Patent ID: 6327591
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
Apparatus for identifying optimum configuration parameters of a model of a distributed information network, said network comprising a plurality of interconnected information centers, each information center holding any number of information units, a plurality of information application means connected over the network to the information centers, each of said information application means being arranged to change the distribution of information units by retrieving information units from and/or updating information units at one or more specified information centers, and wherein the distribution of the information units across the information centers is controlled in accordance with a predetermined set of configuration parameters, said apparatus comprising:(i) a plurality of sets of one or more predetermined configuration parameters;(ii) modelling means for modelling the distributed information network;(iii) means operable to run the modelling means in accordance with each set of predetermined configuration parameters;(iv) evaluating means for evaluating the performance of the modelling means when run in accordance with each set of predetermined configuration parameters; and(v) selecting means for selecting one of the sets of predetermined configuration parameters for which performance of the modelling means is closest to a predetermined performance measure,which selected set is for controlling the distribution of the information units in the network.