Arrangement for selecting a server to provide distributed services from among multiple servers based on a location of a client device

Abstract

A selection resource executed within the network is configured for selecting from among a plurality of servers, distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations in each configured for providing a specified service, a selected server for providing the specified service for a client device at a network-based client location. The selection resource selects the selected server based on the corresponding server location relative to the client location, and causes a request having been generated by the client device to be sent to the selected server. Hence, the selection resource optimizes client-server interactions in a distributed computing network, based on the client location and the server location.

1 . A method in a network node within a network, the method comprising: 
 receiving by the network node a request for a specified service, the request having been sent by a client device;    identifying by the network node a network-based client location of the client device;    selecting by the network node one selected server from other servers, the one selected server and the other servers distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations and each configured for providing the specified service, the selecting based on the server location of the one selected server relative to the client location; and    causing the client device to reach the one selected server for the specified service.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting of the one selected server is based on: 
 accessing a network topology map, identifying the server locations and the client location, for calculation of network distance in the identifiable network topology; and    determining the server location of the one selected server has a minimum network distance to the client location, relative to the respective server locations of others of the servers, and based on a determined availability of the one selected server.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network node is one of the other servers, the causing including sending a redirect directive to the client device that specifies an address of the one selected server.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the selecting includes selecting the one selected server based on the one selected server and the client device sharing a subnet prefix, the client location and the server location based on the subnet prefix.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the selecting includes determining the minimum distance to the client location relative to a network topology map accessible by the network node, the network topology map identifying the server locations and the client location.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network node is a router in the network, the causing including: 
 identifying in the request a destination address field specifying a destination address of one of the other servers; and    changing the destination address field to specify the destination address of the one selected server.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the selecting includes selecting the one selected server based on the one selected server and the client device sharing a subnet prefix, the client location and the server location based on the subnet prefix.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the selecting includes determining the minimum distance to the client location relative to a network topology map accessible by the router, the network topology map identifying the server locations and the client location.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specified service is for any one of a file service, a web service, a message transfer service, and a media stream service.  
   
   
       10 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A network node configured for connection within a network, the network node comprising: 
 a network interface configured for receiving by the network node a request for a specified service, the request having been sent by a client device; and    a selection resource configured for:    (1) identifying a network-based client location of the client device,    (2) selecting one selected server from other servers, the one selected server and the other servers distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations and each configured for providing the specified service, the selection resource configured for selecting the one selected server based on the server location of the one selected server relative to the client location, and    (3) causing the client device to reach the one selected server for the specified service.    
   
   
       28 . The network node of  claim 27 , wherein the selection resource is configured for selecting the one selected server based on: 
 accessing a network topology map, identifying the server locations and the client location, for calculation of network distance in the identifiable network topology; and    determining the server location of the one selected server has a minimum network distance to the client location, relative to the respective server locations of others of the servers, and based on a determined availability of the one selected server.    
   
   
       29 . The network node of  claim 27 , wherein the network node is one of the other servers, the selection resource configured for causing the client device to reach the one selected server by sending a redirect directive to the client device that specifies an address of the one selected server.  
   
   
       30 . The network node of  claim 29 , wherein the selection resource is configured for selecting the one selected server based on the one selected server and the client device sharing a subnet prefix, the client location and the server location based on the subnet prefix.  
   
   
       31 . The network node of  claim 29 , wherein the selection resource is configured for determining the minimum distance to the client location relative to a network topology map accessible by the network node, the network topology map identifying the server locations and the client location.  
   
   
       32 . The network node of  claim 27 , wherein the network node is a router in the network, the selection resource configured for identifying in the request a destination address field specifying a destination address of one of the other servers, the selection resource configured for causing the client device to reach the one selected server by changing the destination address field to specify the destination address of the one selected server.  
   
   
       33 . The network node of  claim 32 , wherein the selection resource is configured for selecting the one selected server based on the one selected server and the client device sharing a subnet prefix, the client location and the server location based on the subnet prefix.  
   
   
       34 . The network node of  claim 32 , wherein the selection resource is configured for determining the minimum distance to the client location relative to a network topology map accessible by the router, the network topology map identifying the server locations and the client location.  
   
   
       35 . The network node of  claim 27 , wherein the specified service is for any one of a file service, a web service, a message transfer service, and a media stream service.  
   
   
       36 - 40 . (canceled)  
   
   
       41 . A network node configured for connection within a network, the network node comprising: 
 means for receiving by the network node a request for a specified service, the request having been sent by a client device; and    selection means for identifying a network-based client location of the client device, the selection means further configured for selecting one selected server from other servers, the one selected server and the other servers distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations and each configured for providing the specified service, the selection means configured for selecting the one selected server based on the server location of the one selected server relative to the client location,    the selection means further configured for causing the client device to reach the one selected server for the specified service.    
   
   
       42 . The network node of  claim 41 , wherein the selection means is configured for selecting the one selected server based on: 
 accessing a network topology map, identifying the server locations and the client location, for calculation of network distance in the identifiable network topology; and    determining the server location of the one selected server has a minimum network distance to the client location, relative to the respective server locations of others of the servers, and based on a determined availability of the one selected server.    
   
   
       43 . The network node of  claim 41 , wherein the network node is one of the other servers, the selection means configured for causing the client device to reach the one selected server by sending a redirect directive to the client device that specifies an address of the one selected server.  
   
   
       44 . The network node of  claim 43 , wherein the selection means is configured for selecting the one selected server based on the one selected server and the client device sharing a subnet prefix, the client location and the server location based on the subnet prefix.  
   
   
       45 . The network node of  claim 43 , wherein the selection means is configured for determining the minimum distance to the client location relative to a network topology map accessible by the network node, the network topology map identifying the server locations and the client location.  
   
   
       46 . The network node of  claim 41 , wherein the network node is a router in the network, the selection means configured for identifying in the request a destination address field specifying a destination address of one of the other servers, the selection means configured for causing the client device to reach the one selected server by changing the destination address field to specify the destination address of the one selected server.  
   
   
       47 . The network node of  claim 46 , wherein the selection means is configured for selecting the one selected server based on the one selected server and the client device sharing a subnet prefix, the client location and the server location based on the subnet prefix.  
   
   
       48 . The network node of  claim 46 , wherein the selection means is configured for determining the minimum distance to the client location relative to a network topology map accessible by the router, the network topology map identifying the server locations and the client location.  
   
   
       49 . The network node of  claim 41 , wherein the specified service is for any one of a file service, a web service, a message transfer service, and a media stream service.  
   
   
       50 - 54 . (canceled)