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`US 6,766,373 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`a2) United States Patent
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` Beadleet al. (45) Date of Patent: Jul. 20, 2004
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`US006766373B1
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`(54) DYNAMIC, SEAMLESS SWITCHING OF A
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`NETWORK SESSION FROM ONE
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`CONNECTION ROUTE TO ANOTHER
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`Primary Examiner—Moustafa M. Meky
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`(74) Altorney, Agent, or Firm—Marilyn Smith Dawkins;
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`Dillon & Yudell LLP
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`(75)
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`Inventors: Bruce A. Beadle, Round Rock, TX
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`(US); Michael Wayne Brown,
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`Georgetown, TX (US); Randolph
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`Michael Forlenza, Austin, TX (US);
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`Douglas Scott Rothert, Austin, TX
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`(US); Miguel Sang, Austin, TX (US)
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`(73) Assignee:
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`ABSTRACT
`(57)
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`Asystem for providing continuous connection between a
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`client and a network during a session. The system comprises
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`of a connection utility, which monitors a network session for
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`an occurrence of a pre-defined event and/or condition. The
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`system is particularly advantageous in scenarios where a
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`session’s connection is lost and the session has to be
`International Business Machines
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`reconnected to the network. The system also finds applica-
`Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
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`bility with several other types of events/conditions, includ-
`oo.
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`(*) Notice:—Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis ing a connection break, a slow or congested connection or a
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`changein the type of data being transmitted. When any one
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`US.C, 154(b) by 629 days.
`of the pre-defined events/conditions occur, the session is
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`automatically routed from the present connection route to
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`another connection route, and is completed on the other
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/584,068
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`connection route. In order to complete the re-routing of the
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`Filed:
`May 31, 2000
`sessions, session information is cached on the client and the
`(22)
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`(51) Unt, CL.ccecccccccececcccsseesssteeseeesneeses GO06F 13/00_server. The session data is tagged with the original session
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`(52) US. CMe
`ceecssecccccssssssssseesesssssssseneeees 709/227; 709/203
`ID. Onthe server, a special Client Key is storedfor later
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`(58) Field of Search o......c00cccccccccseecen 709/200, 201,
`‘tetrieval, and onthe client a special Server Keyis stored.
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`709/203, 217, 218, 219, 227, 228, 229
`During the reconnect, the server uses its previously stored
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`session data associated with the client key and previous
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`session ID to regain a new session connection. The client
`References Cited
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`uses its previously stored session data to regain its side of the
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`connection and to pass the proper request over the wire to
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`5,347,539 A *
`9/1994 Sridhar et al. wees 375/3
`the server. This special “handshake” occurs at session recon-
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`5,835,724 A * 11/1998 Smith ceecccecceceeeeee 707/501
`nect time and allows the special session re-connection to
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`5,859,959 A *
`1/1999 Kimball et al... 370/216
`occur. The re-routing of the session is completed with no
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`6,145,089 A * 11/2000 Le et al. veces 714/4
`noticeable loss in connection or session information. Thus,
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`6,286,058 B1 *
`9/2001 Hrastar et al... 709/239
`a substantially seamless switching of the session from the
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`6,324,161 BL * 11/2001 Kirch oe eee 370/217
`first connection route to the second connection route is
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`6,490,610 Bl * 12/2002 Rizvietal. we. 709/101
`implemented.
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`6,519,224 B2 *
`2/2003 Hrastar et al... 370/227
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`* cited by examiner
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`(56)
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`27 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
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`Connection
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`condition ?
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` to optimal route
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`Switch connection
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`Page | of 19
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`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1008
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`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1008
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`Page 1 of 19
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 20, 2004
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`Sheet 1 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`NETWORK
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 20, 2004
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`Sheet 2 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`Page 3 of 19
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 20, 2004
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`Sheet 3 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`303A
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`215
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 20, 2004
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`Sheet 4 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`Sheet 5 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`Select Default
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`Connection
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`505A
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`Server Selections
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`507
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`Server 1
`: California
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`Server 2 : Texas
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`Server 3 : New York
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`Server 4 : Chicago
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`515
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`Update Settings
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`511
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`CONDITION MESSAGE
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`CLICK BELOW TO
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`SWITCH TO MORE
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`OPTIMAL ROUTE
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`Sheet 6 of 10
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`766,373 BI
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`Jul. 20, 2004
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`Sheet 7 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`Is there
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`historical
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`data ?
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`Does
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`user wish to
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`utilize historical
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`data ?
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`Retrieve best guess
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`results from database
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`Weigh user's
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`that matches user
`preference against
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`preferences for
`reported metrics and
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`this domain and
`determine optimal
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`historical data
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`connection
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`Wait for attributes
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`or user preferences
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`Terminator
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`Jul. 20, 2004
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`Sheet 8 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`703
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`User request
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`Internet connection
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`705
` Set
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`connection
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`defaults ?
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`No
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`711
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`§721
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`Check connections
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`table for most
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`optimal route
`723
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`Connect via most
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`optimal route
`725
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`Update table
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`709
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`settings
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`as default)
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`Fig. 7
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`Page 9 of 19
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`707
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`wes
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`Connect via defaults
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`709
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`End
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`713
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`Yes
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`Makeinitial
`connectionvia
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`default
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`715
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`Check alternate
`routes
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`717
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`More
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`optimal routes
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`found ?
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`No
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`709
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`End
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`Jul. 20, 2004
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`Sheet 9 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`Connection
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`condition ?
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`Switch connection
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`to optimal route
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`ADDR
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`DEST (NIC)}
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`ADDR
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`SRC IP
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`ADDR
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`DEST IP
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`|PROTOCOL
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`Fig. 9
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`Page 10 of 19
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`Sheet 10 of 10
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`Internet
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`Satellite
`transmission
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`Modem
`transmission
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`1011
`1009
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`1003S bmn1
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`1005
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`Client Browser
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`Fig. 10
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`1107
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`1105
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`Cell Phone and
`Modem
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`Wireless LAN
`(Bluetooth)
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`1109
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`1101 Network
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`Application
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`(Client Browser)
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`Fig. 11
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`1
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`DYNAMIC, SEAMLESS SWITCHING OF A
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`NETWORK SESSION FROM ONE
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`CONNECTION ROUTE TO ANOTHER
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`RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`The present invention is related to the subject matter of
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`the following commonly assigned, co-pending US. patent
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`application Ser. No. 09/584,808 entitled “Dynamically
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`Affecting Browser Network Communications
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`Performance”, still pending filed concurrently herewith.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`2
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`configuration until the user manually changesthe settings to
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`utilize another server. Thus,
`if the server connection is
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`congested, the user may either remain on the connection or
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`terminate the session and attempt to secure a faster connec-
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`tion by re-connecting to the same server. Also,
`if the
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`connection is lost during a session, and/or another connec-
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`tion is made to complete the session, the session information
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`is usually lost
`(or unrecoverable) and the user has to
`re-connect via the same server and start the session over.
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`Network input/output (I/O) performance is often a prob-
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`lem when using a browserin an intranet to access the World
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`Wide Webor Internet. In most intranet cases, the client is
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`required to use a sock server or a proxy server before a
`1. Technical Field:
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`connection can be madeto the Internet. In a typical intranet,
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`to computer
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`The present
`there are several sock or proxy severs that may be geo-
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`networks and in particular to communications within com-
`graphically dispersed within the network. The performance
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`puter networks. Still more particularly, the present invention
`of the servers varies throughout the day due to factors such
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`relates to a method, system, and program for improving a
`as location,
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`loading, etc. Thus,
`in most
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`client’s communication performance within a network by
`networks, auto-proxy servers, whichfilter the local intranet
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`traffic from the external Internet
`traffic, are utilized to
`dynamically switching a session connection fromafirst
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`connection route to another route in response to an occur-
`improve performance of sock servers.
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`rence of specific pre-defined events.
`To address such performance concerns, special tools or
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`2. Description of the Related Art:
`components have been developed to improve communica-
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`tion to servers connected to the Internet. For example,
`Computer networks, such as the Internet, are typically
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`based on Client/Server software architectures. These archi-
`various load balancing solutions have been implemented,
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`such as Local Director of Cisco Systems. Local Director
`tectures provide a versatile infrastructure that supports
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`performs load balancing and interfaces with the Internet-
`shared access to server resources. A client is typically a
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`based client attempting to access the content servers. All
`requester of services, and a serveris the providerof services.
`traffic across the Internet to content servers is thus shielded
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`Asingle machine can be both a client and a server depending
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`by Local Director. U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,660 discloses a load
`on the software configuration. A client machine is loaded
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`balancer having a virtual address connected to a multi-node
`with client software, while a server machine is loaded with
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`server. The load balancer receives all incoming Internet
`server software. Clients can be either stand-alone computer
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`requests for server access, and modifies the destination
`systems (like personal computers) or “dumber” systems
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`address to reflect the correct server node that ultimately
`adapted for limited use with a network.
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`services the request. These solutionsare all server-based and
`A generalized client-server computing network has sev-
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`implemented on the back end of the network,i.e., the server
`eral nodes or servers which are interconnected, either
`connection to the Internetitself.
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`directly to each other or indirectly through one of the other
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`The present invention recognizes that it would therefore
`servers. Based on network configuration, the connection by
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`be desirable to have a method, system, and program product
`the client to the network may be via an ethernet connection
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`for dynamically improving a client-to-network session con-
`or token ring, etc. Other direct and/or indirect connection
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`nection and performance. A method, system, and program
`methods (e.g.
`telephone connection via remote access
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`product, which allows a client browser to switch from one
`protocol) are also possible whena client is connected from
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`connection route to another route during a network session
`the user’s home, for example. In traditional networks, only
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`without losing session information would be a welcomed
`a single connecting medium to the network is possible for
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`each client.
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`improvement. These and other benefits are provided in the
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`present invention.
`The network can be a localized network or geographically
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`dispersed network and can be further connected to other
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
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`networks. Each server is essentially a stand-alone data
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`processing (computer) system, having one or more
`A system is disclosed for providing continuous connec-
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`processors, memory devices, and communications devices,
`tion between a client and a network during a session. The
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`that has been adapted (programmed) for providing informa-
`system comprises of a connection utility, which monitors a
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`tion and/or services to individual users at another set of
`network session for an occurrence of a pre-defined event
`nodes or client workstations.
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`such as a connection break, a slow or congested connection,
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`In a Local Area Network (LAN), for example, clients are
`or a changein the type of data being transmitted. The system
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`usually configured to communicate via a particular server.
`is particularly advantageous in scenarios where a session’s
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`connection is lost and the session has to be reconnected to
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`For geographically dispersed networks, as in an intranet or
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`Internet, a client’s network communication may occur via a
`the network. When any one of the pre-defined conditions
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`localized server or a server in another geographic location.
`occur, the session is automatically routed from the present
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`connection route to another connection route. The session is
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`The use of auto-proxy servers in a LAN system helps to
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`improve network performance. However, only one connec-
`then completed on the other connection route. In order to
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`tion route may be configured within the client at a particular
`complete the re-routing of the sessions, session information
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`is cached on the client and the server. The session data is
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`time and these servers can become congested during heavy
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`usageor traffic. Also, current client browsers (i.e., software
`tagged with the original session ID. On the server, a special
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`applications for accessing and communication with the
`Client Key is stored for later retrieval, and on the client a
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`Internet) are typically configured to transmit network traffic
`special Server Key is stored. During the reconnect,
`the
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`via a specific server and once configured, remain set in that
`server uses its previously stored session data associated with
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`Page 12 of 19
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`3
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`the client key and previous session ID to regain a new
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`session connection. The client uses its previously stored
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`session data to regain its side of the connection and to pass
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`the proper request over the wire to the server. This special
`“handshake” occurs at session reconnect time and allowsthe
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`special session re-connection to occur. The re-routing of the
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`session is completed with no noticeable loss in connection or
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`session information. Thus, a substantially seamless switch-
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`ing of the session from the first connection route to the
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`second connection route is implemented.
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`The above as well as additional objectives, features, and
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`advantages of the present invention will become apparentin
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`the following detailed written description.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`The novelfeatures believed characteristic of the invention
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`are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,
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`however, as well as a preferred mode of use,
`further
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`objectives, and advantagesthereof, will best be understood
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`by reference to the following detailed description of an
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`illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the
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`accompanying drawings, wherein:
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`FIG. 1 depicts a data processing system,
`in which a
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`preferred embodiment of the present
`invention may be
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`implemented;
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`FIG. 2 is a high-level block diagram of a client browser
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`within an intranet configuration in accordance with one
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`embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 3 illustrates a browser-network configuration with
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`multiple selectable server-connecting media and/or routes in
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`accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention;
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`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a modified browser appli-
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`cation with a selectable connection button for opening a
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`connection settings window in accordance with a preferred
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`embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 5A is a block diagram of a server-connections GUI
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`utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
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`present invention;
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`FIG. 5B is a block diagram of an in-session connection
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`modification window utilized in accordance with a preferred
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`embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a table of connection
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`attributes utilized in accordance with a preferred embodi-
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`ment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 6B is a flow chart of the process of determining a
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`best connection route in accordance with a preferred
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`embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the process of completing a
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`network connection in accordance with a preferred embodi-
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`ment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the process of switching a session
`from one connection route to another in accordance with
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`another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the TCP/IP header with an
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`encoded call-back componentfor directing client call-backs
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`in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention; and
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`FIGS. 10 and 11 are block diagrams of specific examples
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`of a client connected to a network via two possible routes to
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`enable the switching of a session from one connection route
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`to another in accordance with another preferred embodiment
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`of the present invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE
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`EMBODIMENT
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`The present invention is directed to a method, system, and
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`program product implemented within a client system, which
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`4
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`allows a browser application to automatically select an
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`effective network route from the client system to a network
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`during network communication. As utilized within the
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`invention, the term “effective” refers to a better performing
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`the best performing or optimal) route, based on
`(if not
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`knownoravailable criteria and present network conditions.
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`The preferred embodiment is described with reference to
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`optimal routes, but is done so merely for illustrative pur-
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`poses. In particular, a software implemented application of
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`the present invention expands the functionality of a tradi-
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`tional browser to permit a multiple-route connection setting
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`(or configuration), by which the browseris not restricted to
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`a connection via a single specific server and connection
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`medium, but is permitted to select from among multiple
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`servers and multiple connection media. The software imple-
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`mented application is referred to herein as a connection
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`utility. In a preferred embodiment, the invention reduces the
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`need to manually change a network communication con-
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`figuration from a particular server to another and enables the
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`browserto haveflexibility to ensure the best or most efficient
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`connection routes possible under current loading conditions.
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`The invention is implemented in the data processing
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`system and network environment as illustrated in FIGS. 1
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`and 2 and 3, respectively. The invention may, however, be
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`implemented in other types of data processing systems and
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`networks, so, while the present invention may be described
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`with references to these figures, these references should not
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`be construed in a limiting sense.
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`the term client is
`For the purposes of this invention,
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`utilized to refer to both the hardware component which is
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`connected to a network server and the software applications
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`stored in memoryand being run on the hardware component.
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`the term client is utilized to mean both a directly
`Also,
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`connected network computer system and a stand-alone com-
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`puter system, such as a user’s home-based computer system.
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`In the preferred embodiment, a client
`is provided with
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`browser application and connection utility for accessing the
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`Internet via several possible connection routes. User refers
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`primarily to an individual whoutilizes the client. Further, the
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`invention applies to connections to servers of both an
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`intranet and Internet via the browser application running on
`the client.
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`The servers of the network are typically data processing
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`systems having a database, operating system (OS), and
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`server software. The server software operates within a
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`network server and provides the support for Internet access
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`by clients.
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`With reference now to the figures and in particular with
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`reference to FIG. 1, a computer system that may be utilized
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`as a standalone computer system or one of the client or
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`servers on a network is presented. Computer system 20
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`comprises a Central Processing Unit (CPU) housed in a
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`system unit 22. System unit 22 also provides connections for
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`various hardware components including disk drives 40 and
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`memory devices (not shown). Several Peripheral
`input/
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`output devices are connected to the CPU. These input/output
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`devices include keyboard 82, mouse 84, printer 94, CD
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`ROM 78, and display monitor 30.
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`Also coupled to CPUare various external devices, includ-
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`ing modem 92, and network adapter 90, utilized for con-
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`necting data processing system 20 to other systems and/or
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`networks, as is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. CD rom 78,
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`modem 92, and network adapter 90 are depicted as external
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`components; however those skilled in the arts are familiar
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`with the various architectures of data processing systems
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`and understand that these components may be housedinside
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`of system unit 22.
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`Page 13 of 19
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`Page 13 of 19
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`5
`Modem 92 is a communication device that enables com-
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`puter system 20 to transmit information over standardtele-
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`phonelines or wireless connections such as cellular. Modem
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`92 converts digital computer signals to interlock signals
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`suitable for communications over these telephone media.
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`Modem 92 can be utilized to connect data processing system
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`20 to a server via remote access protocols. Modem 92 may
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`also provide a connection to other sources, such as an
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`electronic bulletin board (BBS) or the World Wide Web
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`(Internet). Network adapter 90 may be used to connect data
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`processing system 20 to a network such as an intranet as
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`depicted in FIG. 2.
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`Computer system 20 also preferably includes an interface
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`such as a graphical user interface (GUI) provided by an
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`operating system (OS) 24 that resides within machine read-
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`able media to direct the operation of computer system 20.
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`Any suitable machine-readable media may retain the OS,
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`such as RAM, ROM,SCSIdisk drive, and other disk and/or
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`tape drive(e.g. magnetic diskette, magnetic tape, CD-ROM,
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`optical disk, or other suitable storage media). Also, any
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`suitable OS 24 may direct the CPU of the data processing
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`system 20.
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`Further, computer system 20 preferably includesat least
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`one software application (program product) 26 that resides
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`within machine readable media. The software application
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`may be accessible by OS 24, or may be incorporated into an
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`OS control program. Preferably, software application 26
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`contains instructions that when executed on the CPU carry
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`out the particular operations of the present invention as
`described herein.
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`US 6,766,373 B1
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`6
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`environment, but may also apply to basic LANs or other
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`types of multiple-server networks.
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`For the purposesof the invention,use of the term network
`is understood to refer to both Wide Area Netwroks such as
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`the Internet and to Local Area Networks (LAN)such as an
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`intranet. The network types may provide different access
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`methodsbut are essentially similar in their functionality, as
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`those skilled in the art are aware. A network preferably
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`consist of a numberof servers and provides network clients
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`with a commonprotocol for communicating andtransferring
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`software and information electronically within the network
`environment.
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`Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated another net-
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`work configuration including a client browser coupled to
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`multiple servers. The illustrated network may represent an
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`intranet configuration as in FIG. 2 or a stand alone client
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`configuration. The intranet configuration shows a client,
`connects to a server of the intranet. The intranet server is
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`then utilized to provide access to Internet servers. In the
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`stand alone client configuration, a client connects directly to
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`a serverof the Internet (i.e., without the intranet server). As
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`an Intranet configuration, the elements of FIG. 3 are similar
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`to the elements of FIG. 2, but client may be connected
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`utilizing remote access (e.g., access from a user’s home).
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`However, in a standaloneclient configuration, browser 301
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`is not coupled to an Intranet. Servers 303A-303D may be
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`servers of different Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which
`are connected to browser 301 via different connection
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`media. Thus, browser 301 is connected to server 303A via a
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`DSL connection 305, to server 303B via a wireless phone
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`connection 307, to server 303Cvia a satellite connection 311
`and to server 303D via a cable modem connection 309. ISP
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`servers 303A—303D connect to the Internet (not shown) via
`ISP-Internet connectors 215.
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`The implementation of multiple connection media for a
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`single client is further enhanced by permitting a user to
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`optionally select to utilize a particular routing medium based
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`on the desired speed of connection. Thusa satellite connec-
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`tion maybe selected for huge data transfer, while a DSL or
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`phone modem connection is utilized for email correspon-
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`dence. The selection of a particular medium becomes even
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`more important when each medium hasa corresponding cost
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`factor, which directly affects the user’s determination of use.
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`In another embodiment, a single server may be accessible to
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`the client browser using one of multiple connecting media.
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`Thus for example, servers 303A-3