Server computer, client device, and web-service-implemented data processing method

• US 20070078860A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Enenkiel, Achim
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 67/1017 based on a round robin mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1036 Load balancing of requests to servers for services different from user content provisioning, e.g. load balancing across domain name servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A data processing system includes a server computer and at least one client device. The server computer includes means for providing a central web service, the central web service having a central web service address. An interface means receives a web service request addressed to the central web service address from the client device and forwards the web service request to one of a plurality of alternative web services selected by the central web service. The client device includes means for storing the central web service address and means for generating the web service request. An interface means at the client sends the web service request to the central web service address, and receives a web service response from the one of the plurality of alternative web services selected by the central web service.

Claims

1. A server computer comprising:

means for providing a central web service, the central web service having a central web service address;

interface means for receiving a web service request addressed to the central web service address and for forwarding the web service request to one of a plurality of alternative web services,

wherein the central web service selects the one of the plurality of alternative web services.

2. The server computer of claim 1, wherein the central web service selects the one of the plurality of alternative web services by applying a load-balancing rule.

3. The server computer of claim 2, wherein the central web service applies the load-balancing rule to equalize an average number of web service requests to be processed per alternative web service.

4. The server computer of claim 1, wherein the web service request comprises location information, and the central web service selects the one of the alternative web services based on the location information.

5. The server computer of claim 1, wherein the web service request comprises a user identifier, and the central web service selects the one of the alternative web services based on the user identifier.

6. The server computer of claim 1, wherein the web service request comprises a tax number, and the central web service selects the one of the web services based on the tax number.

7. A data processing method comprising:

providing a central web service, the central web service having a central web service address;

receiving a web service request addressed to the central web service address;

selecting one of a plurality of alternative web services based on a predefined selection criterion; and

forwarding the web service request to the selected one of the plurality of alternative web services.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predefined selection criterion is a load-balancing criterion to balance an average number of web service requests to be processed per alternative web service.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the web service request comprises location information, and the predefined selection criterion comprises a location criterion.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the web service request comprises a user identifier, and the predefined selection criterion comprises a user criterion.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the web service request comprises a tax number, and the predefined selection criterion is based on the tax number.

12. A client device comprising:

means for storing a central web service address;

means for generating a web service request; and

interface means for sending the web service request to the central web service address, and for receiving a web service response from one of a plurality of alternative web services selected by the central web service.

13. The client device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for determining if the central web service is unavailable; and

means for selecting the one of the plurality of alternative web services if the central web service is unavailable,

wherein the interface means resends the web service request to the selected one of the plurality of alternative web services if the central web service is unavailable.

14. The client device of claim 12, wherein the means for determining if the central web service is unavailable comprises timer means for application of a time-out criterion.

15. The client device of claim 12, further comprising a location determination means for generating location information, wherein the means for generating the web service request includes the location information in the web service request.

16. The client device of claim 12, further comprising an application program that contains the central web service address.

17. The client device of claim 12, wherein the application program uses an embedded mark-up language document for entry of user data for the web service request.

18. The client device of claim 12, wherein the application program implements an industrial control functionality.

19. The client device of claim 12, wherein the client device is a car-navigation system.

20. A computer-readable medium comprising programmable instructions adapted to perform a method of data processing, the method comprising:

providing a central web service, the central web service having a central web service address;

receiving a web service request addressed to the central web service address;

selecting one of a plurality of alternative web services based on a predefined selection criterion; and

forwarding the web service request to the selected one of the plurality of alternative web services.