Patent ID: 7571206
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for accessing a resource distributed over a plurality of equivalent servers in a server group, comprising: establishing a direct connection between a client and any one of the equivalent servers in the server group via a network, one of the equivalent servers so connected being a connected server, the plurality of equivalent servers together making available to the client, resources that are partitioned over a subset of, or all of, the plurality of equivalent servers, such that a first portion of a partitioned resource resides on a first equivalent server and a remaining portion of the partitioned resource resides on at least one second equivalent server; and while maintaining the direct connection between the client and the connected server: receiving at the connected server a client request for the resource; accessing a routing table that i) resides on each of the plurality of equivalent servers, including the connected server, and that ii) identifies to each of the plurality of equivalent servers on which of the plurality of equivalent servers, including the connected server and any other equivalent servers, the requested resource resides; based on the accessing, using the routing table to determine, at the connected server, on which of the plurality of equivalent servers, including the connected server, the requested resource resides; and returning the requested resource to the client from an other server of the plurality of equivalent servers via the connected server, if the requested resource does not reside on the connected server.