US 7,197,547 B1 · Load balancing technique implemented in a data network device utilizing a data cache

Abstract

A technique for implementing a load balanced server farm system is described which may be used for effecting electronic commerce over a data network. The system comprises a load balancing system and a plurality of servers in communication with the load balancing system. Each of the plurality of servers may include a respective data cache for storing state information relating to client session transactions conducted between the server and a particular client. The load balancing system is configured to select, using a load balancing protocol, an available first server from the plurality of servers to process an initial packet received from a source device such as, for example, a client machine of a customer. The load balancing system is also configured to route subsequent packets received from the source device to the first server. In this way, a “stickiness” scheme may be implemented in the server farm system whereby, once an electronic commerce session has been initiated between the first server and the source device, the first server may handle all subsequent requests from the source device in order to make optimal use of the state data stored in the first server's data cache. Before generating its response, the first server may verify that the state information relating to a specific client session stored in the data cache is up-to-date. If the first server determines that the state information stored in the data cache is not up-to-date, then the first server may be configured to retrieve the desired up-to-date state information from a database which is configured to store all state information relating to client sessions which have been initiated with the server farm system.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A load balanced server farm system for effecting electronic commerce over a data network, the system comprising:

a load balancing system;
and
a plurality of servers in communication with the load balancing system, wherein each server includes a respective data cache;
wherein the load balancing system is configured or designed to select, using a load balancing protocol, an available first server of the plurality of servers to process an initial packet received from a source device, and is further configured or designed to route subsequent packets received from the source device to the first server,
wherein the first server includes a first data cache and is configured or designed to use state data stored on the first data cache for generating a first response to the source device, the state data corresponding to an electronic commerce session initiated between the source device and the first server,
wherein the first server is configured or designed to initiate an electronic commerce session for the source device, and is configured or designed to generate session ID information including a session ID associated with the session initiated for the source device,
wherein the first server is configured or designed to include the session ID information in the first response transmitted to the source device,
wherein the first server is configured or designed to detect a cache miss in response to an attempt to access state data at the first data cache, said state data relating to the electronic commerce session associated with the session ID, and
wherein the first server is configured or designed to retrieve state data associated with the session ID from a database into the first data cache in response to detecting said cache miss.

6 more elements

A method for effecting electronic commerce over a data network, the method comprising:

receiving an initial request packet from a source device;
performing a load balancing protocol, wherein the initial packet from source device is assigned to a first server of a load balanced server system, the load balanced server system including a plurality of servers, the first server including a first data cache;
generating a first response to the initial request packet at the first server;
transmitting the first response to the source device;
and
causing subsequent packets received from said source device to be routed to the first server,
wherein the method further comprises:
initiating a communication session between the source device and the first server;
generating session ID information associated with the session initiated with the source device;
including the session ID information in the first response transmitted to the source device;
storing, in the first data cache, state data relating to the session initiated between the source device and the first server;
detecting a cache miss in response to an attempt to access state data on the first data cache, said state data relating to the session associated with the ID information;
and
retrieving state data associated with the session ID information from a database into the first data cache in response to detecting said cache miss.

11 more elements

A system for effecting electronic commerce over a data network, the system comprising:

means for receiving an initial request packet from a source device;
means for performing a load balancing protocol, wherein the initial packet from source device is assigned to a first server of a load balanced server system, the load balanced server system including a plurality of servers, the first server including a first data cache;
means for generating a first response to the initial request packet at the first server;
means for transmitting the first response to the source device;
and
means for causing subsequent packets received from said source device to be routed to the first server;
wherein the system further comprises:
means for initiating a communication session between the source device and the first server;
means for generating session ID information associated with the session initiated with the source device;
means for including the session ID information in the first response transmitted to the source device;
means for storing, in the first data cache, state data relating to the session initiated between the source device and the first server;
means for detecting a cache miss in response to an attempt to access state data on the first data cache, said state data relating to the session associated with the ID information;
and
means for retrieving state data associated with the session ID information from a database into the first data cache in response to detecting said cache miss.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Load balancing technique implemented in a data network device utilizing a data cache

Life of this patent

Load balancing technique implemented in a data network device utilizing a data cache

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35