Patent ID: 8601499
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for routing requests from an application executing on a device, comprising: registering, by an application programming interface switch comprising a processor, the device, the application programming interface switch arranged on top of an Internet Protocol network and communicatively coupled to a plurality of server computers via the Internet Protocol network; receiving, at the application programming interface switch, an application programming interface request from the application; determining, by the application programming interface switch, an optimal server computer of the plurality of server computers and an optimal route for forwarding the application programming interface request from the application programming interface switch to the optimal server computer via the Internet Protocol network, wherein determining the optimal server computer of the plurality of server computers and the optimal route is based on loads associated with the plurality of servers, route times associated with application programming interface requests received from applications, and a type of the application from which the application programming interface request is received; determining, by the application programming interface switch, an optimal return route to be used by the optimal server computer to route a response to the application programming interface request from the optimal server computer to the application executing on the device; inserting, by the application programming interface switch, additional header information into a header of the application programming interface request, the additional header information comprising the optimal return route for the optimal server to use to route the response to the application programming interface request to the application executing on the device; after determining the optimal server computer, the optimal route, and the optimal return route, forwarding the application programming interface request from the application programming interface switch to the optimal server computer based on the optimal route; and in response to the application programming interface request being redirected after being forwarded from the application programming interface switch and passing through a deep packet inspection, determining, by the application programming interface switch, a server to which the application programming interface request is redirected.