Directing clients based on communication format

Abstract

Directing clients based on communication format is disclosed. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a request from a client capable of communicating via a plurality of supported communication formats, a communication format that is expected to give optimal performance is selected from the plurality of supported communication formats, and the client is directed to a server that is configured to communicate with the selected communication format.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a request from a client capable of communicating via a plurality of supported communication formats; 
 select a communication format from the plurality of supported communication formats that is expected to give optimal performance; and 
 direct the client to a server that is configured to communicate with the selected communication format; and 
   a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.   
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of supported communication formats comprises a plurality of supported protocol stacks. 
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of supported protocol stacks is includes IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) and IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6). 
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the plurality of supported communication formats via which the client is capable of communicating. 
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein to determine the plurality of supported communicating formats comprises to determine whether the client is IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) enabled, IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) enabled, or dual stack. 
     
     
         6 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the received request comprises a source address associated with a tunneling service. 
     
     
         7 . A system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the selected communication format avoids tunneled communications between the client and the server. 
     
     
         8 . A system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the source address comprises an IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) address, the selected communication format comprises IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4), and to direct the client to the server comprises providing an IPv4 address of the server to the client. 
     
     
         9 . A system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the source address comprises an IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) address, the selected communication format comprises IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), and to direct the client to the server comprises providing an IPv6 address of the server to the client. 
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selected communication format allows communication between the client and the server over a network to which both are natively connected. 
     
     
         11 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selected communication format entails tunneled communication between the client and the server. 
     
     
         12 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the received request comprises a DNS (domain name system) request and wherein to direct the client to the server comprises to provide to the client an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the server. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a request from a client capable of communicating via a plurality of supported is communication formats;   selecting a communication format from the plurality of supported communication formats that is expected to give optimal performance; and   directing the client to a server that is configured to communicate with the selected communication format.   
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the selected communication format allows communication between the client and the server over a network to which both are natively connected. 
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the selected communication format entails tunneled communication between the client and the server. 
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the received request comprises a DNS (domain name system) request and wherein to direct the client to the server comprises to provide to the client an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the server. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 receiving a request from a client capable of communicating via a plurality of supported communication formats;   selecting a communication format from the plurality of supported communication formats that is expected to give optimal performance; and   directing the client to a server that is configured to communicate with the selected communication format.   
     
     
         18 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the selected communication format allows communication between the client and the server over a network to which both are natively connected. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the selected communication format entails tunneled communication between the client and the server. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the received request comprises a DNS (domain name system) request and wherein to direct the client to the server comprises to provide to the client an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the server.