Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of generating location information for an object of interest are disclosed. The location information is based on dynamic input from one or more members of an interest group associated with the object. The input from the one or more members can be provided by users of a collaboration device. The collaboration device includes a GPS receiver, and a target input mechanism in communication with the GPS receiver. The target input mechanism is configured to receive a user indication of the presence of an object of interest to generate location data from the GPS receiver for the object of interest. The collaboration device further includes a radio configured for transmitting the location data to at least one other member of the interest group.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of generating location information for an object of interest are disclosed. The location information is based on dynamic input from one or more members of an interest group associated with the object. The input from the one or more members can be provided by users of a collaboration device. The collaboration device includes a GPS receiver, and a target input mechanism in communication with the GPS receiver. The target input mechanism is configured to receive a user indication of the presence of an object of interest to generate location data from the GPS receiver for the object of interest. The collaboration device further includes a radio configured for transmitting the location data to at least one other member of the interest group.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of generating location information for an object of interest are disclosed. The location information is based on dynamic input from one or more members of an interest group associated with the object. The input from the one or more members can be provided by users of a collaboration device. The collaboration device includes a GPS receiver, and a target input mechanism in communication with the GPS receiver. The target input mechanism is configured to receive a user indication of the presence of an object of interest to generate location data from the GPS receiver for the object of interest. The collaboration device further includes a radio configured for transmitting the location data to at least one other member of the interest group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: A system of redirecting encrypted requests for content at a web site includes the steps of receiving, at a first web site, data enabling secure communication with a client, receiving, at the first web site, a request for content from the client, identifying an alternate web site to service the request from the client and forwarding a communication associated with the request to the alternate web site including forwarding the data enabling secure communication to the alternative web site. Such an arrangement allows a web site to communicate with a client using encrypted packets without having previously set up a tunneled connection, thereby aiding in disaster recovery and providing a facilitating client proximity detection when traffic is encrypted.

Abstract: A system of redirecting encrypted requests for content at a web site includes the steps of receiving, at a first web site, data enabling secure communication with a client, receiving, at the first web site, a request for content from the client, identifying an alternate web site to service the request from the client and forwarding a communication associated with the request to the alternate web site including forwarding the data enabling secure communication to the alternative web site. Such an arrangement allows a web site to communicate with a client using encrypted packets without having previously set up a tunneled connection, thereby aiding in disaster recovery and providing a facilitating client proximity detection when traffic is encrypted.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a chronometrically optimal web site location for access by a client based on proximity measurements on established connections that are a result of requests for actual content. In one embodiment, the technique involves a race condition between local domains each transmitting TCP packets loaded with a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) Base tag identifying that local domain. The earliest received TCP packet is incorporated into the TCP stream. In another embodiment, the technique involves a race condition between local domains each transmitting files having links to streaming media translated to point to its own local domain. The earliest received file is incorporated into the TCP stream while the others are discarded as TCP resends. In yet another embodiment, HTTP redirect operations are performed once for each grouping of links only the earliest redirect packet to reach the client is incorporated into the existing TCP stream.

Abstract: A method for providing a persistent connection between a client and a real server. The method includes receiving a request originating from a client for connection to a virtual server and selecting a real server associated with the virtual server for connection with the client based only on a natural class of an IP address of a device sending the request. Transmissions originating from the client are forwarded to the selected real server.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: A method and a system are described for directing a client to the most optimal, most available Web site or to the most optimal content in a distributed content environment, using an Internet Site Selector, which is an Internet appliance that optimizes the performance of domains hosted on mirrored, geographically distributed Web sites. The system includes various components including the Internet Site Selectors which co-locate with each Web site. The method comprises a number of steps including sending client requests to a primary or main site, redirecting by an Internet Site Selector coupled to the primary or main site the modified client requests to all other participating Internet Site Selectors. Several modes and deployments of the Internet Site Selectors, including geographic site selection, multiple Internet Site Selectors at each Web site, Internet Site Selector grouping, Internet Site Selectors in content routing are described.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a connection between a client and a server with load balancing between servers are disclosed. A computer-implemented method of the present invention generally includes binding a primary virtual server to a set of URLs, each URL having an associated real server and receiving a request from a client for connection to the primary virtual server. One of the real servers are selected for connection with the client and a redirect message is sent to the client specifying the URL associated with the selected real server. The method further includes receiving a new connection request from the client for connection with the selected real server.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of generating location information for an object of interest are disclosed. The location information is based on dynamic input from one or more members of an interest group associated with the object. The input from the one or more members can be provided by users of a collaboration device. The collaboration device includes a GPS receiver, and a target input mechanism in communication with the GPS receiver. The target input mechanism is configured to receive a user indication of the presence of an object of interest to generate location data from the GPS receiver for the object of interest. The collaboration device further includes a radio configured for transmitting the location data to at least one other member of the interest group.

Abstract: A system of redirecting encrypted requests for content at a web site includes the steps of receiving, at a first web site, data enabling secure communication with a client, receiving, at the first web site, a request for content from the client, identifying an alternate web site to service the request from the client and forwarding a communication associated with the request to the alternate web site including forwarding the data enabling secure communication to the alternative web site. Such an arrangement allows a web site to communicate with a client using encrypted packets without having previously set up a tunneled connection, thereby aiding in disaster recovery and providing a facilitating client proximity detection when traffic is encrypted.

Abstract: A system of redirecting encrypted requests for content at a web site includes the steps of receiving, at a first web site, data enabling secure communication with a client, receiving, at the first web site, a request for content from the client, identifying an alternate web site to service the request from the client and forwarding a communication associated with the request to the alternate web site including forwarding the data enabling secure communication to the alternative web site. Such an arrangement allows a web site to communicate with a client using encrypted packets without having previously set up a tunneled connection, thereby aiding in disaster recovery and providing a facilitating client proximity detection when traffic is encrypted.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a chronometrically optimal web site location for access by a client based on proximity measurements on established connections that are a result of requests for actual content. In one embodiment, the technique involves a race condition between local domains each transmitting TCP packets loaded with a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) Base tag identifying that local domain. The earliest received TCP packet is incorporated into the TCP stream. In another embodiment, the technique involves a race condition between local domains each transmitting files having links to streaming media translated to point to its own local domain. The earliest received file is incorporated into the TCP stream while the others are discarded as TCP resends. In yet another embodiment, HTTP redirect operations are performed once for each grouping of links only the earliest redirect packet to reach the client is incorporated into the existing TCP stream.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a chronometrically optimal (most proximate) location for a client based on proximity measurements on established connections that are a result of requests for actual content is described. According to one embodiment, the method comprises retrieving data by one of a plurality of personal content directors each associated with a separate local domain. The data includes a plurality of relative links. The plurality of relative links are translated into a corresponding plurality of absolute links that collectively point to the local domains associated with the plurality of personal content directors. Thereafter, a most proximate local domain for a client is determined based on subsequent accesses to download data accessible through the absolute links.

Abstract: A method and a system are described for directing a client to the most optimal, most available Web site or to the most optimal content in a distributed content environment, using an Internet Site Selector, which is an Internet appliance that optimizes the performance of domains hosted on mirrored, geographically distributed Web sites. The system includes various components including the Internet Site Selectors which co-locate with each Web site. The method comprises a number of steps including sending client requests to a primary or main site, redirecting by an Internet Site Selector coupled to the primary or main site the modified client requests to all other participating Internet Site Selectors. Several modes and deployments of the Internet Site Selectors, including geographic site selection, multiple Internet Site Selectors at each Web site, Internet Site Selector grouping, Internet Site Selectors in content routing are described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.