Distributed computing architecture

A system comprising:

• a plurality of servers each including a processor and memory, wherein a first server of the plurality of servers is configured to
• receive a request for a transaction, wherein the transaction can be accomplished by performing a plurality of tasks,
• select a first task of the plurality of tasks,
• identify a second server of the plurality of servers to perform the first task by consulting, based on a type of the first task, routing data stored in the memory of the first server, and
• request that the second server perform the first task,
• wherein the second server is configured to, in response to receiving the request for the first task,
• perform the first task using data specific to the first task, wherein the data specific to the first task is stored on the second server to the exclusion of all other ones of the plurality of servers,
• determine whether the first task requires an additional task, and
• in response to the first task requiring an additional task,
• identify a third server of the plurality of servers to perform the additional task by consulting, based on a type of the additional task, routing data stored in the memory of the second server,
• request that the third server perform the additional task, and
• in response to receiving a completion indication from the third server, respond to the first server with a completion indication corresponding to the first task,
• wherein each additional server of the plurality of servers is configured to, in response to receiving a request for a principal task at the additional server,
• perform the principal task using data specific to the principal task, wherein the data specific to the principal task is stored on the additional server to the exclusion of all other ones of the plurality of servers,
• determine whether the principal task requires a sub-task, and
• in response to the principal task requiring a sub-task,
• select a particular server of the plurality of servers to perform the sub-task by consulting, based on a type of the additional task, routing data stored in the memory of the additional server,
• request that the particular server perform the sub-task, and
• in response to receiving a completion indication from the particular server, respond to a source of the principal task with a completion indication identifying the principal task,
• wherein:
• the plurality of servers is collectively configured to perform a plurality of types of tasks,
• the first server is configured to perform a first type of task of the plurality of types of tasks, and
• in response to over-utilization of the first server,
• (i) another server of the plurality of servers is dynamically configured to also perform the first type of task,
• (ii) data related to the first type of task stored by the first server is split into a first set of data and a second set of data,
• (iii) the first set of data is mutually exclusive with the second set of data,
• (iv) the second set of data is moved from the first server to the another server, and
• (v) updating the routing data stored in the memory of the plurality of servers to (a) specify the first server as the particular server in response to the additional task corresponding to the first set of data and (b) specify the another server as the particular server in response to the additional task corresponding to the second set of data.

A method of operating a system including a border server and a plurality of servers, the border server including a processor and memory, and each of the plurality of servers including a processor and memory, the method comprising:

• at the border server, receiving a request for a transaction, wherein the transaction can be accomplished by performing a plurality of tasks;
• at the border server, identifying a first task of the plurality of tasks;
• at the border server, identifying an initial server of the plurality of servers to perform the first task by consulting, based on a type of the first task, routing data stored in the memory of the border server;
• at the border server, requesting that the initial server perform the first task;
• and
• at a server of the plurality of servers, in response to receiving a request for a task:
• performing the received task using data related to the received task, wherein the data related to the received task is stored on the server and absent from each other one of the plurality of servers;
• determining whether the received task requires an additional task;
• identifying a next server of the plurality of servers to perform the additional task by consulting, based on a type of the additional task, routing data stored in the memory of the server;
• recursively requesting that the next server perform the additional task;
• and
• in response to receiving a completion indication from the next server, responding to a source of the received task with a completion indication corresponding to the received task,
• wherein:
• the plurality of servers is collectively configured to perform a plurality of types of tasks,
• the initial server is configured to perform a first type of task of the plurality of types of tasks, and
• the method further comprises, in response to over-utilization of the initial server,
• (i) dynamically configuring a second server of the plurality of servers to also perform the first type of task,
• (ii) splitting data related to the first type of task stored by the initial server into a first set of data and a second set of data, wherein the first set of data is mutually exclusive with the second set of data, and
• (iii) moving the second set of data from the initial server to the second server.