Patent ID: 7970861

Claim:
A method for load balancing at a client device in a distributed computing environment based on a dynamic validity period and utilization metrics, the method comprising: at the client device, selecting a first data store from a plurality of data stores that maintain a copy of a particular datum, wherein the client device maintains utilization metrics describing utilization of resources within the first data store; communicating a first request having a valid period of a first duration, wherein the first request is a request to the first data store for the particular datum; receiving, from the first data store, a first response to the first request, wherein the first response indicates an inability of the first data store to fulfill the first request within the first duration; in response to receiving the first response to the first request, selecting a second data store from the plurality of data stores; and communicating a second request for the particular datum to the second data store, wherein the second request has a valid period with a second duration.