Patent attributes
A hierarchical server system efficiently balances the processing load thereon and for shortening the processing time therein is provided, such as a web server system. A system controller, a load balancing device, and a shared memory are provided in a multi-layer server system made of a plurality of servers. When processing implemented with a first layer server is temporarily stopped in order to acquire information needed for processing from a second layer server, process information needed to resume the processing is recorded in the shared memory. When the necessary information is sent back to the first layer server, the system controller inquires about work statuses of all first layer servers to select another first layer server to resume the processing based upon the inquiry results. The then selected first layer server then resumes the processing using the information that was sent back and the process information in the shared memory.
