Method and apparatus for tracking related information in a network

• US 7,401,146 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Menditto, Louis F, Housel, Barron C
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell; Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,818
• Time in Patent Office: 2,612 Days
• Field of Search: 370/390, 707/10, 707/102, 707/201, 717/102, 709/245, 709/224, 709206-207, 709227-229, 709/203, 713/155, 726/1, 704/219, 714/48
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1006 with static server selection, e.g. the same server being selected for a specific client
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

An apparatus includes a network system and a message. The network system includes a client terminal and a receiver. The client terminal includes a browser, an identifier, and a positioner. The positioner inserts the identifier into the message. The message is transmitted from the client terminal through an internet service provider and through a plurality of firewalls and is received by the receiver. The receiver includes a component that recognizes the identifier within the message and directs the message to one of a plurality of servers. The component also recognizes a subsequent message related to the identifier and directs the subsequent message to the one of the plurality of servers. The one of the plurality of servers then directs each of the messages to a service provider for processing. A related response is generated by the service provider and returned through the network system and to the client terminal.

Claims

1. A method of directing information comprising:

inserting an identifier into a computer-generated message at a client terminal before the message is sent out to a communication network, wherein the identifier remains unchanged during a time interval associated with a transaction related to the message, whereby the message is received at a receiver that includes a component operable to recognize the identifier such that proxying of a connection for the message is avoided at the receiver, wherein the receiver is operable to direct the message to a location in accordance with the identifier, and wherein the receiver and the component cooperate to direct data related to the identifier to the location, wherein the identifier is a globally unique identifier that is maintained within the message for a duration of the transaction, the transaction being a multi-request HTTP transaction.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the data from the location back to a point where the message was initially generated.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing a plurality of servers, each of the servers operable to communicate with the receiver and direct the message and the data to a service provider.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

storing the identifier and subsequent identifiers in a data table within the receiver, the receiver operable to utilize information within the table to direct the data to one of the plurality of servers, the one of the plurality of servers having initially received the message.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

completing the transaction, wherein the message and the data cooperate to facilitate completion of the transaction, and wherein the identifier is maintained in a table and the message and the data during the transaction.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message includes a synchronize packet that includes a transmission control protocol option, and wherein the globally unique identifier is inserted into the transmission control protocol option of the synchronize packet.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of globally unique identifiers are stored within a data table that facilitates identification of the globally unique identifiers, each of the globally unique identifiers correlating to a respective one of a plurality of messages, and wherein the receiver utilizes the table to direct the data to a server that originally received the one of the plurality of messages, the server being coupled to the receiver.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioner and the receiver operate in one of a Windows-based and Linux environment.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is inserted into an internet protocol address of a computer when the computer is initially activated, the computer being operable to generate the message.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a client terminal in a communication network, the client terminal including a positioner operable to insert an identifier into a computer-generated message before the message is sent out to the communication network, wherein the identifier remains unchanged during a time interval associated with a transaction related to the message, whereby a receiver is included within the communication network and operable to receive the message and direct the message to a location in accordance with the identifier, wherein the receiver includes a component operable to recognize the identifier such that proxying of a connection for the message is avoided at the receiver, and wherein the receiver and the component cooperate to direct data that is related to the identifier to the location, wherein the identifier is a globally unique identifier that is maintained within the message for a duration of the transaction, the transaction being a multi-request HTTP transaction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the receiver directs the data that is related to the identifier back to a point where the message was initially generated.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the location is one of a plurality of servers and the receiver directs the message to the one of the plurality of servers, and wherein each of the servers is operable to communicate with the receiver and direct the message to a service provider.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the component is operable to generate a data table for facilitating identification of the identifier, and wherein when the data is received by the receiver the receiver utilizes the table to direct the data to the one of the plurality of servers.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the positioner is coupled to a browser, the browser operable to communicate with an internet service provider, and wherein the internet service provider is operable to communicate with the receiver.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a load balancer for receiving a message that includes an identifier, wherein the message and identifier are generated by a client terminal before the message is sent out to a communication network, and wherein the identifier remains unchanged during a time interval associated with a transaction related to the message whereby when one of a plurality of servers receives the message from the load balancer in accordance with the identifier, the load balancer generates a data table for recording the identifier and wherein, when subsequent data relating to the identifier is received by the load balancer, the load balancer directs the subsequent data to the one of the plurality of servers, the one of the plurality of servers operable to direct the message and the subsequent data to a service provider and redirect associated information transmitted by the service provider to the load balancer which transmits the information back to the client terminal, the identifier being leveraged such that proxying of a connection for the message is avoided, wherein the identifier is a globally unique identifier that is maintained within the message for a duration of the transaction, the transaction being a multi-request HTTP transaction.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the message generated by the client terminal is transmitted to an internet service provider.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the internet service provider transmits the message to a firewall, the firewall coupled to the load balancer and the internet service provider, and wherein the message and the subsequent data pass through the firewall unaltered.

18. A system for directing information comprising:

means for inserting an identifier into a computer-generated message before the message is sent out to a communication network, wherein the communication network is operable to facilitate communication of the message and wherein the identifier remains unchanged during a time interval associated with a transaction related to the message; and

means for receiving the message in the communication network that includes a component operable to recognize the identifier such that proxying of a connection for the message is avoided, wherein the means for receiving is operable to direct the message to a location in accordance with the identifier, and wherein the means for receiving and the component cooperate to direct data that is related to the identifier to the location, wherein the identifier is a globally unique identifier that is maintained within the message for a duration of the transaction, the transaction being a multi-request HTTP transaction.