Abstract: A technique fulfills service requests in a system of computers that communicate as nodes within a network. The technique involves sending, in response to an initial service request that requests a service provided by a primary server node, a mobile agent from the primary server node to an intermediate node. The mobile agent indicates to the intermediate node that a secondary server node is capable of providing the service. The technique further involves intercepting, at the intermediate node, a subsequent service request sent from a client node to the primary server node, the subsequent service request requesting the service, and sending an instruction from the intermediate node to the secondary server node. The instruction instructs the secondary server node to provide the service. The technique further includes providing, in response to the instruction, the service from the secondary server node to the client node.

Abstract: A technique fulfills service requests in a system of computers that communicate as nodes within a network. The technique involves sending, in response to an initial service request that requests a service provided by a primary server node, a mobile agent from the primary server node to an intermediate node. The mobile agent indicates to the intermediate node that a secondary server node is capable of providing the service. The technique further involves intercepting, at the intermediate node, a subsequent service request sent from a client node to the primary server node, the subsequent service request requesting the service, and sending an instruction from the intermediate node to the secondary server node. The instruction instructs the secondary server node to provide the service. The technique further includes providing, in response to the instruction, the service from the secondary server node to the client node.

Abstract: A technique fulfills service requests in a system of computers that communicate as nodes within a network. The technique involves sending, in response to an initial service request that requests a service provided by a primary server node, a mobile agent from the primary server node to an intermediate node. The mobile agent indicates to the intermediate node that a secondary server node is capable of providing the service. The technique further involves intercepting, at the intermediate node, a subsequent service request sent from a client node to the primary server node, the subsequent service request requesting the service, and sending an instruction from the intermediate node to the secondary server node. The instruction instructs the secondary server node to provide the service. The technique further includes providing, in response to the instruction, the service from the secondary server node to the client node.

Abstract: A technique for automatic, transparent, distributed, scalable and robust replication of document copies in a computer network wherein request messages for a particular document follow paths from the clients to a home server that form a routing graph. Client request messages are routed up the graph towards the home server as would normally occur in the absence of caching. However, cache servers are located along the route, and may intercept requests if they can be serviced. In order to be able to service requests in this manner without departing from standard network protocols, the cache server needs to be able to insert a packet filter into the router associated with it, and needs also to proxy for the home server from the perspective of the client. Cache servers cooperate to update cache content by communicating with neighboring caches whenever information is received about invalid cache copies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a product, such as hydrogen halide gas or sulfuric acid, in a regenerator furnace subsystem from a waste containing a non-gasifiable impurity. The method of the invention includes directing a waste, containing a non-gasifiable impurity into a reaction zone, containing a molten metal bath, in a reactor maintained under conditions sufficient to dissociate the waste and to form a gasified feed component and a non-gasifiable impurity. The gasified feed component is then directed from the reactor to a regenerator furnace subsystem, maintained under conditions sufficient to convert the gasified feed component to the desired product.The apparatus of the invention includes a reactor having a waste inlet and a gaseous effluent, a reaction zone containing a molten-metal bath for dissociating the waste, containing a non-gasifiable impurity, and forming a gasified feed component, and a lance for injecting the waste into the reaction zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a product, such as hydrogen halide gas or sulfuric acid, in a regenerator furnace subsystem from a waste containing a non-gasifiable impurity. The method of the invention includes directing a waste, containing a non-gasifiable impurity into a reaction zone, containing a molten metal bath, in a reactor maintained under conditions sufficient to dissociate the waste and to form a gasified feed component and a non-gasifiable impurity. The gasified feed component is then directed from the reactor to a regenerator furnace subsystem, maintained under conditions sufficient to convert the gasified feed component to the desired product.The apparatus of the invention includes a reactor having a waste inlet and a gaseous effluent, a reaction zone containing a molten-metal bath for dissociating the waste, containing a non-gasifiable impurity, and forming a gasified feed component, and a lance for injecting the waste into the reaction zone.