Load balancing technique implemented in a data network device utilizing a data cache

• US 20050261985A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUNE RAY LIMITED
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Mayya, Ajit Ramachandra, Miller, Andrew Karl, Menendez, Jack Dee
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

Techniques for implementing a load balanced server system are described which may be used for effecting electronic commerce over a data network. The system comprises a load balancing system and a plurality of servers in communication with the load balancing system. Each of the plurality of servers may include a respective data cache for storing state information relating to client session transactions conducted between the server and a particular client. The load balancing system can be configured to select, using a load balancing protocol, an available first server from the plurality of servers to process an initial packet received from a source device such as, for example, a client machine of a customer. The load balancing system can also configured to route subsequent packets received from the source device to the first server. Before generating its response, the first server may verify that the state information relating to a specific client session stored in the data cache is up-to-date. If the first server determines that the state information stored in the data cache is not up-to-date, then the first server may be configured to retrieve the desired up-to-date state information from a database which is configured to store all state information relating to client sessions which have been initiated with the server system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for effecting electronic commerce over a data network, the method comprising:

receiving an initial block of data from a device;

assigning the initial block of data from the device to a first server of a server system,

the server system including a plurality of servers for performing load balancing,

a session being initiated between the device and the first server,

the first server being coupled to a first data cache and a database,

information associated to the session being stored in both the first data cache and the database, the information associated to the session including an identifier for the session, and

the first server having information related to a plurality of products available for purchase from an on-line merchant;

generating a response to the initial block of data at the first server, with the response including information associated to the session;

transmitting the response to the device; and

causing subsequent blocks of data received from the device to be routed to the first server, with information related to at least one of the subsequent blocks of data stored in both the first data cache and the database, and with such information being stored as associated to the session,

wherein at least one subsequent block of data is related to purchasing a product from the plurality of products in an electronic shopping cart corresponding to the device; and

wherein the method further comprises retrieving information associated to the session from the database if such information cannot be accessed from the first server.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of servers includes substantially similar content, and wherein the content on each server includes a plurality of addresses for accessing information via that server.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first server is further configured or designed to provide at least one address specific to the first server in the first response, wherein the address is for accessing information via the first server.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the address is a Uniform Resource Locator.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one block of data is related to requesting a product to be added to the electronic shopping cart.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein

the first response includes information related to a server identifier corresponding to the first server;

at least one subsequent block of data received from the device includes information related to the server identifier;

the first server is further configured or designed to compare the information related to the server identifier received from the device with information related to the server identifier accessed from the first server; and

the first server is further configured or designed to flush at least a portion of the first data cache if information related to the server identifier received from the device is different from the information related to the server identifier accessed from the first server.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the information related to the server identifier accessed from the first server changes if the server is rebooted or recovers from a failure.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the portion of the first data cache that is flushed includes the portion having information associated to the session.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

testing the first server for failure, and

if the first server fails the test,

causing subsequent blocks of data received from the device to be routed, instead of to the first server, to a second server, which is coupled to a second data cache and the database, and

retrieving information associated to the session from the database to be stored in the second data cache.

10. A computer-implemented method for effecting electronic commerce over a data network, the method comprising:

receiving an initial block of data from a device;

assigning the initial block of data from the device to a first server of a server system,

the server system including a plurality of servers for performing load balancing,

a session being initiated between the device and the first server,

the first server being coupled to a first data cache and a database,

information associated to the session being stored in both the first data cache and the database, the information associated to the session including an identification for the session,

the first server having information related to a plurality of products available for purchase from an on-line merchant, and

each of the plurality of servers including a plurality of addresses for accessing information via that server;

generating a response to the initial block of data at the first server, with the response including information associated to the session, and including at least one address for accessing information via the first server;

transmitting the response to the device; and

causing at least one subsequent block of data received from the device to be routed to the first server based on the at least one address,

wherein information related to a subsequent block of data is stored in both the first data cache and the database, with such information being stored as associated to the session, and the subsequent block of data is related to purchasing a product from the plurality of products in an electronic shopping cart corresponding to the device.

11. A computer-implemented method for effecting electronic commerce over a data network, the method comprising:

receiving an initial block of data from a device;

assigning the initial block of data from the device to a first server of a server system,

the server system including a plurality of servers for performing load balancing,

a session being initiated between the device and the first server,

the first server being coupled to a first data cache and a database,

information associated to the session being stored in both the first data cache and the database, the information associated to the session including an identification for the session, and

the first server having information related to a plurality of products available for purchase from an on-line merchant,

generating a first response to the initial block of data at the first server, with the first response including information associated to the session, and including information related to a server identifier corresponding to the first server;

transmitting the first response to the device; and

causing subsequent blocks of data received from the device to be routed to the first server, with information related to at least one of the subsequent blocks of data stored in both the first data cache and the database, and with such information being stored as associated to the session,

wherein the at least one subsequent block of data is related to purchasing a product from the plurality of products in an electronic shopping cart corresponding to the device,

wherein at least one subsequent block of data received from the device includes information related to the server identifier,

wherein the server system is further configured or designed to compare the information related to the server identifier received from the device with information related to the server identifier accessed from the first server, and

wherein the server system is further configured or designed to flush at least a portion of the first data cache if information related to the server identifier provided by the device is different from the information related to the server identifier accessed from the first server.