System and method for dynamic content routing

Abstract

A system for directing a request for dynamic content to an application server which having access to a database containing updated data relevant to the request. The system contains a dynamic content router, database replication agents and web server plug-ins. The dynamic content router directs the web server plug-ins to forward the request to the appropriate application server.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of dynamic content routing a client request to an application server, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving said request for content from a client over a communications network;    determining a dynamic content associated with said request;    selecting an application server from a plurality of application servers in accordance with said dynamic content; and    routing said request to said selected application server.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting said requested content from said selected application server to said client.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting includes the step of selecting an application server connected to a database having data relevant to said requested content.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of selecting includes the step of selecting an application server based on an available processing capacity of said database.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of 
 determining if a session exists between said client and one of said plurality of application servers;    establishing a session between said client and said selected application server if it is determined that a session does not exists between said client and one of said plurality of application servers to provide a session ID and a session time;    associating said dynamic content with said session ID to provide a link;    storing said link, said session ID and said session time as a last session time; and    transmitting said request for content to said selected application server by said client, said request having at least said session ID.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of selecting includes the step of selecting an application server based on session persistence.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of determining includes the steps of: 
 reading said session ID from said request to determine said link; and    determining said dynamic content as a function of said link.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing said selected server as a last accessed server.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of application servers are grouped into one or more server clusters, each server cluster being associated with a database.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of determining replication latencies between said databases; and storing said replication latencies.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of selecting includes the step of selecting an application server as a function of said replication latencies.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of selecting includes the steps of: 
 determining time elapsed between said last session time and a current session time if the database connected said selected server is different from the database connected to said last accessed server for said client to provide a session interval; and    selecting said last accessed server as said selected server if said replication latency between the databases connected to said last accessed server and said selected server exceeds said session interval.    
     
     
         13 . A method of mirroring content in a database, comprising the steps of: 
 categorizing each content into either segmentable or non-segmentable content;    dividing said segmentable content into one or more segments;    labeling each segment of said segmentable content with a content label;    storing said non-segmentable content and each segment of said segmentable content, thereby effectively mirroring said content.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of receiving a request for content stored in said database; categorizing said request by content label and searching said database for said requested content in accordance with said content label.  
     
     
         15 . A system for dynamic content routing a client request to an application server, comprising: 
 a web server for receiving said request for content from a client over a communications network;    a dynamic content router for determining a dynamic content associated with said request and selecting an application server from a plurality of application servers connected to said network in accordance with said dynamic content; and    wherein said web server is operable to route said request to said selected application server.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more databases connected to said plurality of application servers, each database having a plurality of data; and wherein said selected application server is operable to transmit said requested content from an associated database to said client.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said router is operable to select an application server connected to a database having data relevant to said requested content.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said router is operable to select an application server based on an available processing capacity of said database.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said router is operable to determine if a session exists between said client and one of said plurality of application servers, establish a session between said client and said selected application server if it is determined that a session does not exists between said client and one of said plurality of application servers to provide a session ID and a session time, associate said dynamic content with said session ID to provide a link, store said link, said session ID and said session time as a last session time, and transmit said request for content to said selected application server by said client, said request having at least said session ID.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said router is operable to select an application server based on session persistence.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said router is operable to read said session ID from said request to determine said link and determine said dynamic content as a function of said link.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said router is operable to store said selected server as a last accessed server.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of application servers are grouped into one or more server clusters, each server cluster being associated with a database.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each database includes a replication agent for determining replication latencies between said databases and transmitting said replication latencies to said router; and wherein said router is operable to store said replication latencies.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said router is operable to select an application server as a function of said replication latencies.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said router is operable to determine time elapsed between said last session time and a current session time if the database connected to said selected server is different from the database connected to said last accessed server for said client to provide a session interval; and 
 selecting said last accessed server as said selected server if said replication latency between the databases connected to said last accessed server and said selected server exceeds said session interval.