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Locating resources in computer networks having cache server nodes

  • US 5,511,208 A
  • Filed: 03/23/1993
  • Issued: 04/23/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a computer network which includes a plurality of nodes, two or more of which are cache server nodes which store entries representing the location and characteristics of certain network resources, each of the plurality of nodes either being served by a cache server node or being a cache server node, all nodes served by a particular cache server node being defined as being within the domain of that cache server node, a method of locating a target resource in response to a locate request from one of the nodes, the method being performed at the cache server node which serves the requesting node and comprising the steps of:

  • (a) searching resource directories maintained at the cache server node for an acceptable entry defining the location and characteristics of the target resource;

    (b) if no acceptable entry is found in the cache server node resource directories, broadcasting the locate request to all nodes within the cache server node'"'"'s domain;

    (c) if no acceptable entry is found in the directories of nodes within the cache server node'"'"'s domain, directing the locate request to one or more alternate cache server nodes in the network, said directing step further comprising the steps ofdetermining whether alternate cache server nodes are categorized by levels of capabilities in maintaining resource records,if the alternate cache server nodes are so categorized, directing the locate request to the cache server node determined to have the highest level of capability,if the alternate cache server nodes are not so categorized, then directing the locate request to all of the cache server nodes simultaneously; and

    (d) if no acceptable reply is returned from the cache server nodes to which the locate request was directed, then broadcasting the locate request to all other nodes in the network to determine if any of said nodes include a record of the target resource.

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