Method and apparatus for dynamic client-side load balancing system

• US 20030126252A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Meaningful Machines LLC
• Original Assignee: Meaningful Machines LLC
• Inventors: Abir, Eli
• Application Number:
  US10/233,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126252A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1458 Denial of Service
• 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 67/1019 Random or heuristic server selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1038 Load balancing arrangements to avoid a single path through a load balancer

Abstract

A method and apparatus for balancing load among a plurality of server computers connected via a network such as the Internet to a client computer. In one embodiment the invention includes a method of a client computer receiving plurality of addresses associated with a chosen Uniform Resource Locator. The method also includes identifying one of the plurality of addresses as a most recently used address and receiving a Uniform Resource Locator as an entered Uniform Resource Locator. The method further includes identifying the entered Uniform Resource Locator as a chosen Uniform Resource Locator and selecting from the plurality of addresses a selected address that is different from the most recently used address.

Claims

1. A method for balancing load among a plurality of server computers, comprising:

associating at a client computer a plurality of addresses with a chosen Uniform Resource Locator;

identifying one of the plurality of addresses as a most recently used address;

receiving a Uniform Resource Locator as an entered Uniform Resource Locator;

identifying the entered Uniform Resource Locator as a chosen Uniform Resource Locator; and

selecting from the plurality of addresses a selected address that is different from the most recently used address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request to a server computer identified in the selected address to retrieve a file located in the server computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of addresses comprise a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the plurality of addresses from a remote computer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of addresses are encrypted.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending a request to one of the plurality of server computers to transmit a plurality of addresses associated with the chosen Uniform Resource Locator.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising decrypting the plurality of addresses.

8. A client computer connected to a plurality of server computers via a network comprising:

a memory device;

a program stored in the memory device; and

a processor adapted to execute the program comprising

associating a plurality of addresses with a chosen Uniform Resource Locator;

identifying one of the plurality of addresses as a most recently used address;

receiving a Uniform Resource Locator as an entered Uniform Resource Locator;

recognizing the entered Uniform Resource Locator as the chosen Uniform Resource Locator; and

selecting one of the plurality of addresses corresponding to the chosen Uniform Resource Locator that is different from the most recently used address.

9. The client computer of claim 8, wherein the processor is adapted to request a file located in one of the plurality of server computers identified in the selected address.

10. The client computer of claim 8, wherein the plurality of addresses comprise a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses.

11. The client computer of claim 8, wherein the processor receives the plurality of addresses associated from a remote computer.

12. The client computer of claim 11, wherein the plurality of addresses are encrypted.

13. The client computer of claim 11, wherein the processor decrypts the plurality of addresses.

14. The client computer of claim 8, wherein the processor sends to one of the plurality of server computers a request to transmit the plurality of addresses that are associated with a single Uniform Resource Locator.