Method and computer system for selecting an edge server computer

Abstract

Media Distribution within the Internet is done with the help of Application-Servers, Content-Servers and distributed Edge-Servers where the clients are connected to Media Distribution Services. A computer system is provided comprising client 1 , having a Web browser with a media player 2 , Web application server 3 , content server, edge servers ES 1 to ES 4 and media request broker 11 . After the client 1 has selected a media for streaming the media request broker 11 makes a determination concerning an appropriate edge server to perform the streaming operation. This determination is made based on an extension of the client's http request made by the edge server and passed from the application server to the media request broker.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method for selecting a first server computer for sending of data to a client computer, the method comprising the steps of:
 accessing a second server computer through a path in a computer network, the path comprising a first set of one or more server computers;   adding information indicative of at least one server computer of the first set of one or more server computers to a locator of a resource on the second server computer, the resource having a unique signature as part of its identifier; and   selecting the first server computer based on the information added to the locator.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , the second server computer being a Web application server comprising a Web page with a hyperlink referencing the data to be sent to the client computer, the hyperlink including a unique signature, the method further comprising the steps of selecting the hyperlink by the client computer, and subsequently generating an http request out of this hyperlink by a web browser, this http request containing the unique signature identifying a media request. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 at least temporarily storing the information added to the locator on the second server computer; and   providing of the information to a media request broker in response to a selection of the hyperlink by the client computer.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , the media request broker selecting the first server computer based on the information. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a quality weight of at least one of the one or more server computers in the path; and   selecting the first server computer from the first set of one or more server computers based on the quality weight.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 storing of a set of locators of a second set of one or more server computers being in a same geographical/topological area as a server computer in the first set of one or more server computers; and   determining a quality weight of at least one of the one or more server computers of the second set for selection of the first server computer.   
   
   
       21 . A system comprising:
 a stream server and storage means for storing and/or buffering of data to be streamed to a client;   circuitry for storing an identifier of a server computer; and   a hook for adding information to a locator provided by the client, the information being indicative of the identifier.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising circuitry for converting of the data from one stream format to another. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a Web application server and a media request broker, the Web application server containing a Web page with a hyperlink referencing a media to be streamed to a client and circuitry for at least temporarily storing of information indicative of a first node in a communication path between the client and the Web application server in a computer network;   a servlet for providing the information to the media request broker upon selection of the hyperlink by the client; and   circuitry for selecting the stream server for streaming the data to the client based on the information.   
   
   
       24 . A system for selecting a first server computer for sending of data to a client computer, comprising:
 circuitry for accessing a second server computer through a path in a computer network, the path comprising a first set of one or more server computers;   circuitry for adding information indicative of at least one server computer of the first set of one or more server computers to a locator of a resource on the second server computer, the resource having a unique signature as part of its identifier; and   circuitry for selecting the first server computer based on the information added to the locator.   
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , the second server computer being a Web application server comprising a Web page with a hyperlink referencing the data to be sent to the client computer, the hyperlink including a unique signature, the system further comprising circuitry for selecting the hyperlink by the client computer, and subsequently generating an http request out of this hyperlink by a web browser this http request containing the unique signature identifying a media request. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 circuitry for determining a quality weight of at least one of the one or more server computers in the path; and   circuitry for selecting the first server computer from the first set of one or more server computers based on the quality weight.   
   
   
       27 . A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable means for causing a computer system to perform a method comprising the program steps of:
 accessing a second server computer through a path in a computer network, the path comprising a first set of one or more server computers;   adding information indicative of at least one server computer of the first set of one or more server computers to a locator of a resource on the second server computer, the resource having a unique signature as part of its identifier; and   selecting the first server computer based on the information added to the locator.   
   
   
       28 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , the second server computer being a Web application server comprising a Web page with a hyperlink referencing the data to be sent to the client computer, the hyperlink including a unique signature, the computer program product further comprising the program step of selecting the hyperlink by the client computer, and subsequently generating an http request out of this hyperlink by a web browser, this http request containing the unique signature identifying a media request. 
   
   
       29 . The computer program product of  claim 28  further comprising the program steps of:
 at least temporarily storing the information added to the locator on the second server computer; and   providing of the information to a media request broker in response to a selection of the hyperlink by the client computer.