Patent ID: 7636778

Claim:
A method implemented by a computing system that includes a processor and memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, implement the method for automatically determining capacity of a server by dynamically adjusting a rate of a continual stream of requests based on performance feedback from the server, the method comprising: receiving a control rate defining a rate at which to send a continual stream of requests to the server; receiving a predetermined threshold target utilization of the server; opening a network connection to the server; generating a continual stream of requests for the server at the rate defined by the control rate; sending the continual stream of requests to the server using the network connection; receiving performance monitoring information from the server, including performance feedback that indicates at least server ability to process the continual stream of requests; determining an actual utilization of the server by analyzing the performance feedback; comparing the actual utilization of the server with the threshold target utilization of the server, and in response, adjusting the control rate to a second rate that more closely brings the actual utilization of the server to the threshold target utilization of the server; generating a second continual stream of requests for the server at the second rate defined by the control rate; and sending the second continual stream of requests to the server using the network connection.