Method and system for accessing network services

• US 7,958,222 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mager, Gary N., Jenny, Patrick D., Pruitt, Joseph A., Skene, Bryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US12/880,659
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/229, 718/104, 718/105
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A system for accessing network services includes a plurality of resolvers including a root resolver and a secondary resolver, each resolver arranged to perform actions comprising determining a set of service locations based at least in part on the service and an address associated with a client. the system includes an intermediate device that manipulates scores returned by a set of resolvers of the plurality of resolvers, wherein the root resolver is further arranged to combine sets of the determined service locations and return a combined set of service locations to the client, and wherein at least one resolver of the plurality of resolvers employs an algorithm that is different from an algorithm employed by another resolver of the plurality of resolvers, wherein each algorithm is employed to determine scores of service locations, wherein the combined set of services locations comprises the scores of service locations.

Claims

1. A system for mapping a request to a service, comprising:

a plurality of resolvers including a root resolver and a secondary resolver, each resolver arranged to perform actions comprising determining a set of service locations based at least in part on the service and an address associated with a client; and

an intermediate device that manipulates scores returned by a set of resolvers of the plurality of resolvers,

wherein the root resolver is further arranged to combine sets of the determined service locations and return a combined set of service locations to the client, and

wherein at least one resolver of the plurality of resolvers employs an algorithm that is different from an algorithm employed by another resolver of the plurality of resolvers, wherein each algorithm is employed to determine scores of service locations, wherein the combined set of services locations comprises the scores of service locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one service location is also based on client characteristics.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one client characteristic includes at least one of information about the client'"'"'s operating system, the client'"'"'s brand name, the client'"'"'s language of operation, the client'"'"'s processor, the client'"'"'s compression capabilities, the client'"'"'s bandwidth capabilities, the client'"'"'s user details, the client'"'"'s organization details, and the client'"'"'s ownership.