Patent ID: 6330602
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a client-server environment of a telecommunications network, where information resources, which are accessed by HTTP protocol, are replicated among a plurality of servers and a client has access to any one or more of the servers for desired information resources, a method of efficiently utilizing the plurality of servers comprising steps of:performing an HTTP transaction by HTTP protocol between the client and the plurality of servers, the HTTP transaction comprising one or more TCP connection sessions which are conducted by way of a depot;storing, at the depot, information about the TCP connection sessions and parameters in a primary and a secondary map, the information in the primary map being deleted at the close of sessions and the information at the secondary table being maintained for two maximum segment lifetimes (MSL);transparently forwarding TCP connection sessions of the HTTP transaction at the depot in both directions to and from the client and the plurality of servers;monitoring parameters indicative of either or both of load and operability of the servers;detecting transition states of the TCP connection sessions of the HTTP transaction at the depot; andswitching at the depot the plurality of TCP connection sessions of the HTTP transaction among the plurality of servers based on the detected transition states and the monitored parameters of the servers so that during the HTTP transaction, transfer of the information resources is performed by HTTP protocol between the client and one or more servers among the plurality of servers.