Apparatus and method for selecting an optimum telecommunications link
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a best mirror site of a plurality of mirror sites available to a user of a computer system, wherein each of said mirror sites contains predetermined information sought to be accessed by said user, said method comprising:
- establishing a communication link with each of the mirror sites available;
measuring a data transfer characteristic for each of the communication links;
choosing a selected mirror site based upon results obtained from said measuring, and;
using said selected mirror site to initiate a current access to said predetermined information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method 401 and implementing system 101 are provided in which a site selection program is operable to selectively initiate sample data transfers from a plurality of mirror sites 313 on the Internet, and to make a determination, prior to a selection of a site to be contacted for a download, as to which of the sites exhibits the best transfer rates at the time of the site selection. The methodology includes a cut-off time 507 process for terminating a sample operation of any one site if the transfer time for a predetermined number of bytes "X" exceeds a predetermined maximum amount of time "Y" for the sample operation for any particular site. When the maximum time is exceeded, the program stores the number of bytes transferred during that time for comparison with other site data. After all sites have been sampled, the program determines a selected site which exhibits the best rate of data transfer, and selectively initiates the establishment of a communication link with the selected site.
179 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a best mirror site of a plurality of mirror sites available to a user of a computer system, wherein each of said mirror sites contains predetermined information sought to be accessed by said user, said method comprising:
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establishing a communication link with each of the mirror sites available; measuring a data transfer characteristic for each of the communication links; choosing a selected mirror site based upon results obtained from said measuring, and; using said selected mirror site to initiate a current access to said predetermined information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A storage medium including machine readable indicia, said storage medium being selectively coupled to a reading device, said reading device being selectively coupled to processing circuitry within a computer system, said reading device being selectively operable to read said machine readable indicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said program signals being effective to cause said computer system to selectively determine a best one of a plurality of mirror site links available for access to provide information to be downloaded by a user, wherein each of said mirror sites contains predetermined information sought to be accessed by said user, said program signals being selectively operable to accomplish the steps of:
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establishing a communication link with each of the mirror sites available in response to said sample site selection; measuring a data transfer characteristic for each of the communication links; choosing a selected mirror site based upon results obtained from said measuring, and; using said selected mirror site to initiate a current access to said predetermined information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An information processing system, said information processing system being selectively operable for selecting a best mirror site of a plurality of mirror sites available to a user of a computer system, wherein each of said mirror sites contains predetermined information sought to be accessed by said user comprising:
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a processing device; a memory unit; and a bus connecting said processing device and said memory unit, said processing device being selectively operable for executing a program from said memory for; establishing a communication link with each of the mirror sites available in response to said sample site selection; measuring a data transfer characteristic for each of the communication links; choosing a selected mirror site based upon results obtained from said measuring, and; using said selected mirror site to initiate a current access to said predetermined information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification