CPC H04L 12/2803 (2013.01) [G06F 7/58 (2013.01); G06F 7/588 (2013.01); G06F 8/71 (2013.01); G06F 9/4555 (2013.01); G06F 9/45545 (2013.01); G06F 9/4881 (2013.01); G06F 16/955 (2019.01); H04L 12/2856 (2013.01); H04L 12/4633 (2013.01); H04L 47/283 (2013.01); H04L 61/256 (2013.01); H04L 61/2575 (2013.01); H04L 61/2585 (2013.01); H04L 61/2589 (2013.01); H04L 61/2592 (2013.01); H04L 61/4511 (2022.05); H04L 61/5007 (2022.05); H04L 63/029 (2013.01); H04L 63/0272 (2013.01); H04L 63/0281 (2013.01); H04L 63/164 (2013.01); H04L 67/01 (2022.05); H04L 67/02 (2013.01); H04L 67/025 (2013.01); H04L 67/133 (2022.05); H04L 67/141 (2013.01); H04L 67/142 (2013.01); H04L 67/288 (2013.01); H04L 67/2885 (2013.01); H04L 67/56 (2022.05); H04L 67/563 (2022.05); H04L 67/568 (2022.05); H04L 67/5681 (2022.05); H04L 67/63 (2022.05); H04L 69/16 (2013.01); H04L 69/162 (2013.01); H04L 69/167 (2013.01); H04L 69/168 (2013.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.02); H04W 48/18 (2013.01); H04W 84/10 (2013.01); H04W 84/18 (2013.01); G06F 9/45558 (2013.01); G06F 2009/45591 (2013.01); G06F 2009/45595 (2013.01); H04L 2101/69 (2022.05)] | 78 Claims |
1. A method by a first server for using a group of devices and a second servers that are each connected to the Internet and are each addressable in the Internet using a respective Internet Protocol (IP) address, each of the devices in the group is configured as an intermediate device for receiving a content from a web server, and each of the devices in the group is associated with a value related to a communication performance of the respective device when serving as an intermediate device, the first server stores a list of the IP addresses of the devices in the group and the values associated with the devices in the group, the method comprising:
receiving, by the first server over the Internet from a first device that is configured as an intermediate device for receiving a content from a web server, a first message that comprises a first value related to a communication performance of the first device when serving as an intermediate device;
updating the list by adding the first device to the group of devices by adding the IP address of the first device to the stored list;
storing, by the first server, the first value;
receiving, by the first server over the Internet from a second device that is configured as an intermediate device for receiving a content from a web server, a third second message that comprises a second value related to a communication performance of the second device when serving as an intermediate device;
updating the list by adding the second device to the group of devices by adding the IP address of the second device to the stored list;
storing, by the first server, the second value;
receiving, by the first server over the Internet from a third device that is configured as an intermediate device for receiving a content from a web server, a third message that comprises a third value related to a communication performance of the third device when serving as an intermediate device;
updating the list by adding the third device to the group of devices by adding the IP address of the third device to the stored list;
storing, by the first server, the third value;
receiving, by the first server over the Internet from the second server, a fourth value;
comparing, by the first server, the received fourth value with the values associated with the devices in the group;
selecting, by the first server, a device from the group by selecting a first IP address from the list of IP addresses of the devices based on the comparing, in response to the receiving of the fourth value; and
sending, by the first server to the second server, the selected IP address of the respectively selected device.
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