Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for the distribution of client requests received from a digital computer network provides an intermediary between the client and one or more content servers that actually service the client request. Client requests are distributed amongst groups of content servers according to a one or more static rules. These static rules are applied to determine which group of content servers will service each client request. Content servers may be grouped without regard to hardware configuration and without regard to where the content server resides within the network. Client requests may be distributed amongst the content servers within each group according to a dynamic metric. The dynamic metric includes time-varying measurements of the available processing capacity of each content server within a group. Client requests may then be distributed to those content servers within a group that are best able to handle additional processing burdens. The available processing capacity of each content server is measured without requiring special software to be installed in the content servers, and without unduly increasing network message traffic. Connections may be established with content servers in one of two modes: a proxy mode where the present invention acts on behalf of the client by having the client request serviced, and a redirect mode where the present invention returns to the client whatever information is required to enable the client to establish a direct connection with the content server.

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First Claim