Method and apparatus for load balancing work on a network of servers based on the probability of being serviced within a service time goal
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for balancing resource loads, comprising:
- receiving a work request;
determining for each of a plurality of service locations a probability of servicing said work request within a target time, wherein said determined probability includes determining a relative probability for each service location included in the plurality of service locations by calculating a number of opportunities to service said work request within said target time by each service location included in the plurality of service locations, wherein said number of opportunities is calculated as a function of a weighted advance time (WAT), where WAT is a weighted advance time for a work request assigned to said service location;
selecting at least a first service location having at least one of a greatest determined probability of servicing said work request within said target time and a sufficient determined probability of servicing said work request within said target time; and
assigning said work request to said selected service location.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to balancing resource loads. In particular, the present invention is directed to assigning work to service locations having the greatest probability of servicing the work within a target time. Because an average wait time is not necessarily equal to a probability of servicing work within a target time, the present invention is useful in meeting service target goals. Because the present invention operates by comparing the probability of a defined set of service locations to one another, absolute probabilities need not be calculated. Instead, relative probabilities may be used in assigning work.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for balancing resource loads, comprising:
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receiving a work request; determining for each of a plurality of service locations a probability of servicing said work request within a target time, wherein said determined probability includes determining a relative probability for each service location included in the plurality of service locations by calculating a number of opportunities to service said work request within said target time by each service location included in the plurality of service locations, wherein said number of opportunities is calculated as a function of a weighted advance time (WAT), where WAT is a weighted advance time for a work request assigned to said service location; selecting at least a first service location having at least one of a greatest determined probability of servicing said work request within said target time and a sufficient determined probability of servicing said work request within said target time; and
assigning said work request to said selected service location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A load-balancing apparatus, including a hardware processor and memory, comprising:
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means for receiving a work request; means for calculating a probability that a service location is capable of servicing said work request within a target time, wherein said means for calculating a probability includes means for calculating a number of opportunities to service said work request within said target time with respect to a service location, wherein said number of opportunities is calculated as a weighted advance time (WAT), where WAT is a weighted advance time for a work request assigned to said service location; means for selecting a service location having at least one of a highest probability of servicing said work request within said target time and a sufficient probability of servicing said work request within said target time; and means for allocating said work request to said selected service location. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 30)
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17. A work allocation apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of service locations; a plurality of service resources, wherein at least a one of said service resources is associated with each of said service locations; a communication network interface, operable to receive work requests; and a hardware processor implementing a controller, wherein said controller operates to calculate a relative probability that a work request will be serviced within a target time for each service location included in the plurality of service locations, wherein said relative probability is determined for a service location by calculating a number of opportunities to service said work request within a predetermined target time, wherein said number of opportunities is calculated as a function of a weighted advance time (WAT), where WAT is a weighted advance time for a work request assigned to said service location, wherein a work request received at said communication network interface is assigned to a service location having at least one of a highest probability of servicing said work request within said predetermined target time and a sufficient probability of servicing said work request within said predetermined target time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31)
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23. A computer storage medium containing instructions, when executed by a processor, to perform the method comprising:
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receiving a work request; calculating for each of a plurality of service locations a relative probability that said work request will receive service within a target time period, wherein said calculated probability comprises a calculated number of opportunities that a service location will have to service said work request within said target time period, wherein said number of opportunities is calculated as a function of an expected wait time (EWT) for said service location; selecting at least one a one of said plurality of service locations having at least one of a greatest probability of servicing said work request within said target time period and a sufficient probability of servicing said work request within said target time period; and assigning said work request to one of said selected service locations. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32)
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Specification