Patent ID: 7496566

Claim:
A method for directing a client to a preferred service instance, comprising: storing data in a service binding attribute of a service connection point, said data including adaptive domain data for domains served by said service instance and adaptive priority data associated with said domains, said priority data indicating quality of a match of an associated service instance to domain data; querying a directory of compiled assigned domain and priority data to each service attribute for all instances of a service; receiving a list of domain data associated with said priority data for each service instance in response to said query; and scanning said list for a match for a client machine to a preferred service instance, including determining a preferred service instance for said client based upon: a comparison of a domain data entry in said list with a domain data assignment to said client, and a comparison of a priority entry in said list with a priority assignment to said client responsive to a comparison of said domain data entries resulting in maintaining a current client assignment.