Dropbox, Inc.
Centralized application-layer routing at the edge of an online application service provider network

Abstract:

Techniques for centralized application-layer routing at the edge of an online application service provider network. In one embodiment, for example, a method comprises storing data representing a directed graph; based at least on a respective cost and the respective capacity associated with directed edges in the directed graph, determining a respective edge flow value for each directed edge; based at least on the respective edge flow value for a particular directed edge that connects a first node in directed graph to a second node in the directed graph, determining a weight for a location in a data communications network represented by the second node; receiving an application-layer request message at a location in the network represented by the first node; and selecting, based at least on the weight, the location represented by the second node to which to route the application-layer request message in the network.