Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A data processing system for facilitating a connection of a program on a client computer to a server, the server consisting of a plurality of server computers with shared resources, the data processing system, the client computer, and the server computers residing in a network, the system comprising: input means for receiving a request from the client computer for a machine address of a server computer identified by a server computer name sent with the request, such a machine address enabling a connection to be made from the client computer to that server computer via the network; a storage device for storing a list identifying server computer names with machine addresses of the server computers; conversion means for using the list to convert the server computer name received by the input means into the machine address of the server computer; output means for sending the machine address from the conversion means to the client computer; the system being characterised by: decision logic for studying the server computers at predetermined intervals having regard to predetermined test criteria, in order to select one of the server computers; and writing means for updating the list by associating the machine address for the server computer selected by the decision logic with a particular server computer name contained as a generic server computer name in the list; whereby when a client computer specifies the generic server computer name, it receives the machine address of the server computer identified by the decision logic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising: a copier to copy the list from the storage device to a piece of memory accessible by the conversion means; a messaging means, responsive to the updating of the list by the writing means, for sending a message to the copier requesting the copier to copy the updated list into the piece of local memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the predetermined test criteria are such that the decision logic identifies the server computer having the least number of client programs logged on to it.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined intervals are variable.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined test criteria are set by a user of the system.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user can limit the number of server computers which the decision logic studies.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a plurality of generic names are used, each one having a number of server computers whose machine addresses are associated with that generic name, the decision logic employing different sets of predetermined test criteria for each generic name.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein one or more of the server computers are associated with a plurality of the generic names.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of operating a data processing system to facilitate a connection of a program on a client computer to a server, the server consisting of a plurality of server computers with shared resources, the data processing system, the client computer, and the server computers residing in a network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a request from the client computer for a machine address of a server computer identified by a server computer name sent with the request, such a machine address enabling a connection to be made from the client computer to that server computer via the network; (b) storing a list identifying server computer names with machine addresses of the server computers in a storage device; (c) converting, with reference to the list, the server computer name received at step (a) into the machine address of the server computer; (d) sending the machine address identified at step (c) to the client computer; the method being characterised by the steps of: (e) employing decision logic to study the server computers at predetermined intervals having regard to predetermined test criteria, in order to select one of the server computers; and (f) updating the list by associating the machine address for the server computer selected by the decision logic with a particular server computer name contained as a generic server computer name in the list; whereby when a client computer specifies the generic server computer name at step (a), it receives the machine address of the server computer identified by the decision logic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as claimed in Claim 9 further comprising the steps of: copying the list from the storage device to a piece of memory accessible at the conversion step (c); repeating, in response to the updating of the list at step (f), the copying step to ensure that the updated list is copied into the piece of local memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the predetermined intervals are set by a user of the system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the predetermined test criteria are set by a user of the system.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the user can limit the number of server computers which the decision logic studies.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein a plurality of generic names are used, each one having a number of server computers whose machine addresses are associated with that generic name, the decision logic employing different sets of predetermined test criteria for each generic name.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in Claim 14, wherein one or more of the server computers are associated with a plurality of the generic names.