Selecting a preferred server from groups of servers based on geographical information obtained from the requesting client

Abstract

Redirecting a client request for digital information to a server by selecting a server based on client location. The client location derived from a query to a client application such as a modem dial-up application or a mobile phone Global Positioning System. The client location information being used in combination with a listing of groups of servers as well as a listing of servers having the requested digital information to select a preferred server satisfying geographical preferences.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for redirecting a client request for a package to a server having the package, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request from a client computer to download a package of digital data;    querying a client application running on the client for client location information;    if client location information is received, using the client location information to select a server for downloading the package; and    downloading the package from the selected server to the client computer.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein using the client location information comprises the further steps of: 
 receiving an identifier from the requesting client computer, the identifier identifying the requesting client computer;  
 retrieving server redirection information from storage, the server redirection information comprising a representation of a plurality of groups of candidate server identities, each group of candidate server identities comprising one or more candidate server identities;  
 retrieving availability information from storage, the availability information comprising the identities of servers having the specified package available for downloading;  
 selecting a preferred group of the one or more groups of candidate server identities, the preferred group being selected according to predetermined criteria; and  
 downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a first candidate server identified in the preferred group of servers if the first candidate server is a server identified in the availability information.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  comprising the further step of downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a second candidate server identified in a default group of servers if the second candidate server is a server identified in the availability information and the specified package can not be downloaded from the first candidate server.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  comprising the further step of downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a third candidate server identified in a master default group of servers if the third candidate server is a server identified in the availability information and the specified package can not be downloaded from the second candidate server.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the client location information is any one of an internal IP address, telephone area code, a postal zip code or Global Positioning System (GPS) data.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the client application is a telephone modem dial-up application.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the querying a client application step comprises the further steps of: 
 retrieving the client internal IP address from a list of servers in a routing table;  
 using the internal IP address if it is equal to a locally obtained IP address; and  
 using an internal IP address range server group that includes the internal IP address if the internal IP address is not equal to the locally obtained IP address.  
 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for redirecting a client request for a package to a server having the package, the computer program product comprising: 
 a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a client computer to download a package of digital data;  
 querying a client application running on the client for client location information;  
 if client location information is received, using the client location information to select a server for downloading the package; and  
 downloading the package from the selected server to the client computer.  
   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product according to  claim 8  wherein using the client location information comprises the further steps of: 
 receiving an identifier from the requesting client computer, the identifier identifying the requesting client computer;  
 retrieving server redirection information from storage, the server redirection information comprising a representation of a plurality of groups of candidate server identities, each group of candidate server identities comprising one or more candidate server identities;  
 retrieving availability information from storage, the availability information comprising the identities of servers having the specified package available for downloading;  
 selecting a preferred group of the one or more groups of candidate server identities, the preferred group being selected according to predetermined criteria; and  
 downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a first candidate server identified in the preferred group of servers if the first candidate server is a server identified in the availability information.  
 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product according to  claim 9  comprising the further step of downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a second candidate server identified in a default group of servers if the second candidate server is a server identified in the availability information and the specified package can not be downloaded from the first candidate server.  
     
     
         11 . The computer program product according to  claim 10  comprising the further step of downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a third candidate server identified in a master default group of servers if the third candidate server is a server identified in the availability information and the specified package can not be downloaded from the second candidate server.  
     
     
         12 . The computer program product according to  claim 8  wherein the client location information is any one of an internal IP address, telephone area code, a postal zip code or Global Positioning System (GPS) data.  
     
     
         13 . The computer program product according to  claim 8  wherein the client application is a telephone modem dial-up application.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program product according to  claim 8  wherein the querying a client application step comprises the further steps of: 
 retrieving the client internal IP address from a list of servers in a routing table;  
 using the internal IP address if it is equal to a locally obtained IP address; and  
 using an internal IP address range server group that includes the internal IP address if the internal IP address is not equal to the locally obtained IP address.  
 
     
     
         15 . A system for redirecting a client request for a package to a server having the package, the system comprising: 
 a network;    a client system in communication with the network;    a server system in communication with the network, wherein said server system includes instructions to execute a method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a client computer to download a package of digital data;  
 querying a client application running on the client for client location information;  
 if client location information is received, using the client location information to select a server for downloading the package; and  
 downloading the package from the selected server to the client computer.  
   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the step of using the client location information comprises the further steps of: 
 receiving an identifier from the requesting client computer, the identifier identifying the requesting client computer;  
 retrieving server redirection information from storage, the server redirection information comprising a representation of a plurality of groups of candidate server identities, each group of candidate server identities comprising one or more candidate server identities;  
 retrieving availability information from storage, the availability information comprising the identities of servers having the specified package available for downloading;  
 selecting a preferred group of the one or more groups of candidate server identities, the preferred group being selected according to predetermined criteria; and  
 downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a first candidate server identified in the preferred group of servers if the first candidate server is a server identified in the availability information.  
 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the method comprises the further step of downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a second candidate server identified in a default group of servers if the second candidate server is a server identified in the availability information and the specified package can not be downloaded from the first candidate server.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the method comprises the further step of downloading the specified package to the requesting client computer from a third candidate server identified in a master default group of servers if the third candidate server is a server identified in the availability information and the specified package can not be downloaded from the second candidate server.  
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the client location information is any one of an internal IP address, telephone area code, a postal zip code or Global Positioning System (GPS) data.  
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the querying a client application step comprises the further steps of: 
 retrieving the client internal IP address from a list of servers in a routing table;  
 using the internal IP address if it is equal to a locally obtained IP address; and  
 using an internal IP address range server group that includes the internal IP address if the internal IP address is not equal to the locally obtained IP address.