# US 12,764,207 B2 · Method and apparatus for timeout setting propagation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,764,207 B2 - Document ID: US12764207B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/060,426 - Filed: 2022-11-30 - Published: 2023-07-27 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-24 - Assignees: Level 3 Communications, LLC - Applicants: Level 3 Communications, LLC - Inventors: William Crowder; William Power; Laurence Lipstone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12764207B2 ## CPC - H04L 69/28: Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols - H04L 1/188: {Time-out mechanisms} - H04L 69/22: Parsing or analysis of headers - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for managing requests in a computer network. A request for a resource from a first node is received by a second node. The request for a resource comprises a header with a timeout indication corresponding to an amount of time the first node will wait for a response to its request for the resource. The second node sends to the first node a response to the request for the resource prior to the end of the amount of time indicated in the timeout indication. The response to the request comprises either the resource or an error message. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing requests in a computer network, comprising: receiving, from a first node at a second node, a first request for a resource, wherein the first request comprises a first timeout indication corresponding to a first amount of time the first node will wait for a response to said first request for the resource, wherein the first timeout indication is included in a first header of the first request; sending, by the second node to the first node, a response to the first request prior to an end of the first amount of time, wherein the response to the first request comprises either the resource or an error message; sending a second request for the resource by the second node to a third node, wherein the second request comprises a second header with a second timeout indication corresponding to a second amount of time the second node will wait for a response to the second request, wherein the second amount of time is less than the first amount of time; and determining, by the second node, prior to an end of the second amount of time, whether the response to the second request has been received from the third node, wherein the first timeout indication comprises a clock time, and wherein the second amount of time is determined based at least on the first amount of time and an expected propagation delay between the second node and the third node. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: when the response to the second request has been received from the third node prior to the end of the second amount of time, determining whether the response to the second request includes the resource, and: when the response to the second request includes the resource, sending the resource to the first node in the response to the first request; and when the response to the second request does not include the resource, determining a remaining time in the first time period, and, based on the remaining time in the first time period: sending, by the second node, a third request to a fourth node for the resource; or sending the error message to the first node prior to the end of the first amount of time from the first request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a connection between the first node and the second node when the response to the first request is received prior to the end of the first amount of time from the first request, and closing the connection between the first node and the second node when the response to the first request is not received prior to the end of the first amount of time from the first request. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a first computing device and the second node comprises a second computing device that is different from the first computing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second amount of time is less than said first amount of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second amount of time is determined as a percentage of the first amount of time. ### Claim 7 A system for managing requests in a computer network, comprising: at least one processor; memory operatively connected to said at least one processor; and instructions stored in said memory, wherein said instructions are executable to cause the system to: receive, from a first node at a second node, a first request for a resource, wherein the first request comprises a first timeout indication corresponding to a first amount of time the first node will wait for a response to said first request for the resource, wherein the first timeout indication is included in a first header of the first request; send, by the second node to the first node, a response to the first request prior to an end of the first amount of time from the first request, wherein the response to the first request comprises either the resource or an error message; send a second request by the second node to a third node, wherein the second request comprises a second header with a second timeout indication corresponding to a second amount of time the second node will wait for a response to the second request, wherein the second amount of time is less than the first amount of time; and determine, by the second node, prior to an end of the second amount of time, whether the response to the second request has been received from the third node, wherein the first timeout indication comprises a clock time, and wherein the second amount of time is determined based at least on the first amount of time and an expected propagation delay between the second node and the third node. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein said instructions are executable to further cause the system to: when the response to the second request has been received from the third node prior to the end of the second amount of time, determine whether the response to the second request includes the resource, and: when the response to the second request includes the resource, send the resource to the first node in the response to the first request; and when the response to the second request does not include the resource, determine a remaining time in the first time period, and, based on the remaining time in the first time period: send, by the second node, a third request to a fourth node for the resource; or send the error message to the first node prior to the end of the first amount of time from the first request. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the second amount of time is less than said first amount of time.