Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eric Lehman

F Thomson Leighton

Daniel M Lewin

Matthew S Levine

David R Karger

Rina Panagrahy

Rina Panigrahy

The invention relates to an apparatus for responding to data requests made by a client. The apparatus includes an input receiving a first data request that includes a sequence of nodes corresponding to a sequence of servers. The apparatus also includes decision logic determining whether the data specified in the data request is available on a selected server, and if the data is not available determining a next node from the sequence of nodes. The apparatus also includes a mapper mapping a server to the next node, and an output requesting the data by transmitting a second data request to the server mapped to the next node.

Method and apparatus for distributing requests among a plurality of resources

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing a request to one of a plurality of resources. A request is mapped to a location in circular mapping space using a hash function. Each of the plurality of resources is mapped to a respective location or locations in the circular mapping space. The request is allocated to one of the resources based on the given request location and the resource location in the circular mapping space.

The invention relates to a method for requesting data from one of a plurality of actual servers. A virtual network of servers is generated in response to a data request. A first virtual server in the virtual network is chosen randomly, and a path generated from the first virtual server to a root virtual server. At least one virtual server on the path is mapped to a respective one of the plurality of actual servers and data is requested therefrom.

The invention relates to distributing a request to one a plurality of resources. A request is mapped to a location in mathematical mapping space. Each of the plurality of resources is mapped to a respective location or locations in the mathematical mapping space. The request is allocated to one of the resources based on a mathematical relationship between the request location and the resource location in the mathematical mapping space.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for requesting data from one of a plurality of servers. A virtual network of nodes is generated in response to a data request. A first node on the virtual network of nodes is chosen randomly, and a path generated from the first node to the root on the virtual network. At least one node on the path is mapped to a respective one of the plurality of servers and data is requested from a server. The node may be mapped to the server using the method and apparatus for distributing a request to one of a plurality of resources of the present invention.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing a request to one of a plurality of resources. A request is mapped to a location in mathematical mapping space. Each of the plurality of resources is mapped to a respective location or locations in the mathematical mapping space. The request is allocated to one of the resources based on a mathematical relationship between the request location and the resource location in the mathematical mapping space. An apparatus for distributing a request to one of a plurality of resources includes the plurality of resources and an input receiving a resource request. A mapper in communication with the input maps the request to a request location in a mathematical mapping space and maps each of the plurality of resources to at least one resource locations in the mathematical mapping space. A distributor distributes the request to one of the plurality of resources in response to a mathematical relationship between the locations of the request and resources in the mathematical mapping space.

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Eric Lehman