Method and apparatus for handling requests in a network

A method for responding to a client request, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a client request associated with a client and receiving a transmit identifier identifying an event, wherein said transmit identifier includes a timestamp reflecting an arrival time of the client request and wherein a predetermined delay is added to the timestamp to produce the transmit identifier, wherein the predetermined delay is greater than a maximum transmission delay for transmission of the client request to one of the plurality of servers from a master server and wherein the transmit identifier is associated with the client request;
• generating a response to the client request;
• and
• transmitting the response to the client upon an occurrence of the event identified by the transmit identifier.

A master server for handling content requests comprising:

• a memory;
• a communications interface;
• a processor;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface;
• wherein the memory is encoded with a request handler application that when performed on the processor, produces a request handler process that causes the master server to provide a client request and transmit identifier in response to a client request such that the processor is configured to:
• synchronize a plurality of servers;
• receive a client request from the client to access a server of the plurality of servers;
• generate a transmit identifier associated with the client request, the transmit identifier identifying an event upon the occurrence of which the plurality of synchronized servers each transmit a response to the client, and wherein said transmit identifier includes a timestamp reflecting an arrival time of the client request, wherein a predetermined delay is added to the timestamp to produce the transmit identifier, wherein the predetermined delay is greater than a maximum transmission delay for transmission of the client request to one of the plurality of servers from a master server and wherein the transmit identifier is associated with the client request;
• and
• forward the client request and the transmit identifier to each of the plurality of synchronized servers.

A slave server for handling content requests comprising:

• a memory;
• a communications interface;
• a processor;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface;
• wherein the memory is encoded with a request agent application that when performed on the processor, produces a request agent process that causes the slave server to provide content to a client, in response to a client request and a transmit identifier, such that the processor is configured to:
• receive a client request associated with a client and receiving a transmit identifier identifying an event, and wherein said transmit identifier includes a timestamp reflecting an arrival time of the client request, wherein a predetermined delay is added to the timestamp to produce the transmit identifier, wherein the predetermined delay is greater than a maximum transmission delay for transmission of the client request to one of the plurality of servers from a master server and wherein the transmit identifier is associated with the client request;
• generate a response to the client request;
• and
• transmit the response to the client upon an occurrence of the event identified by the transmit identifier.

A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a processor in a computerized device having a coupling of a memory, a processor, and at least one communications interface provides a method for providing a response to a client request by performing the operations of:

• synchronizing a plurality of servers;
• receiving a client request from the client to access a server of the plurality of servers;
• generating a transmit identifier associated with the client request, the transmit identifier identifying an event upon the occurrence of which the plurality of synchronized servers each transmit a response to the client, and wherein said transmit identifier includes a timestamp reflecting an arrival time of the client request, wherein a predetermined delay is added to the timestamp to produce the transmit identifier, wherein the predetermined delay is greater than a maximum transmission delay for transmission of the client request to one of the plurality of servers from a master server and wherein the transmit identifier is associated with the client request;
• and
• forwarding the client request and the transmit identifier to each of the plurality of synchronized servers.

An apparatus for responding to a client request comprising:

• a memory;
• a communications interface;
• a processor;
• and
• an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface;
• wherein the memory is encoded with a request handler application that when performed on the processor, produces a means to enable the client request and transmit identifier to be forwarded to at least one slave server, such means including:
• means for synchronizing a plurality of servers;
• means for receiving a client request from the client to access a server of the plurality of servers;
• means for generating a transmit identifier associated with the client request, the transmit identifier identifying an event upon the occurrence of which the plurality of synchronized servers each transmit a response to the client, and wherein said transmit identifier includes a timestamp reflecting an arrival time of the client request, wherein a predetermined delay is added to the timestamp to produce the transmit identifier, wherein the predetermined delay is greater than a maximum transmission delay for transmission of the client request to one of the plurality of servers from a master server and wherein the transmit identifier is associated with the client request;
• and
• means for forwarding the client request and the transmit identifier to each of the plurality of synchronized servers.