the system according to claim 13.