COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, CONNECTION SERVER, PROCESSING SERVER, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM

• US 20090013324A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Maekawa, Hajime, Gobara, Kunio
• Granted Patent: US 8,544,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/104
• 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 67/1017 based on a round robin mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1019 Random or heuristic server selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations

Abstract

A connection server (3) has a receiving part (31) for receiving request information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from a first information processing apparatus (1) to a load sharing port of the connection server (3), a load sharing part (32) for allocating the first information processing apparatus (1) that is a source of the request information to any processing server, a sending part (33) for sending port position information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to the allocated processing server to the first information processing apparatus (1), and a connection part (34) for establishing a connection between the connection port and the processing server corresponding to the connection port. The first information processing apparatus (1) sends the received port position information to a second information processing apparatus (2). With this configuration, in a communication system for load sharing, two or more information processing apparatuses have access to one processing server.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. An information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and a connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports;

wherein said connection server comprises;

a receiving part for receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing part for allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received by said receiving part to any of said N processing servers;

a sending part for sending port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to the processing server allocated by said load sharing part to said information processing apparatus; and

a connection part for establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port.

24. The communication system comprising the information processing system according to claim 22 or 23 and a first information processing apparatus;

wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

a request information sending part for sending the request information to said load sharing port;

a port position information receiving part for receiving said port position information; and

a communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said port position information receiving part.

25. The communication system comprising the information processing system according to claim 22 or 23, a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus;

wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

a request information sending part for sending the request information to said load sharing port;

a first port position information receiving part for receiving said port position information;

a first communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said first port position information receiving part; and

a first port position information sending part for sending the port position information received by said first port position information receiving part; and

wherein said second information processing apparatus comprises;

a second port position information receiving part for receiving the port position information sent from said first information processing apparatus; and

a second communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said second port position information receiving part.

26. The communication system according to claim 25, wherein said first port position information sending part sends said port position information via a predetermined server to said second information processing apparatus.

30. A first information processing apparatus connected to the information processing system according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises:

a request information sending part for sending the request information to said load sharing port;

a port position information receiving part for receiving said port position information; and

a communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said port position information receiving part.

31. A second information processing apparatus for use in the information processing system according to claim 22 or 23 to which a first information processing apparatus is connected;

wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

a request information sending part for sending the request information to said load sharing port;

a first port position information receiving part for receiving said port position information;

a first communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said first port position information receiving part; and

a first port position information sending part for sending the port position information received by said first port position information receiving part; and

wherein said second information processing apparatus comprises;

a second port position information receiving part for receiving the port position information sent from said first information processing apparatus; and

a second communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said second port position information receiving part.

32. A first information processing apparatus for use in the information processing system according to claim 22 or 23 to which a second information processing apparatus is connected;

wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

a request information sending part for sending the request information to said load sharing port;

a first port position information receiving part for receiving said port position information;

a first communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said first port position information receiving part; and

a first port position information sending part for sending the port position information received by said first port position information receiving part; and

wherein said second information processing apparatus comprises;

a second port position information receiving part for receiving the port position information sent from said first information processing apparatus; and

a second communication part for communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received by said second port position information receiving part.

23. An information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and a connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports;

wherein said connection server comprises;

a first receiving part for receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing part for allocating the information processing apparatus of a source of the request information received by said first receiving part to any of said N processing servers;

a first sending part for sending said request information to the processing server allocated by said load sharing part;

a second receiving part for receiving port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to said processing server and sent from said processing server;

a second sending part for sending the port position information received by said second receiving part to the information processing apparatus that is the source of said request information; and

a connection part for establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port; and

wherein each of said N processing servers comprises;

a port position information storage part for storing the port position information that is information indicating the position of one or more connection ports corresponding to said processing server;

a request information receiving part for receiving said request information; and

a port position information sending part for sending the port position information stored in said port position information storage part when said request information receiving part receives the request information.

27. A connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of the N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater);

wherein said connection server comprises;

a plurality of connection ports corresponding to said N processing servers for every one or more ports;

a receiving part for receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing part for allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received by said receiving part to any of said N processing servers;

a sending part for sending port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to the processing server allocated by said load sharing part to said information processing apparatus; and

a connection part for establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port.

28. A connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of the N processing servers(N is an integer of 2 or greater), in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports;

wherein said connection server comprises;

a plurality of connection ports corresponding to said N processing servers for every one or more ports;

a first receiving part for receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing part for allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received by said first receiving part to any of said N processing servers;

a first sending part for sending said request information to the processing server allocated by said load sharing part;

a second receiving part for receiving port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to said processing server and sent from said processing server;

a second sending part for sending the port position information received by said second receiving part to the information processing apparatus that is the source of said request information; and

a connection part for establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port; and

wherein each of said N processing servers comprises;

a port position information storage part for storing the port position information that is information indicating the position of one or more connection ports corresponding to said processing server;

a request information receiving part for receiving said request information; and

a port position information sending part for sending the port position information stored in said port position information storage part when said request information receiving part receives the request information.

29. A processing server that is any one of the N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) connected to an information processing apparatus by a connection server, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports;

wherein said connection server comprises;

a plurality of connection ports corresponding to said N processing servers for every one or more ports;

a first receiving part for receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing part for allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received by said first receiving part to any of said N processing servers;

a first sending part for sending said request information to the processing server allocated by said load sharing part;

a second receiving part for receiving port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to said processing server and sent from said processing server;

a second sending part for sending the port position information received by said second receiving part to the information processing apparatus that is the source of said request information; and

a connection part for establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port; and

wherein each of said N processing servers comprises;

a port position information storage part for storing the port position information that is information indicating the position of one or more connection ports corresponding to said processing server;

a request information receiving part for receiving said request information; and

a port position information sending part for sending the port position information stored in said port position information storage part when said request information receiving part receives the request information.

33. An information processing method for use in an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and a connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, and said connection server establishes a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port, said method comprising:

a reception step of receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus;

a load sharing step of allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received at said reception step to any of said N processing servers; and

a sending step of sending port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to the processing server allocated at said load sharing step to said information processing apparatus.

34. An information processing method for use in a connection server making up an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and the connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said method comprising:

a reception step of receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing step of allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received at said reception step to any of said N processing servers;

a sending step of sending port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to the processing server allocated at said load sharing step to said information processing apparatus; and

a connection step of establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port.

35. An information processing method for use in a connection server making up an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and the connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said method comprising:

a first reception step of receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing step of allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received at said first receiving step to any of said N processing servers;

a first sending step of sending said request information to the processing server allocated at said load sharing step;

a second reception step of receiving port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to said processing server and sent from said processing server;

a second sending step of sending the port position information received at said second reception step to the information processing apparatus that is the source of said request information; and

a connection step of establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port.

36. An information processing method for use in any processing server making up an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and a connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said method comprising:

a request information reception step of receiving the request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent via said connection server from said information processing apparatus; and

a port position information sending step of sending the port position information that is information indicating the position of one or more connection ports corresponding to the processing server when the request information is received at said request information reception step.

37. An information processing method for use in a first information processing apparatus making up a communication system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater), a connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, and the first information processing apparatus, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said method comprising:

a request information sending step of sending the request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing to said connection server;

a port position information reception step of receiving the port position information that is information indicating the position of one or more connection ports corresponding to the processing server allocated in said connection server; and

a communication step of communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received at said port position information reception step.

38. A program for performing a process in an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and a connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, and said connection server establishes a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port, said program enabling a computer to perform:

a reception step of receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus;

a load sharing step of allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received at said reception step to any of said N processing servers; and

a sending step of sending port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to the processing server allocated at said load sharing step to said information processing apparatus.

39. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, when executed by a computer to perform a process in a connection server making up an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and the connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said processing comprising:

a reception step of receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing step of allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received at said reception step to any of said N processing servers;

a sending step of sending port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to the processing server allocated at said load sharing step to said information processing apparatus; and

a connection step of establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port.

40. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, when executed by a computer to perform a process in a connection server making up an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and the connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said processing comprising:

a first reception step of receiving request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent from said information processing apparatus to a load sharing port of said connection server;

a load sharing step of allocating the information processing apparatus that is a source of the request information received at said first reception step to any of said N processing servers;

a first sending step of sending said request information to the processing server allocated at said load sharing step;

a second reception step of receiving port position information that is information indicating the position of the connection port corresponding to said processing server and sent from said processing server;

a second sending step of sending the port position information received at said second reception step to the information processing apparatus that is the source of said request information; and

a connection step of establishing a connection between said connection port and the processing server corresponding to said connection port.

41. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, when executed by a computer to perform a process in a connection server making up an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and the connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said processing comprising:

a request information reception step of receiving the request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing, which is sent via said connection server from said information processing apparatus; and

a port position information sending step of sending the port position information that is information indicating the position of one or more connection ports corresponding to the processing server when the request information is received at said request information reception step.

42. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, when executed by a computer to perform a process in a connection server making up an information processing system having N processing servers (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and the connection server for connecting an information processing apparatus and any one of said N processing servers, in which the connection ports that are a plurality of ports for said connection server correspond to said N processing servers for every one or more ports, said processing comprising:

a request information sending step of sending the request information that is information regarding a request for load sharing to said connection server;

a port position information reception step of receiving the port position information that is information indicating the position of one or more connection ports corresponding to the processing server allocated in said connection server; and

a communication step of communicating with one processing server via a connection port indicated by the port position information received at said port position information reception step.