Method and system for accessing network services

• US 7,308,475 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pruitt, Joseph A., Skene, Bryan D., Jenny, Patrick D., Mager, Gary N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACOBS, LASHONDA T
• Application Number:
  US10/431,394
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/227, 709/229, 709/224, 718104-105
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A method and system for accessing network services. A client sends a request for a service. The request includes an address of the client. One or more resolvers receive the request for a service. The one or more resolvers determine at least one service location to return to the client based at least partially on the service requested and the address of the client. The at least one service location is then returned to the client. The service locations returned to the client may also be based on a policy, user preferences, client preferences, or client characteristics.

Claims

1. A system for mapping a request to a service comprising:

a plurality of resolvers including a root resolver and a secondary resolver, each resolver arranged to perform actions comprising determining a set of service locations based at least in part on the service and an address associated with a client;

wherein the root resolver is further arranged to combine sets of said determined service locations and return a combined set of service locations to the client; and

wherein at least one resolver of the plurality of resolvers employs an algorithm that is different from an algorithm employed by another resolver of the plurality of resolvers, wherein each algorithm is employed to determine scores of service locations, wherein said combined set of service locations comprises said scores of service locations.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the resolvers is associated with a set of service locations that do not overlap with any set of service locations associated with another resolver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the resolvers is associated with a set of service locations and wherein at least some of the sets of service locations overlap.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the root resolver is further arranged to determine scores for each service location in the combined set of service locations.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the root resolver is further arranged to return the scores together with the combined set to a client.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resolvers are arranged in a hierarchy.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a resolver other than the root resolver obtains information from another resolver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the resolvers in the plurality of resolvers specialize in certain types of services.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each resolver employs a substantially similar algorithm to determine scores of service locations.