User Allocation System for Server Cluster Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large commercial internet-based businesses face challenges in maintaining consistent and reliable server systems that can handle millions of clients concurrently, requiring efficient load balancing and fail-safe mechanisms to ensure 24/7 operation across multiple server clusters.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that allocates users to server clusters based on geographic location and resource availability, using a two-stage allocation process with allocation rules and heuristics for efficient load distribution, and periodic load re-balancing to maintain even workloads across clusters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users are allocated to server clusters without load balancing, then simple allocation is achieved, but server overload and service inconsistency occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice consistencyVSAvoidallocation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments user allocation into two distinct stages: initial allocation to any available server cluster, and subsequent load-based rebalancing to optimal clusters. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple initial allocation while adding complexity only where needed for load balancing, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic load balancing by continuously monitoring server cluster workloads and redistributing users based on real-time conditions. The system transitions from static initial allocation to dynamic rebalancing, ensuring service consistency while adapting to changing server capacities and user distributions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If server systems handle millions of concurrent clients, then service capacity is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to component failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice capacityVSAvoidsystem availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prepares for potential server failures by implementing load balancing and redistribution mechanisms in advance. When servers are operational, the system maintains balanced workloads and prepares rebalancing capabilities, so that when failures occur, users can be quickly redistributed to healthy servers, maintaining system availability despite the stress of handling millions of concurrent clients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If users are distributed across multiple server clusters, then load balancing is improved, but user allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distribution efficiencyVSAvoidallocation process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The allocation process is divided into two segmented phases: initial user allocation to any available cluster using simple criteria, and subsequent load-based rebalancing using complex monitoring and redistribution algorithms. This segmentation allows the system to achieve efficient load distribution while managing allocation complexity through staged processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary user allocation to server clusters before implementing load-based rebalancing. This preliminary action establishes a baseline distribution that can be subsequently optimized without requiring complete reallocation, thereby improving load distribution efficiency while limiting the complexity of the allocation process to manageable stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If server systems operate 24/7 to serve global customers, then service availability is improved, but component failure risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidcomponent failure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements load balancing and server redundancy mechanisms in advance to cushion against component failures. By maintaining balanced workloads across multiple server clusters and preparing redistribution capabilities, the system ensures that when components fail during 24/7 operation, the impact is minimized and service availability is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts to component failures by continuously monitoring server health and redistributing users from failed servers to operational ones. This dynamic response allows the system to maintain 24/7 service availability despite the increased component failure risk inherent in continuous global operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9411653B2System and method for provisioning and load balancing user accounts on server clusters

Publication Date: 2016.08.09 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Providers of Internet based services must handle requests from many different customers. However, to make the experience simple and effective, a system for allowing a user to enter a simple Uniform Resource Locator based upon the user's identifier is provided that re-directs the user to a server cluster allocated to that user. The system is capable of periodic load re-balancing and can handle many different types of services for each user.