# How Distributed Servers Find Data Using Location Pointers > A system that uses a network of specialized servers to track where specific data is located, allowing computers to find information by asking a server for its address rather than searching every machine. - **Patent:** US 7233978 - **Original title:** Method and apparatus for managing location information in a network separate from the data to which the location information pertains - **Owner:** Econnectix LLC - **Granted:** 2007 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 119 - **Field:** telecommunications, software, consumer_electronics ## What it does This patent describes a way to organize data across multiple servers so that finding a specific piece of information is fast and efficient. Instead of storing the actual data on every server, the system uses 'location servers' that hold an identifier for an entity and a 'location string'—essentially a pointer or address—that tells the user where the actual data resides. When a query comes in, the server checks its own records; if it doesn't have the answer, it can send a 'redirect message' to point the user toward a different server that likely has the information. This creates a scalable, hierarchical network where servers can share the load of finding data across a massive, distributed system. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover the actual data content itself, only the mechanism for storing and retrieving the location of that data. - Does not cover centralized databases where all information is stored on a single machine. - Does not cover physical GPS tracking or real-time geographic mapping of mobile devices. ## The clever bit The system uses a 'redirect message' logic that treats location servers like a distributed phone book; if one server doesn't have your number, it doesn't just fail—it tells you exactly which other directory to check. ## Real-world examples 1. Distributed hash tables in peer-to-peer file sharing networks 2. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) that route users to the nearest server 3. Large-scale enterprise data indexing systems ## Why it matters This technology addresses the 'needle in a haystack' problem for large-scale networks. By decoupling the location of data from the data itself, it enables systems to grow (scale) without needing a single, massive master server that would eventually become a bottleneck. It is a foundational concept for how modern distributed computing and content delivery networks manage traffic. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Distributed Servers Find Data Using Location Pointers cover? A system that uses a network of specialized servers to track where specific data is located, allowing computers to find information by asking a server for its address rather than searching every machine. ### Who owns patent US 7233978? Econnectix LLC owns this patent, granted in 2007. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 7233978 cited by? This patent has been cited by 119 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology addresses the 'needle in a haystack' problem for large-scale networks. By decoupling the location of data from the data itself, it enables systems to grow (scale) without needing a single, massive master server that would eventually become a bottleneck. It is a foundational concept for how modern distributed computing and content delivery networks manage traffic. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover the actual data content itself, only the mechanism for storing and retrieving the location of that data. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7233978/method-and-apparatus-for-managing-location-information-in-a-network-separate-from-the-data-to-which-the-location-information-pertains **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US7233978 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Amazon Delivers Content Faster Using Local Servers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9332078/facebook-memories) — Amazon's 2016 patent describes a system for breaking down digital content into smaller pieces and storing them on servers located near users to speed up downloads and reduce network traffic. - [How Servers Combine Global and Local Content for Personalized Web Displays](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6122658/custom-localized-information-in-a-networked-server-for-display-to-an-end-user) — A 1997 Microsoft patent describing how a server can mix general content with specific local details to create a personalized experience for users based on their location or demographics. - [How Load Balancers Route Web Traffic Based on Specific Content](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5774660/world-wide-web-server-with-delayed-resource-binding-for-resource-based-load-balancing-on-a-distributed-resource-multi-node-network) — A method for web servers to route user requests to specific machines based on which files they store, rather than just blindly balancing traffic across all servers. - [How DNS Servers Route Web Traffic to the Least Busy Server](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6178160/load-balancing-of-client-connections-across-a-network-using-server-based-algorithms) — A method for balancing web traffic by having servers report their current workload to a DNS server, which then directs new users to the fastest available machine. - [How to Send Data Streams Independently Without Connection Overload](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7904576/reliable-datagram-via-independent-source-destination-resources) — A method for sending multiple streams of data between devices using independent, reliable paths that keep data in the correct order without needing a constant connection.