Abstract: A computer-implemented method is performed by a client machine to establish communication with a data server. The client machine sends a first communication request to a directory server having information concerning available data servers that provide specific data to the client machine. The client machine further determines whether a first socket is established to allow communication with the directory server within a first predetermined period of time. When the first socket is established, the client machine receives the information concerning the available data servers from the directory server and establishes a target socket with a data server selected from the available data servers for receiving the specific data. However, when the first socket is not established, the client machine sends more communication requests to secondary servers according to a predetermined order, until the client machine receives the information concerning the available data servers or the specific data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and terminal devices for truncating a character string are provided. A character string to be truncate is read and a byte length occupied by a current character is obtained. It is determined whether a substring, formed from a starting character of the character string to be truncated to the current character, satisfies a pre-set truncating condition. When the substring, formed from the starting character of the character string to be truncated to the current character, satisfies the pre-set truncating condition, the current character is subtracted from the substring to generate a truncated substring for displaying, according to the byte length occupied by the current character.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is performed by a client machine to establish communication with a data server. The client machine sends a first communication request to a directory server having information concerning available data servers that provide specific data to the client machine. The client machine further determines whether a first socket is established to allow communication with the directory server within a first predetermined period of time. When the first socket is established, the client machine receives the information concerning the available data servers from the directory server and establishes a target socket with a data server selected from the available data servers for receiving the specific data. However, when the first socket is not established, the client machine sends more communication requests to secondary servers according to a predetermined order, until the client machine receives the information concerning the available data servers or the specific data.