Patent ID: 6473802
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
Method for load balancing access to a resource identified in a hyper text transport protocol (HTTP) request, comprising:(a) examining an HTTP request to determine when a Cookie is included with the HTTP request, the Cookie including information that indicates a destination for accessing the resource identified in the HTTP request; (b) when the Cookie is included in the HTTP request, sending the HTTP request to the destination that is indicated by the Cookie's information; (c) generating an HTTP response at the destination, the HTTP response providing access to the requested resource; (d) inserting a copy of the information in the Cookie into the HTTP response; and (e) sending the HTTP response with the copy of the information in the Cookie to the sender of the HTTP request, so that a subsequent HTTP request to access the resource will include another Cookie with information indicating that the resource is accessible at the destination.