Patent•
Broker for computer network server selection
19 Feb 1990-
TL;DR: In this article, a broker allocates a plurality of servers, each having an available resource capacity, to clients for delivering one of several services to the clients by monitoring a subset of all available servers capable of delivering the requested service.
Abstract: In a computer network, a broker mechanism allocates a plurality of servers, each having an available resource capacity, to a plurality of clients for delivering one of several services to the clients. The broker operates by monitoring a subset of all available servers capable of delivering the requested service. The allocation is based on developing a network policy for the plurality of servers by collecting a local policy for each of the servers. The broker receives client requests for the services and based on the network policy and available resource capacity suggests one of the servers, monitors in its subset for that particular service, to one of the clients making a request. The server suggested enforces its local policy by not allowing any connections exceeding its available resource capacity.
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Patent•
20 Sep 2001
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present methods, systems, and configured storage media for discovering software updates, discovering if a given computer can use the software update, and then updating the computers with the software as needed automatically across a network without storing the updates on an intermediate machine within the network.
Abstract: Methods, systems, and configured storage media are provided for discovering software updates, discovering if a given computer can use the software update, and then updating the computers with the software as needed automatically across a network without storing the updates on an intermediate machine within the network. Furthermore, when a failure is detected, the rollout is stopped and the software can be automatically removed from those computers that already were updated. The software update can be stored originally at an address that is inaccessible through the network firewall by intermediately uploading the software update to an update computer which is not a part of the network but has access through the firewall, which is then used to distribute the update.
985 citations
Patent•
05 Apr 2010TL;DR: In this paper, the authors propose an architecture that allows a Content Provider to replicate and serve its most popular content at an unlimited number of points throughout the world, by serving the base HTML document from the Content Provider's site, maintaining control over the content.
Abstract: Network architecture supports hosting and content distribution on a global scale. The architecture allows a Content Provider to replicate and serve its most popular content at an unlimited number of points throughout the world. The inventive framework comprises a set of servers operating in a distributed manner. The actual content to be served is preferably supported on a set of hosting servers (sometimes referred to as ghost servers). This content comprises HTML page objects that, conventionally, are served from a Content Provider site. A base HTML document portion of a Web page is served from the Content Provider's site while one or more embedded objects for the page are served from the hosting servers, preferably, those hosting servers near the client machine. By serving the base HTML document from the Content Provider's site, the Content Provider maintains control over the content.
808 citations
Patent•
30 Mar 1998TL;DR: Content-aware flow switches as discussed by the authors intercepts a client content request in an IP network, and transparently directs the content request to a best-fit server based on the type of content requested, the quality of service requirements implied by the content requests, the degree of load on available servers, network congestion information, and the proximity of the client to available servers.
Abstract: A content-aware flow switch intercepts a client content request in an IP network, and transparently directs the content request to a best-fit server. The best-fit server is chosen based on the type of content requested, the quality of service requirements implied by the content request, the degree of load on available servers, network congestion information, and the proximity of the client to available servers. The flow switch detects client-server flows based on the arrival of TCP SYNs and/or HTTP GETs from the client. The flow switch implicitly deduces the quality of service requirements of a flow based on the content of the flow. The flow switch also provides the functionality of multiple physical web servers on a single web server in a way that is transparent to the client, through the use of virtual web hosts and flow pipes.
793 citations
Patent•
07 Jun 1995TL;DR: In this article, 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, and various mechanisms are provided for efficiently reallocating application servers to different online services, and for allowing additional servers to be efficiently added to the network.
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.
735 citations
Patent•
07 Jun 1996
TL;DR: In this paper, an apparatus and method for encoding and decoding additional information into a stream of digitized samples in an integral manner is presented. But the method does not cause a significant degradation to the sample stream.
Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding additional information into a stream of digitized samples in an integral manner. The information is encoded using special keys. The information is contained in the samples, not prepended or appended to the sample stream. The method makes it extremely difficult to find the information in the samples if the proper keys are not possessed by the decoder. The method does not cause a significant degradation to the sample stream. The method is used to establish ownership of copyrighted digital multimedia content and provide a disincentive to piracy of such material.
704 citations
References
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Patent•
08 Sep 1987
TL;DR: In this paper, a network including a plurality of nodes which communicate over a communications link includes client nodes which are used by users and server nodes, at least one of the server nodes is a management server node, and other server nodes may comprise backup server nodes or software distribution server nodes.
Abstract: A network including a plurality of nodes which communicate over a communications link includes client nodes which are used by users and server nodes. At least one of the server nodes is a management server node, and other server nodes may comprise backup server nodes or software distribution server nodes. To initiate, for example, backup service, the management server node transmits a message to the backup server node to enable it to perform the backup. To initiate software distribution service, the management server node determines the nature of the service, such as downloading new versions, auditing use for licensing purposes, and the like, and transmits a message to the software distribution server node to initiate the operation. The network may include master and slave management server nodes, backup server nodes and software distribution server nodes to further divide the control of the respective operations.
653 citations
Patent•
17 Jun 1987
TL;DR: In this paper, a telephone system automatically connects a potential customer with a nearby dealer who can provide the goods or services desired by the potential customer by dialing an "800"-type number which preferably includes digits uniquely characteristic of the product or service desired.
Abstract: A telephone system automatically connects a potential customer with a nearby dealer who can provide the goods or services desired by the potential customer. The potential customer first dials an "800"-type number which preferably includes digits uniquely characteristic of the product or service desired. The system identifies the originating telephone number of the potential customer and a computer initially routes the call to a specific customer dealer service company (CDSC) office in the general vicinity of the potential customer. The specially equipped CDSC HQ office includes a vertical-horizontal (V-H) file listing each dealer by product/service and equivalent of longitude/latitude. A comparison is performed between the telephone number of the potential customer and the data in the V-H file to find 1-3 selected dealers nearby to the potential customer. The system then automatically dials the telephone number of the closest dealer thereby routing the potential customer directly to a nearby dealer who can provide the products or services of interest to that customer. If the dealer's telephone number is busy or does not answer, the system can attempt to call another nearby dealer if one exists. The system also provides for billing the telephone call and for reporting each call in detail to the advertiser.
544 citations
Patent•
IBM1
TL;DR: In this paper, the client cache data blocks are tested for validity in the client processing system by using modification times as measured by the server processing system, and if the cache data block are determined to be valid, the data blocks were discarded, and the file is accessed from the server system.
Abstract: In a distributed environment several data processing systems are interconnected across a network system. A distributed services program installed on the systems in the network allows the processors to access data files distributed across the various nodes of the network without regard to the location of the data file in the network. The processing system accessing file, referred to as the client processing system, utilizes a client cache within its operating system to store the data file. Utilizing the client cache minimizes the number of reads and writes that must go over the network to the server processing system where the file physically resides. The system and method of this invention prevents a process in the client processing system from accessing data in the client cache that has been modified at another node in the network. The blocks of data in the client cache are tested for validity in the client processing system by using modification times as measured by the server processing system. If the cache data blocks are determined to be valid, the data blocks are determined to be invalid, the data blocks are discarded, and the file is accessed from the server processing system.
316 citations
Patent•
IBM1
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a file sharing and record locking protocol that allows users of a computer system comprising a plurality of computers connected in a local area network to share both file resources and application programs without modification to existing programs which were designed to run in a non-network environment.
Abstract: The procedure which allows users of a computer system comprising a plurality of computers connected in a local area network to share both file resources and application programs on the local area network without modification to existing programs which were designed to run in a non-network environment is disclosed. The local area network comprises a server computer and at least one remote computer. Starting the network comprises an initial program load of the operating system for each of the computers, loading the local area network control program, and then loading a hypervisor or "node enabler" program. At each of the remote computers, a request to load a program or access a data file is converted by the "node enabler" to a file sharing and record locking protocol message with is transmitted to the server computer. The server computer stores a program matrix with entries indicating which programs can be run on the network without conflicts with other systems including the server computer. The server computer also maintains a list of currently running programs and accessed data files. By comparing the remote computer request with the program matrix and the list of currently running programs and accessed data files, a decision to grant a remote computer's request is made. In addition, by recording a unique identification number for each remote computer signed on to the network at the server computer, control of access to licensed programs is maintained.
255 citations
Patent•
15 Jul 1988
TL;DR: In this article, a local area network based system for shared remote access or control of application programs in one or more computers by oneor more other computers is provided having particular utility for trading rooms of securities firms, wherein each operator position is permitted the capability to access any of a number of information services.
Abstract: A local-area-network based system for shared remote access or control of application programs in one or more computers by one or more other computers is provided having particular utility for trading rooms of securities firms, wherein each operator position is permitted the capability to access any of a number of information services. Information services, each of which communicates with a personal-computer-based video source running an applications program specific to that information service, are represented on a local-area network as nodes called servers. Each server runs the application program, unmodified, together with other terminate-and-stay-resident software which periodically broadcasts a video message, the content of which is the change of the application program display screen contents since the time of the last broadcast. The sender of the broadcast does not watch for the acknowledgements from recipients, which are other nodes on the network called clients, nor does the sender maintain a list of intended recipients. If a recipient misses a video message broadcast, it may request that the sender broadcast the contents of the entire display screen contents. Each client runs terminate-and-stay resident software which may through a hot key sequence entered from the client's keyboard request control of the application program of a particular server. Upon being granted such control, which may be shared among two or more clients, the client may send keystrokes to the server for controlling its application program.
238 citations