Method and apparatus for sharing authentication session state in a global distributed network

• US 6,874,031 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Corbeil, Ryn C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US10/267,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709/203, 709/217, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228, 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0884 by delegation of authentication, e.g. a proxy authenticates an entity to be authenticated on behalf of this entity vis-à-vis an authentication entity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54

Abstract

A method and apparatus for accessing a destination web site in a global communication network through a cluster of web server proxies is presented. Login information and user activity information are shared among the nodes of the cluster on a weighted basis such that an active user is not prematurely logged off while advantageously traffic load is reduced.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a server in a global distributed network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(d) updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said updating includes updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a timer value at a node of the server proxy cluster.

2. A method for accessing a server in a global distributed network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(d) updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said updating includes updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a number of nodes of the server proxy cluster.

3. An apparatus for accessing a server in a global distributed network, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) means for determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) means for sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(d) means for updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said means for updating includes means for updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a timer value at a node of the server proxy cluster.

4. An apparatus for accessing a server in a global distributed network, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) means for determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) means for sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(d) means for updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said means for updating includes means for updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a number of nodes of the server proxy cluster.

5. A computer-readable medium embodying a method for accessing a server in a global distributed network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(d) updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said updating includes updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a timer value at a node of the server proxy cluster.

6. A computer-readable medium embodying a method for accessing a server in a global distributed network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(c) updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said updating includes updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a number of nodes of the server proxy cluster.

7. A server proxy cluster for accessing a server in a global distributed network, comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(c) updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said updating includes updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a timer value at a node of the server proxy cluster.

8. A server proxy cluster for accessing a server in a global distributed network, comprising:

(a) receiving a request from a user at a node of a server proxy cluster;

(b) determining whether an active session is established for the user;

(c) sending the request to the server if an active session is established for the user; and

(d) updating at least one node of the server proxy cluster with information that the active session is established for the user;

wherein said updating includes updating at least one of the nodes of the server proxy cluster based on a probability function that increases with a number of nodes of the server proxy cluster.