Patent ID: 7461147

Claim:
A method for selecting a replicated node from a domain of replicated nodes in a computer network, the method comprising: maintaining data identifying the replicated nodes; receiving status information from an operational node of the replicated nodes, the status information indicating the operational node is working as a replicated node; receiving a name resolution request to resolve a name for the domain into a network address, wherein the name resolution request is associated with a client device; when proximity information about the client device is unavailable, deferring the name resolution request until the proximity information is determined, wherein the deferring includes sending a response designating a future time for a second request to be sent; in response to the name resolution request, selecting one of the replicated nodes based on the proximity information and predefined selection criteria, wherein the selecting excludes the operational node of the replicated nodes, wherein the predefined selection criteria comprise exclusionary rules to exclude some of the replicated nodes from the selecting, and wherein the exclusionary rules comprise rules to exclude a replicated node from the selecting based on what networking protocols are supported by the replicated node; and sending a network address of the selected replicated node to a network address associated with the name resolution request.