Method of redirecting a client service session to a second application server without interrupting the session by forwarding service-specific information to the second server
US5951694A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/329
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An on-line services network includes application servers and Gateway microcomputers that are interconnected by a LAN. The Gateway microcomputers receive service requests which are transmitted over a WAN from client microcomputers operated by end users. Upon receiving a request to open a service, the Gateway microcomputers access a periodically-updated service map to locate the replicated application servers that are currently running the corresponding service application, and then apply a load balancing method (using server load data contained within the service map) to select an application server that has a relatively low processing load. A communications protocol between the client and Gateway microcomputers enables users to access multiple services simultaneously. A hot redirection technique allows a user service session to be transferred from one application server to another (replicated) application server without termination of the service session. Various mechanisms are provided for efficiently reallocating application servers to different on-line services, and for allowing additional servers to be efficiently added to the network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.