Sctp association endpoint relocation in a load balancing system

Abstract

Presented is a system and methods for relocating a Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) association from a first back-end server to a second back-end server without disturbing the SCTP association connection. The front-end server coordinates the replacement by requesting SCTP association connection parameters from the first back-end server and providing the SCTP association connection parameters to the second back-end server. Further, the front-end server discards any SCTP association packets, not necessary to the replacement, directed to the two back-end servers during the replacement. Throughout the replacement, the client, on the non-relocating end of the SCTP association, is unaware of the replacement or the existence of the front-end server.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.