Methods and apparatus for determining the performance of a server
First Claim
1. In a data communications device, a method for determining the performance of a server, connected with a client, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a connection characteristic of a connection between the server and the client;
detecting a variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; and
determining the performance of the server based upon the variance in the connection characteristic;
wherein the connection is a Transmission Control Protocol connection and wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring a Transmission Control Protocol window size from the server; and
wherein the step of monitoring further comprises;
receiving a series of Transmission Control Protocol window sizes transmitted from the server;
determining a trend for the Transmission Control Protocol window size of the server based upon the window sizes transmitted from the server; and
setting a preferred Transmission Control Protocol window size for the server based upon the trend for the window size;
wherein determining the trend includes comparing the connection characteristic of the connection over multiple successive communication transaction cycles between the server to the client to identify when the performance of the server increases as indicated by most recently received connection characteristics being nearer in value to the preferred connection characteristic, the connection characteristic being a window size generated by the server and sent to the client for purposes of limiting an amount of data sent by the client to the server.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms and techniques provide a method for determining the performance of a server, based upon a connection characteristic of a connection between the server and a client. The connection characteristic, such as the window size of the server, provides information regarding the performance or capacity of the server. Variation between the connection characteristic and a preferred connection characteristic is used by a data communications device, for example, to determine the performance of the server. Based upon the variation in the connection characteristic, the data communications device is then able to direct incoming content requests to other servers in communication with a network, as required.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. In a data communications device, a method for determining the performance of a server, connected with a client, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a connection characteristic of a connection between the server and the client; detecting a variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; and determining the performance of the server based upon the variance in the connection characteristic; wherein the connection is a Transmission Control Protocol connection and wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring a Transmission Control Protocol window size from the server; and wherein the step of monitoring further comprises; receiving a series of Transmission Control Protocol window sizes transmitted from the server; determining a trend for the Transmission Control Protocol window size of the server based upon the window sizes transmitted from the server; and setting a preferred Transmission Control Protocol window size for the server based upon the trend for the window size; wherein determining the trend includes comparing the connection characteristic of the connection over multiple successive communication transaction cycles between the server to the client to identify when the performance of the server increases as indicated by most recently received connection characteristics being nearer in value to the preferred connection characteristic, the connection characteristic being a window size generated by the server and sent to the client for purposes of limiting an amount of data sent by the client to the server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12)
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9. A data communications device comprising:
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at least one communications interface; a controller; and an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller; wherein the controller is configured to; monitor a connection characteristic of a connection between a server and a client; detect a variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; and determine the performance of the server based upon the variance in the connection characteristic; wherein the data communication device is disposed at an intermediate network node on a respective network path between the client and the server, the controller being configured to; receive first communications originating from the server and forward the received first communications to the client and, in a reverse direction, receive second communications originated by the client and forward the second communications to the server; and wherein the controller further configured to; receive a series of connection characteristics transmitted from the server; determine a trend for the connection characteristic of the server based upon each connection characteristic transmitted from the server; and set the preferred connection characteristic for the server based upon the trend for the connection characteristic; and wherein determining the trend includes comparing the connection characteristic of the connection over multiple successive communication transaction cycles between the server to the client to identify when the performance of the server increases as indicated by most recently received connection characteristics being nearer in value to the preferred connection characteristic, the connection characteristic being a window size generated by the server and sent to the client for purposes of limiting an amount of data sent by the client to the server. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a processor in a computerized device having a coupling of a memory, a processor, and at least one communications interface provides a method for performing the operations of:
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monitoring a connection characteristic of a connection between the server and the client and a server; detecting a variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; and determining the performance of the server based upon the variance in the connection characteristic; wherein monitoring the connection characteristic includes; receiving a series of connection characteristics transmitted from the server; determining a trend for the connection characteristic of the server based upon each connection characteristic transmitted from the server; and setting the preferred connection characteristic for the server based upon the trend for the connection characteristic; and wherein determining the trend includes comparing the connection characteristic of the connection over multiple successive communication transaction cycles between the server to the client to identify when the performance of the server increases as indicated by most recently received connection characteristics being nearer in value to the preferred connection characteristic, the connection characteristic being a window size generated by the server and sent to the client for purposes of limiting an amount of data sent by the client to the server.
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25. A data communications device comprising:
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at least one communications interface; a controller; and an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller; wherein the controller is configured to produce a means for determining the performance of a server connected with a client, such means including; means for monitoring a connection characteristic of a connection between the server and the client and a server; means for detecting a variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; and means for determining the performance of the server based upon the variance in the connection wherein means for monitoring the connection characteristic includes; means for receiving a series of connection characteristics transmitted from the server; means for determining a trend for the connection characteristic of the server based upon each connection characteristic transmitted from the server; and means for setting the preferred connection characteristic for the server based upon the trend for the connection characteristic; and wherein means for determining the trend includes means for comparing the connection characteristic of the connection over multiple successive communication transaction cycles between the server to the client to identify when the performance of the server increases as indicated by most recently received connection characteristics being nearer in value to the preferred connection characteristic, the connection characteristic being a window size generated by the server and sent to the client for purposes of limiting an amount of data sent by the client to the server.
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26. In a data communications device, a method for determining the performance of a server, connected with a client, comprising:
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monitoring a connection characteristic of a connection between the server and the client; detecting a variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; detecting a duration of time between the variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; and determining the performance of the server based upon the duration of time between changes in the connection characteristic; wherein monitoring the connection characteristic includes; receiving a series of connection characteristics transmitted from the server; determining a trend for the connection characteristic of the server based upon each connection characteristic transmitted from the server; and setting the preferred connection characteristic for the server based upon the trend for the connection characteristic; and wherein determining the trend includes comparing the connection characteristic of the connection over multiple successive communication transaction cycles between the server to the client to identify when the performance of the server increases as indicated by most recently received connection characteristics being nearer in value to the preferred connection characteristic, the connection characteristic being a window size generated by the server and sent to the client for purposes of limiting an amount of data sent by the client to the server.
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27. A data communications device comprising:
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at least one communications interface; a controller; and an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller; wherein the controller is configured to; monitor a connection characteristic of a connection between the server and the client; detect a variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; detect a duration of time between the variance in the connection characteristic relative to a preferred connection characteristic; and determine the performance of the server based upon the duration of time between changes in the connection characteristic; wherein the controller is further configured to; receive a series of connection characteristics transmitted from the server; determine a trend for the connection characteristic of the server based upon each connection characteristic transmitted from the server; set the preferred connection characteristic for the server based upon the trend for the connection characteristic; and compare the connection characteristic of the connection over multiple successive communication transaction cycles between the server to the client to identify when the performance of the server increases as indicated by most recently received connection characteristics being nearer in value to the preferred connection characteristic, the connection characteristic being a window size generated by the server and sent to the client for purposes of limiting an amount of data sent by the client to the server.
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Specification