System and method for allocating resources on a network

A method for allocating a plurality of resources on a network, which includes a server and at least one client, said method comprising:

• associating said plurality of resources within a single set, such that said plurality of resources are allocated only from said single set, such that the number of said plurality of resources within said network may be more easily incremented or decremented;
• associating a respective one of a plurality of flags with each of said plurality of resources, wherein each of said plurality of flags may be set to one of two states, a first state or a second state;
• in response to said server receiving a connection request from said client, examining said plurality of flags to identify a first flag set to said second state;
• in response to identifying said first flag set to said second state, assigning an associated one of said plurality of resources to said client;
• and
• in response to assigning said associated one of said plurality of resources to said client, setting said first flag to said first state and setting a second flag associated with another one of said plurality of resources to said second state.

A system for allocating a plurality of resources on a network, which includes a server and at least one client, said system comprising:

• means for associating said plurality of resources within a single set, such that said plurality of resources are allocated only from said single set, such that the number of said plurality of resources within said network may be more easily incremented or decremented;
• means for associating a respective one of a plurality of flags with each of said plurality of resources, wherein each of said plurality of flags may be set to one of two states, a first state or a second state;
• means for examining said plurality of flags to identify a first flag set to said second state, in response to said server receiving a connection request from said client;
• means for assigning an associated one of said plurality of resources to said client, in response to identifying said first flag set to said second state;
• and
• means for setting said first flag to said first state and setting a second flag associated with another one of said plurality of resources to said second state, in response to assigning said associated one of said plurality of resources to said client.

A computer program product for allocating a plurality of resources on a network, which includes a server and at least one client, said computer program product comprising:

• instruction means, embodied within computer-readable media, for associating said plurality of resources within a single set, such that said plurality of resources are allocated only from said single set, such that the number of said plurality of resources within said network may be more easily incremented or decremented;
• instruction means, embodied within computer-readable media, for associating a respective one of a plurality of flags with each of said plurality of resources, wherein each of said plurality of flags may be set to one of two states, a first state or a second state;
• instruction means, embodied within computer-readable media, for examining said plurality of flags to identify a first flag set to said second state, in response to said server receiving a connection request from said client;
• instruction means, embodied within computer-readable media, for assigning an associated one of said plurality of resources to said client, in response to identifying said first flag set to said second state;
• and
• instruction means, embodied within computer-readable media, for setting said first flag to said first state and setting a second flag associated with another one of said plurality of resources to said second state, in response to assigning said associated one of said plurality of resources to said client.