Multi-route client-server architecture
US6633901B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/1091
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A “flat” network architecture facilitates direct connections between nodes so that information may be retrieved more efficiently. Agent software is loaded on each participating node, and this code is sufficiently intelligent to share and relay information appropriately in accordance with user requests. The invention is particularly advantageous in situations where communication bottlenecks are likely to occur, such as between corporate intranets and the Internet, in conjunction with requests to international servers, and in other configurations wherein only a limited number of data pipelines are available. A method of accessing information in a client-server network architecture according to the invention includes the step of maintaining a database on the server which keeps track of where desired information is stored on the network. When such information is requested from the server, the database is queried to determine whether the information is available from one or more participating clients. If, so, the information is provided to the requestor directly through the client(s). According to the invention, this redirection of information is accomplished by storing agen…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.