System, method and apparatus for data processing and storage to provide continuous operations independent of device failure or disaster

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for providing continuous operations of a user application at a user computing device. At least two application servers are provided with each application server running the user application concurrently and independently. Each application server may have a persistent storage device associated with it for storing data. In response to a user request for data processing within the user application, the user request is transmitted to the at least two application servers for processing therein. A return result—responsive to the user request as processed by the one of the at least two application servers—is passed to the user computing device from one of the at least two application servers. In this manner, if one of the application servers fails or becomes unavailable due to a disaster or otherwise, the user requests can be continuously processed by at least the other application server without any delays.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for providing continuous operations of a user application at a user computing device, the method comprising: 
 providing at least two application servers, each application server running the user application;    in response to a user request for data processing within the application, transmitting the user request to the at least two application servers for processing therein; and    passing a return result to the user computing device from one of the at least two application servers, said return result corresponding to the user request as processed by the one of the at least two application servers.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing at least two persistent storage devices, wherein a first persistent storage device is associated with a first server of the at least two application servers, and wherein a second persistent storage device is associated with a second server of the at least two application servers.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 locating a first server of the at least two application servers at a first location; and    locating a second server of the at least two application servers at a second location.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first location is geographically remote from the second location.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for processing communications between a user device and at least two servers, comprising: 
 a module for receiving a user request relating to an application program;    a module for transmitting the user request to the at least two servers for processing therein; and    a module for forwarding to the user device a result received from one of the at least two servers, wherein the result is responsive to the user request.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a module for storing a plurality of requests received from the user device;    a module for storing a plurality of results received from at least one of at least two servers; and    a module for associating the plurality of results to a corresponding one of the plurality of requests.    
     
     
         7 . A system for providing continuous operations of a user application at a user computing device, the system comprising: 
 at least two servers, each server having a persistent storage device associated therewith, each server adapted to run the user application; and    a multicasting device for processing communications between the user computing device and the at least two servers.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein in response to a user request for data processing within the user application, the multicasting device transmits the user request to the at least two servers for processing therein.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the multicasting device passes a return result to the user computing device from one of the at least two servers, said return result corresponding to the user request as processed by the one of the at least two servers.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the multicasting device is a server.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a first server of the at least two servers operates using a first operating system, and a second server of the at least two servers operates using a second operating system.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a first server of the at least two servers is located at a first location, and a second server of the at least two servers is located at a second location.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first location is geographically remote from the second location.  
     
     
         14 . A method for processing communications between a user device and at least two servers, comprising: 
 receiving a user request relating to an application program;    transmitting the user request to the at least two servers for processing therein; and    forwarding to the user device a result received from one of the at least two servers, wherein the result is responsive to the user request.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 storing a plurality of requests received from the user device;    storing a plurality of results received from at least one of the at least two servers; and    associating the plurality of results to a corresponding one of the plurality of requests.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 creating a record associated with the user request.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the record has a unique identifier associated with the record.  
     
     
         18 . A method for providing a continuously operating computing system for an application service provider having a plurality of servers servicing a plurality of user devices, each user device having a user session including user requests relating to at least one application program, the method comprising: 
 configuring at least two servers to each run said application program;    providing a multicasting server for receiving a user request relating to said application program, said multicasting server transmitting the user request to the at least two servers for processing therein; and    upon receiving a first result from one of the at least two servers, forwarding the first result to the user device.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 locating a first server of the at least two servers at a first location; and    locating a second server of the at least two servers at a second location.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said first location is remote from said second location.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 associating a first persistent storage device with a first server of the at least two servers, and associating a second persistent storage device with a second server of the at least two servers.