Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for load balancing in networks such as those networks handling telephony applications. By way of example, such techniques direct requests associated with calls to servers in a system comprised of a network routing calls between a plurality of callers and at least one receiver wherein a load balancer sends requests associated with calls to a plurality of servers as follows. A request associated with a call, a caller, or a receiver is received, depending on the particular load balancing technique. A server is selected to receive the request. A subsequent request is received. A determination is made whether or not the subsequent request is associated with the call, the caller, or the receiver, depending on the particular load balancing technique. The subsequent request is sent to the server based on determining that the subsequent request is associated with the call, the caller, or the receiver, again depending on the particular load balancing technique.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for load balancing in networks such as those networks handling telephony applications. By way of example, a method for directing requests associated with calls to servers in a system comprised of a network routing calls between a plurality of nodes wherein a node participates in a call as a caller or a receiver and wherein a load balancer sends requests associated with calls to a plurality of servers comprises the following steps. A request associated with a node belonging to a group including a plurality of nodes is received. A server is selected to receive the request. A subsequent request is received. A determination is made whether or not the subsequent request is associated with a node belonging to the group. The subsequent request is sent to the server based on determining that the subsequent request is associated with a node belonging to the group.

Abstract: A technique for use in a client, wherein the client supports a state-based signaling protocol (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP), includes initiating a given session state between the client and a server that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and refreshing the given session state in a randomized manner. Further, a technique for use in a server, wherein the server supports a state-based signaling protocol (again, e.g., SIP), includes randomly assigning an expiration time duration for a given session state between the server and a client that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and reporting the randomly assigned expiration time for the given session state to the client. By randomizing various behaviors of the client, the server, or both, bursty traffic in the communication network is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A technique for use in a client, wherein the client supports a state-based signaling protocol (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP), includes initiating a given session state between the client and a server that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and refreshing the given session state in a randomized manner. Further, a technique for use in a server, wherein the server supports a state-based signaling protocol (again, e.g., SIP), includes randomly assigning an expiration time duration for a given session state between the server and a client that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and reporting the randomly assigned expiration time for the given session state to the client. By randomizing various behaviors of the client, the server, or both, bursty traffic in the communication network is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A technique for use in a client, wherein the client supports a state-based signaling protocol (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP), includes initiating a given session state between the client and a server that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and refreshing the given session state in a randomized manner. Further, a technique for use in a server, wherein the server supports a state-based signaling protocol (again, e.g., SIP), includes randomly assigning an expiration time duration for a given session state between the server and a client that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and reporting the randomly assigned expiration time for the given session state to the client. By randomizing various behaviors of the client, the server, or both, bursty traffic in the communication network is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for load balancing based on call length in networks such as those networks handling telephony applications. By way of example, one method for directing requests associated with calls to servers in a system comprised of a network routing calls between at least one caller and at least one receiver wherein the network comprises a load balancer sending requests to a plurality of servers comprises the following steps. A first request of a call is received. A server s1 is selected to receive the request based on an estimated duration of the call. Another method for directing requests associated with calls to servers in a system comprised of a network routing calls between at least one caller and at least one receiver wherein the network comprises a load balancer sending requests to a plurality of servers comprises the following steps. Information is maintained regarding load assigned to a plurality of servers. A first request of a call is received.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for load balancing in networks such as those networks handling telephony applications. By way of example, a method for directing requests associated with calls to servers in a system comprised of a network routing calls between a plurality of nodes wherein a node participates in a call as a caller or a receiver and wherein a load balancer sends requests associated with calls to a plurality of servers comprises the following steps. A request associated with a node belonging to a group including a plurality of nodes is received. A server is selected to receive the request. A subsequent request is received. A determination is made whether or not the subsequent request is associated with a node belonging to the group. The subsequent request is sent to the server based on determining that the subsequent request is associated with a node belonging to the group.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for load balancing in networks such as those networks handling telephony applications. By way of example, such techniques direct requests associated with calls to servers in a system comprised of a network routing calls between a plurality of callers and at least one receiver wherein a load balancer sends requests associated with calls to a plurality of servers as follows. A request associated with a call, a caller, or a receiver is received, depending on the particular load balancing technique. A server is selected to receive the request. A subsequent request is received. A determination is made whether or not the subsequent request is associated with the call, the caller, or the receiver, depending on the particular load balancing technique. The subsequent request is sent to the server based on determining that the subsequent request is associated with the call, the caller, or the receiver, again depending on the particular load balancing technique.

Abstract: A technique for use in a client, wherein the client supports a state-based signaling protocol (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP), includes initiating a given session state between the client and a server that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and refreshing the given session state in a randomized manner. Further, a technique for use in a server, wherein the server supports a state-based signaling protocol (again, e.g., SIP), includes randomly assigning an expiration time duration for a given session state between the server and a client that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and reporting the randomly assigned expiration time for the given session state to the client. By randomizing various behaviors of the client, the server, or both, bursty traffic in the communication network is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for processing messages in a messaging system, particularly during an overload condition. For example, a method of processing messages of an instant messaging system includes the following steps. A message from a first instant messaging user is received during an overload condition. A message type associated with the received message is determined. The method then decides whether to send the message to a second instant messaging user based on the determined message type of the received message. In another method, processing messages in an instant messaging system includes the following steps. Presence information associated with a first instant messaging system user is received. The presence information is sent to a second instant messaging system user when the second messaging system user requests the presence information associated with the first instant messaging system user.