Affinity-based transaction processing

A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• generating, at a router, a modified transaction message in response to receiving a transaction message that specifies an affinity indicating a preference regarding processing of the transaction message, wherein the modified transaction message specifies a particular server system to process the transaction message based on the affinity, and wherein the particular server system comprises a set of servers;
• routing the modified transaction message to a coupling facility;
• receiving, at the router, a notification message from the coupling facility, wherein the notification message requests at least one server of the set of servers to send a bid to process the modified transaction message, wherein the at least one server of the set of servers includes a server in which the router resides;
• sending, to the coupling facility, a bid for the at least one server to process the modified transaction message;
• and
• receiving, from the coupling facility, authorization indicating that a particular server of the set of servers is chosen to process the modified transaction message, wherein the particular server is chosen from the at least one server based on at least one criteria, the criteria including a characteristic of the at least one server that submits the bid, a timestamp of the bid, or any combination thereof.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a router coupled to the processor, wherein the router is operable by the processor to:
• generate a modified transaction message in response to receiving a transaction message that specifies an affinity indicating a preference regarding processing of the transaction message, wherein the modified transaction message specifies a particular server system to process the transaction message based on the affinity, and wherein the particular server system comprises a set of servers;
• route the modified transaction message to a coupling facility;
• receive a notification message from the coupling facility, wherein the notification message requests a bid to process the modified transaction message;
• send, to the coupling facility, the bid to process the modified transaction message;
• and
• receive, from the coupling facility, authorization to process the modified transaction message, wherein the coupling facility determines the authorization based on characteristics of the server, a timestamp of the bid, or any combination thereof.