Abstract: Load balancing method and system for balancing a processing load in a network, wherein load balancer upon receiving a client request selects one of a plurality of processing servers for serving the request. The selection of a processing server may be based on a location of a client and a processing server. The load balancer may comprise a load balancing master and a plurality of load balancing slaves, wherein the load balancing slaves receive client requests and transmit a selection request message to the load balancing master. The load balancing master selects a load balancing slave and/or a processing server for serving the request and generates a corresponding instruction message. The client request is served by the selected load balancing slave and the selected processing server by establishing a communication link between the client and the processing server.

Abstract: A network portal system includes a web-top manager and a universal content broker system. The web-top manager is configured to receive a content request from a user device, where the content request includes a content provider identifier. The universal content broker system is coupled to the web-top manager. The universal content broker system includes a plurality of content providers. Each content provider in the plurality of content providers is associated with a different content provider identifier. Also, each content provider accesses content having a different raw data format. A universal content broker is coupled to the web-top manager and to the plurality of content providers. Upon the receipt of the content request from the web-top manager, the universal content broker passes the request to a content provider in the plurality of content providers that is associated with the content provider identifier.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using proxies for accessing a computer network, e.g. through a publicly accessible network, is disclosed. A connection between the client and a network server is established not directly but through a client proxy device located at the client and a proxy server at the local area network. The connection between the client proxy device at the client and a proxy server at the local area network may be established through a firewall restricting access to the local area network and/or client. In establishing the connection, ports of the client proxy device at the client side may be mapped in multiple operations to the ports of network servers of the local area network. The invention allows the client to utilize common network protocols such as for example ftp, http, IMAP and similar at the client side to access data or services available at the local area network side.

Abstract: Load balancing method and system for balancing a processing load in a network, wherein load balancer upon receiving a client request selects one of a plurality of processing servers for serving the request. The selection of a processing server may be based on a location of a client and a processing server. The load balancer may comprise a load balancing master and a plurality of load balancing slaves, wherein the load balancing slaves receive client requests and transmit a selection request message to the load balancing master. The load balancing master selects a load balancing slave and/or a processing server for serving the request and generates a corresponding instruction message. The client request is served by the selected load balancing slave and the selected processing server by establishing a communication link between the client and the processing server.