Internet system and method for selecting a closest server from a plurality of alternative servers
US6304913A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L61/4511
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and Internet system is provided that attempts to improve response times by automatically selecting for use a server (e.g., mirror server or alternative server) located relatively close to a requesting host. Alternatively, the method and Internet system can automatically select for use a server (e.g., alternative server) that is relatively appropriate for the requesting host. More specifically, the Internet system can operate to select the closest server or the most appropriate server from a plurality of servers providing the same service (e.g., mirror servers) or slightly adapted variants of the same service (e.g., alternative servers) each assigned a common host name and a unique Internet Protocol address. The Internet system includes a database (e.g., Domain Name System (DNS) server) for storing the common host name and the plurality of unique Internet Protocol addresses. The Internet system also includes a requesting host for transmitting a translation request containing the common host name to the database. In response to the translation request, a system (e.g., requesting host, router, dedicated server, or DNS server) operates to select the unique Internet Protocol ad…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.