Method and system for load balancing an authentication system
AssigneeValve Corporation
InventorsChristopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system are directed towards balancing loads on an authentication system. The system employs a first authentication server that is configured to authenticate a user. The system includes a master authentication server. When the master authentication server determines that a load on it has reached a predetermined value, a data store associated with the master authentication server is partitioned between authentication servers that assume a master authentication server role for its partition of the data store. In one embodiment, each new master authentication server is further enabled to partition its respective partition of the data store, if their respective loads reach the pre-determined value.
Claims23
A system for load balancing over a network, comprising:
- a data store that is configured to store data about each user;
- and
- a master authentication server that is configured to manage the data about each user, and if a load on the master authentication server exceeds a predetermined value, performing actions, including:
- enabling the partitioning of the data about each user stored in the data store in relation to the load;
- allocating each partition to another master authentication server;
- and
- enabling each other master authentication server to manage the data for each user on its partition.
A method for load balancing over a network, comprising:
- determining a load associated with a master authentication server;
- determining if the load exceeds a pre-determined criteria, and if the load does exceed the pre-determined criteria,
- partitioning data about each user in relation to the load;
- allocating each partition to another master authentication server;
- and
- enabling each other master authentication server to manage the data for each user on its partition.
An apparatus for load balancing over a network, comprising:
- a data store that is configured to store data about each user;
- and
- a master authentication server that is configured to manage data about each user, and if a load on the master authentication server exceeds a predetermined value, performing actions, including:
- partitioning the data about each user stored in the data store in relation to the load;
- allocating each partition to another master authentication server;
- and
- enabling each other master authentication server to manage the data for each user on its partition.
A system for load balancing over a network, comprising:
- a means for storing data about each user;
- a means for determining if a load on a master authentication server exceeds a pre-determined value, and if the load on the master authentication server does exceed the predetermined value,
- a means for partitioning the data about each user in relation to the load;
- a means for allocating each partition to another master authentication server;
- and
- a means for enabling each other master authentication server to manage the data for each user on its partition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.