Patent ID: 6748414
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method in a distributed data processing system for handling requests, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:monitoring processing of requests received at a server system, wherein the server system includes a plurality of servers; determining an estimated work load for each of the plurality of servers based on a service rate for each of the plurality of servers, wherein the plurality of servers have different service rates, wherein the different service rates for the plurality of servers are fixed; and forwarding the request to a server within the plurality of servers having a smallest estimated work load, wherein the step of determining an estimated work load comprises dividing a total of service times for a server by a total of observed inter-arrival times for the server, wherein an inter-arrival time is a time period between an arrival of a request sent to the server and an arrival time of a previous request sent to the server.