JP4170649B2 - Messenger server system, method of providing messenger service, connection destination determination server in messenger service - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a server system that provides services to client computers that have accessed through a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a server system on the Internet, there is a system including a server (hereinafter referred to as a connection destination server) for connecting to a client, in addition to a main server that provides services to the client. For example, a messenger service that has become popular in recent years is that a plurality of users who have logged in to a predetermined messenger server can exchange messages in real time. In this service, a plurality of connection destination servers are provided, and a client The computer logs in to the messenger server through one of the assigned destination servers. That is, when a program for a messenger service is started on a client computer, first, a predetermined server for assigning a connection destination is accessed, and the messenger server is accessed via the connection destination server assigned by this server. Is logged in.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, in such a messenger service system, connection destination servers are assigned in order to accessing clients from the viewpoint of equalizing the load on each connection destination server. However, in order to provide a stable service to clients, it is desirable to select and assign connection destination servers that are suitable for client computers, rather than simply assigning connection destination servers in order.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to allow an appropriate connection destination server to be assigned to a client computer in a messenger server system including a plurality of connection destination servers. .
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a messenger server that provides a messenger service, a plurality of connection destination servers for logging in to the messenger server, and any one of the connection destination servers is allocated to the accessing client computer A connection destination determination server for providing a messenger service by the messenger server to the client computer via the assigned connection destination server, the connection destination determination server comprising:
A table in which identification information of an Internet service provider or identification information of a sub-network constituting the network and a correspondence relationship with any one connection server are recorded;
Acquisition means for acquiring location information representing the location of the accessing client computer on the network;
The Internet service provider or subnetwork to which the client computer belongs is determined based on the acquired location information, and the determined Internet service provider or subnetwork is determined from the plurality of connection destination servers with reference to the table. Allocating means for allocating the connection destination server associated with the identification information to the client computer;
Transmitting means for transmitting identification information of the assigned connection destination server to the client computer ;
For each Internet service provider or sub-network, the access frequency from the client computer belonging to the Internet service provider or sub-network is counted, and each count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value for each connection destination server periodically. The distance on the network to the Internet service provider or the sub-network is measured, and based on the measurement result, the table shows the distance on the network for each Internet service provider or sub-network whose count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Table updating means for updating so that the shortest connection destination server is associated .
[0006]
According to the present invention, based on the location information indicating the location of the client computer, a connection destination server suitable for the client computer is assigned, and the identification information is transmitted to the client computer. Based on the transmitted identification information, the client computer can access the assigned connection destination server and receive a service from the messenger server via this connection destination server. Thus, according to the present invention, in the messenger service system comprising a plurality of Access Port server can assign the appropriate destination server to the client computer.
[0008]
Further, the connection destination determination server counts the access frequency from the client computer belonging to the Internet service provider or subnetwork for each Internet service provider or subnetwork, and periodically counts the count to each connection destination server. The distance on the network to each Internet service provider or subnetwork whose number is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is measured, and based on the measurement result, the table is stored in each Internet service provider or subnetwork whose count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. since for network includes a table updating unit distance on the network to update such that the connected server is the shortest is associated, connected to the Internet service provider or subnetwork It is possible to maintain the table associating the server in the proper state.
[0009]
In addition, the present invention includes a messenger server that provides a messenger service, and a plurality of connection destination servers for logging in to the messenger server. In the server system for providing a messenger service by the messenger server, a connection destination determination server in the messenger service for assigning the connection destination server to the client computer,
A table in which identification information of an Internet service provider or identification information of a sub-network constituting the network and a correspondence relationship with any one connection server are recorded;
Acquisition means for acquiring location information representing the location of the accessing client computer on the network;
The Internet service provider or subnetwork to which the client computer belongs is determined based on the acquired location information, and the determined Internet service provider or subnetwork is determined from the plurality of connection destination servers with reference to the table. Allocating means for allocating the connection destination server associated with the identification information to the client computer;
Transmitting means for transmitting identification information of the assigned connection destination server to the client computer;
For each Internet service provider or sub-network, the access frequency from the client computer belonging to the Internet service provider or sub-network is counted, and each count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value for each connection destination server periodically. The distance on the network to the Internet service provider or the sub-network is measured, and based on the measurement result, the table shows the distance on the network for each Internet service provider or sub-network whose count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Table updating means for updating so that the shortest connection destination server is associated .
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, a messenger server 10, a connection destination determination server 12, a plurality of connection destination servers 14, and a client computer 16 are connected to each other via the Internet 18. Among these, the connection destination server 14 is provided in each of the sub-networks 18a, 18b, and 18c managed by the Internet service provider (ISP). In addition, sufficient communication performance is guaranteed for the communication path between the messenger server 10 and each connection destination server 14.
[0011]
In this embodiment, the user can use the messenger service by accessing the messenger server 10 from each client computer 16. Here, an outline of the messenger service will be described. A user who intends to use the messenger service performs user registration in advance to obtain a messenger account and a password, and obtains a program dedicated to the messenger service (hereinafter referred to as messenger program 20) by downloading or the like and installs it on the client computer 16. Keep it. When the messenger program 20 is activated in the client computer 16, access to the messenger server 10 is performed according to the procedure described later, and user login is permitted after user authentication. When the login to the messenger server 10 is permitted, the messenger program 20 establishes a connection with the messenger server 10 by a predetermined protocol, and thereafter can exchange messages in real time with other users who are logged in. become.
[0012]
In the system of the present embodiment, the connection between the client computer 16 and the messenger server 10 is performed via any one connection destination server 14. The connection destination determination server 12 has a role of determining which connection destination server 14 is connected to the messenger server 10 via the client computer 16. For this purpose, the connection destination determination server 12 is provided with a connection destination determination table 30.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the connection destination determination table 30. As shown in the figure, in the connection destination determination table 30, there is a correspondence relationship between the ISP or network address to which the access source client computer 16 belongs, the identification information of the connection destination server 14, and the IP address of the connection destination server 14. It is recorded. The connection destination determination table 30 is configured so that the connection destination server 14 with the shortest network distance corresponds to each ISP or network address. For example, the connection destination server 14 provided in the network 18a is associated with the network address of the subnetwork 18a managed by a certain ISP. Then, as described below, the connection destination determination server 12 obtains the ISP (or the network address if it does not belong to the ISP) from the IP address of the access source client computer 16, and refers to the connection destination determination table 30. The connection destination server 14 to be assigned to the client computer 16 is determined.
[0014]
FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing from when the messenger program 20 is activated in the client computer 16 until the messenger server 10 is accessed. As shown in the figure, when the messenger program 20 is activated on the client computer 16, first, an access request is sent to the connection destination determination server 12 (S100). Upon receiving the access request from the client computer 16, the connection destination determination server 12 acquires the IP address of the client computer 16 from the transmitted packet, and the ISP to which the client computer 16 belongs (or which ISP is the IP address). If it does not belong to the network address, the network address) is determined (S102). Then, referring to the connection destination determination table 30, the connection destination server 14 corresponding to the determined ISP or network address is determined (S104), and the IP address of the connection destination server 14 is transmitted to the client computer 16 (S106). .
[0015]
When the client computer 16 receives the IP address of the connection destination server 14 from the connection destination determination server 12 (S108), the client computer 16 sets the IP address as the destination (that is, to the connection destination server 14 assigned by the connection destination determination server 12). A login request is sent (S110). The connection destination server 14 that has received the login request from the client computer 16 transmits the login request to the messenger server 10 (S112). When the messenger server 10 receives the login request from the connection destination server 14, the messenger server 10 sends a login screen to the connection destination server 14, and the login screen is transmitted from the connection destination server 14 to the client computer 16 (S118). In response to this, a login screen is displayed on the client computer 16 (S120). When authentication information such as an account or a password is input to the login screen, the authentication information is sent to the connection destination server 14 (S122). The message is transmitted to the messenger server 10 via the connection destination server 14 (S124). The messenger server 10 performs user authentication processing based on this authentication information (S126). If the user authentication is performed correctly, the messenger service process is subsequently performed between the messenger server 10 and the client computer 16 (S128, S130), and all exchanges of information with the client computer 16 at that time are connected. This is done via the server 14.
[0016]
Next, update processing of the connection destination determination table 30 will be described. The connection destination determination server 12 counts the access frequency for each ISP or network address of the access source. Then, periodically, each connection destination server 14 is caused to measure a distance on the network (that is, the number of hops; hereinafter referred to as a network distance) to the ISP or network address having a high access frequency by, for example, a traceroute command. Then, the connection destination determination server 12 updates the connection destination determination table 30 so that the connection destination server 14 with the smallest network distance is associated with each ISP or network address based on the measurement result of the network distance. In this way, the connection destination determination table is updated, so that the contents are always properly maintained.
[0017]
When creating the connection destination determination table 30 at the time of starting this system, for example, for each ISP and network address, the network distance to each connection destination server 14 is measured in the same manner as the above update process, The connection destination determination table 30 can be automatically created by associating the connection destination server 14 with the shortest distance based on the measurement result.
[0018]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the connection destination determination table 30 is configured such that the connection destination server 14 with the shortest network distance is associated with each ISP or network address. Then, the connection destination determination server 12 determines the connection destination server 14 with reference to the connection destination determination table 30 based on the ISP or network address to which the access source client computer 16 belongs. For this reason, the connection destination server 14 having the shortest network distance is assigned to the client computer 16, and the service is provided from the messenger server 10 via the connection destination server 14. For example, a client computer 16 receiving an Internet connection service from a certain ISP receives a messenger service via a connection destination server 14 provided corresponding to the same ISP. Therefore, according to the system of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a stable service that is hardly affected by a failure on the route from the messenger server 10 to the client computer 16.
[0019]
Further, as described above, the connection destination determination table 30 is automatically updated periodically based on the network distance between each connection destination server 14 and each ISP or network address. For this reason, even when the network state of the Internet 18 fluctuates, the connection destination determination table 30 can be properly maintained. In addition, since the update processing of the connection destination determination table 30 is performed for the ISP or network address having a high access frequency, more effective allocation of the connection destination server 14 can be realized as the entire system. it can.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the messenger server system comprising a plurality of connection destination server to log in to the messenger server, it is possible to assign the appropriate destination server to the client computer. For this reason, it is possible to provide a more stable messenger service to the client computer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a connection destination determination table.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing from when a messenger program is activated in a client computer until access to a messenger server is performed;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Messenger server (first server)
12 Connection destination determination server (third server)
14 Destination server (second server)
16 Client computer 18 Internet 20 Messenger program 30 Connection destination determination table

Claims (3)

A messenger server that provides a messenger service, a plurality of connection destination servers for logging in to the messenger server, and a connection destination determination server for assigning any one of the connection destination servers to the accessing client computer A messenger server system for providing a messenger service by the messenger server to the client computer via the assigned connection destination server, the connection destination determination server comprising:
A table in which identification information of an Internet service provider or identification information of a sub-network constituting the network and a correspondence relationship with any one connection server are recorded;
Acquisition means for acquiring location information representing the location of the accessing client computer on the network;
The Internet service provider or subnetwork to which the client computer belongs is determined based on the acquired location information, and the determined Internet service provider or subnetwork is determined from the plurality of connection destination servers with reference to the table. Allocating means for allocating the connection destination server associated with the identification information to the client computer;
Transmitting means for transmitting identification information of the assigned connection destination server to the client computer ;
For each Internet service provider or sub-network, the access frequency from the client computer belonging to the Internet service provider or sub-network is counted, and each count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value for each connection destination server periodically. The distance on the network to the Internet service provider or subnetwork is measured, and based on the measurement result, the table is used to determine the distance on the network for each Internet service provider or subnetwork whose count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Table updating means for updating so that the connection destination server with the shortest time is associated with the messenger server system. A messenger server that provides a messenger service, a plurality of connection destination servers for logging in to the messenger server, and a connection destination determination server for assigning any one of the connection destination servers to the accessing client computer A method for providing a messenger service by the messenger server to the client computer via the assigned connection destination server, the connection destination computer comprising:
Obtaining location information representing the location of the accessing client computer on the network;
Based on the acquired information, the Internet service provider or subnetwork to which the client computer belongs is determined, the identification information of the Internet service provider or the identification information of the subnetwork constituting the network, and any one of the connection servers Selecting the connection destination server associated with the determined identification information of the Internet service provider or subnetwork from the plurality of connection destination servers with reference to the table in which the correspondence relationship is recorded;
Notifying the client computer of identification information of the selected connection destination server;
For each Internet service provider or sub-network, the access frequency from the client computer belonging to the Internet service provider or sub-network is counted, and each count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value for each connection destination server periodically. The distance on the network to the Internet service provider or subnetwork is measured, and based on the measurement result, the table is used to determine the distance on the network for each Internet service provider or subnetwork whose count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. and steps that but updated to the connected server is the shortest is associated,
A method comprising the steps of: A messenger server providing a messenger service and a plurality of connection destination servers for logging in to the messenger server, and the messenger service by the messenger server via any one connection destination server to the accessing client computer A connection destination determination server in a messenger service for allocating the connection destination server to the client computer,
A table in which identification information of an Internet service provider or identification information of a sub-network constituting the network and a correspondence relationship with any one connection server are recorded;
Acquisition means for acquiring location information representing the location of the accessing client computer on the network;
The Internet service provider or subnetwork to which the client computer belongs is determined based on the acquired location information, and the determined Internet service provider or subnetwork is determined from the plurality of connection destination servers with reference to the table. Allocating means for allocating the connection destination server associated with the identification information to the client computer;
Transmitting means for transmitting identification information of the assigned connection destination server to the client computer;
For each Internet service provider or sub-network, the access frequency from the client computer belonging to the Internet service provider or sub-network is counted, and each count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value for each connection destination server periodically. The distance on the network to the Internet service provider or the sub-network is measured, and based on the measurement result, the table shows the distance on the network for each Internet service provider or sub-network whose count is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Table updating means for updating the connection destination server that is the shortest to be associated with the connection destination determination server.

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