Dynamic lookup service in a distributed system

A computer-readable storage device containing instructions encoded thereon for a data client lookup manager to implement a method, the method comprising the steps:

• receiving, at a client lookup manager, from a client computer, a request to access a network service, said client lookup manager having an associated cache, said client computer being an element of a distributed system, said distributed system comprising a plurality of lookup services with associated network services;
• and the client look up manager:
• searching the associated cache for a service reference associated with an instance of the requested network service;
• returning, when said searching step is successful, the instance of the requested network service to the client computer;
• sending, when said searching step is unsuccessful, a request for the service reference to a lookup service, said service reference identifying the requested network service, said request including an integer argument representing a desired maximum number of references matching said service reference that should be returned;
• and
• storing said matching references in the associated cache.

A distributed system comprising:

• a server computer with a lookup service having references to a plurality of network services;
• and
• a client computer including a client lookup manager with an associated cache, wherein said client lookup manager:
• receives, from the client computer, a request to access a network service;
• searches the associated cache for a service reference associated with an instance of the requested network service;
• returns, when said searching step is successful, the instance of the requested network service to the client computer;
• sends, when said searching step is unsuccessful, a request for the service reference to the lookup service, said service reference identifying the requested network service, said request including an integer argument representing a desired maximum number of references matching said service reference that should be returned;
• and
• stores said matching references in the associated cache.