Method for distributing and geographically load balancing location aware communication device client-proxy applications

• US 7,428,588 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hammer, Matthew, Kaufman, James H., Lehman, Toby, Berstis, Viktors, Bethencourt, John Daniel Sieron, Damm, Kevin Blake, Deen, Robert Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US10/821,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 718/105, 709223-224, 709/232, 709/235, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5061 Partitioning or combining of resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and system for balancing server work load for cellular phone client-proxy applications in an environment where the clients change position within a given geographic area is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of mapping, monitoring, automatically re-mapping the system when required, updating a map address book, and updating a client address book. The system has a mapping system and a communication system connected to a plurality of servers, proxy servers and applications by an internal network. The proxy servers are connected to a plurality of clients by the Internet. If a threshold is exceeded, the monitoring program sends a message to a mapping program. Upon receipt of the message, the mapping program uses a rules engine to calculate a new map graph to remove load from an overloaded server (or servers) and to adjust communication requirements for data by reconfiguring partitions.

Claims

1. A method for balancing server work load in a client-proxy telecommunications system having location aware communication devices comprising the steps of:

creating a map graph having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer and a fourth layer;

wherein the first layer contains cell to collection assignments, the second layer contains cell to partition assignments, the third layer contains communication requirements to partition assignments, and the fourth layer contains partition to server assignments;

monitoring a plurality of edge communications;

determining, based on the monitored edge communications, whether the load of a server exceeds a predefined threshold;

responsive to determination that the load of the server exceeds the predefined threshold, sending an instruction to a re-mapping program, wherein the re-mapping program re-calculates the map graph using a rules engine upon receipt of the instruction; and

performing communications in accordance with the re-calculated map graph,

wherein the communications in accordance with the re-calculated map graph reduces the work load of an overloaded server in the system.