1. A communications system comprising:
a database for storing problem magnitudes relating to failed attempts at accessing servers using connection engines; and
an intelligent routing engine operative with the database for querying the database and delaying any further attempts at accessing the server when the problem magnitude exceeds a predetermined threshold.
2. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent routing engine is operative for delaying any reattempts at accessing a server until a problem magnitude returns to below a predetermined threshold.
3. A communications system according to claim 2, wherein any delay in reattempting access to the server is a function of a preset rate of decay of a problem magnitude.
4. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said database includes data relating to a current problem magnitude for a failed access to a server that is added to a current exponentially decayed entry in the database.
5. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said database includes data relating to a problem magnitude versus time for any server and connection engine pair.
6. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein a problem magnitude is assigned for an error based on network failures.
7. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein a problem magnitude is assigned for an error based on failures unrelated to a network failure.
8. A communications system according to claim 7, wherein any failures unrelated to a network failure include an incorrect password andor poorly formed request.
9. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent routing engine comprises a proxy server.
10. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent routing engine is operative for accessing a server using a POP, IMAP or httpmail protocol.
11. A communications system comprising:
a plurality of connection engines that can be used by a client for accessing a server of a server on an Internet Protocol (IP) network, wherein said connection engines are distributed among a plurality of subnets andor IP addresses;
a database for storing a problem magnitude versus time relating to a particular connection engine and server after attempts had been made to access servers using the connection engines and problem magnitudes had been assigned to failures in accessing the servers; and
an intelligent routing engine operative with the database for selecting a connection engine with minimum problems when a particular server is to be accessed based on stored data within the database.
12. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein said intelligent routing engine is operative for delaying any reattempts at accessing a server until a problem magnitude returns to below a predetermined threshold.
13. A communications system according to claim 12, wherein any delay in reattempting access to a server is a function of a preset rate of decay of a problem magnitude.
14. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein said database includes data relating to a current problem magnitude for a failed access to a server that is added to a current exponentially decayed entry in the database.
15. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein said database includes data relating to a problem magnitude versus time for any server and connection engine pair.
16. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein a problem magnitude is assigned for an error based on network failures.
17. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein a problem magnitude is assigned for an error based on failures unrelated to a network failure.
18. A communications system according to claim 17, wherein any failures unrelated to a network failure include an incorrect password andor poorly formed request.
19. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein said intelligent routing engine comprises a proxy server.
20. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein said intelligent routing engine is operative for accessing the server using POP, IMAP or httpmail protocol.
21. A method of accessing a server of a server on an Internet Protocol (IP) network comprising the steps of:
attempting access to a server using a first connection engine;
assigning a problem magnitude if the attempt at accessing the server has failed; and
delaying any further attempts at accessing the server when the problem magnitude exceeds a predetermined threshold.
22. A method according to claim 21, and further comprising the step of delaying any reattempts at accessing the server until the problem magnitude returns to below a predetermined threshold.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the delay in reattempting access to the server is a function of a preset rate of decay of the problem magnitude.
24. A method according to claim 21, and further comprising the step of maintaining a database of failed attempts at accessing the server.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein a current problem magnitude for a failed access to a server is added to a current exponentially decayed entry in the database along with a time stamp.
26. A method according to claim 24, and further comprising the step of storing in the database the problem magnitude versus time for any server and connection engine pair.
27. A method according to claim 24, and further comprising the step of tracking the magnitude of failure based on the problem magnitude of failed attempts stored within the database.
28. A method according to claim 21, and further comprising the step of assigning a problem magnitude for an error based on network failures.
29. A method according to claim 21, and further comprising the step of assigning a problem magnitude for an error based on failures unrelated to a network failure.
30. A method according to claim 29, wherein a failure unrelated to a network failure includes an incorrect password andor poorly formed request.
31. A method according to claim 21, and further comprising the step of making a service request to the connection engine using a proxy engine.
32. A method according to claim 31, and further comprising the step of making a service request using a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
33. A method according to claim 31, and further comprising the step of attempting access to a server using a POP, IMAP, or httpmail protocol.
34. A method according to claim 21, and further comprising the step of choosing a second connection engine and attempting access to the server after failing access with the first connection engine.
35. A method of accessing a server of a server on an Internet Protocol (IP) network comprising the steps of:
distributing connection engines over multiple subnets andor multiple IP addresses;
attempting access to servers using the connection engines;
assigning problem magnitudes to failures in accessing any servers;
storing the problem magnitude versus time relating to a particular connection engine and server within a database; and
choosing a connection engine having minimum problems when a particular server is to be accessed based on the data stored within the database.
36. A method according to claim 35, and further comprising the step of distributing the connection engines over multiple servers.
37. A method according to claim 35, wherein a current problem magnitude for a failed access to a server is added to a current exponentially decayed entry in the database along with a time stamp.
38. A method according to claim 35, and further comprising the step of terminating any further attempts at accessing a server using a first connection engine if a problem magnitude exceeds a predetermined threshold.
39. A method according to claim 38, and further comprising the step of delaying any reattempts at accessing the server until a problem magnitude returns to below a predetermined threshold.
40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the delay in reattempting access to the server is a function of a preset rate of decay of the problem magnitude.
41. A method according to claim 35, and further comprising the step of assigning a problem magnitude for an error based on network failures.
42. A method according to claim 35, and further comprising the step of assigning a problem magnitude for an error based on failures unrelated to a network failure.
43. A method according to claim 42, wherein a failure unrelated to a network failure includes an incorrect password andor poorly formed request.
44. A method according to claim 35, and further comprising the step of making a service request to a connection engine using a proxy engine.
45. A method according to claim 44, and further comprising the step of making a service request using a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
46. A method according to claim 44, and further comprising the step of attempting access to the server using POP, IMAP, or httpmail protocol.
47. A method according to claim 35, and further comprising the step of choosing a second connection engine and attempting access to the server after attempting access to the server with the first connection engine has failed.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A fluid dispenser member comprising:
a body (1) for fastening on a reservoir opening (61), the body defining a fluid inlet (16) causing the reservoir to communicate with the inside of the body;
a pusher (2) that is axially displaceable towards and away from the body between a rest position and a depressed position, the pusher forming a fluid dispenser orifice (24); and
a flexible part (3) connecting the body to the pusher, the flexible part forming return spring means (35) urging the pusher towards the rest position, the flexible part forming an outlet valve moving member (38) co-operating with a seat (22) formed by the pusher, the flexible part having support means (33) engaged with the body to mount the flexible part securely on the body, the flexible part having anchor means (37) engaged with the pusher to secure the flexible part to the pusher, the support means being surrounded by the anchor means, and the flexible part including an elastically deformable portion (34) connecting the support means to the anchor means;
wherein the elastically deformable portion (34) constitutes both the return spring means (35) and the outlet valve moving member (38); and
wherein the outlet valve moving member and its seat are annular in shape, the outlet valve moving member surrounding the seat from the outside.
2. A dispenser member according to claim 1, in which the outlet valve moving member is radially deformable outwards from its seat between the rest position and the depressed position.
3. A dispenser member according to claim 1, in which the return spring means comprise an annular ring (35) in the form of an upside-down dome.
4. A dispenser member according to claim 1, in which the deformable portion forms a corolla shape (34) that extends outwards around the support means towards the anchor means, the corolla shape presenting a section in the form of a siphon or of a prone swan neck.
5. A dispenser member according to claim 4, in which the corolla shape has an inner first section (35) that extends radially outwards, being upwardly curved, and an outer second section (36) connected to the outside of the first section and extending radially outwards forming a downwardly-directed bend.
6. A dispenser member according to claim 5, in which the outlet valve moving member is formed at the junction between the first and second sections.
7. A dispenser member according to claim 5, in which the support means are formed inside the first section and the anchor means are formed outside the second section.
8. A dispenser member according to claim 1, in which the flexible part also forms an inlet valve moving member (31) elastically urged by resilient tabs (32) against an inlet valve seat (17).
9. A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir (6) and a dispenser member according to claim 1.
10. A fluid dispenser comprising:
a reservoir having an opening;
a dispenser member comprising:
a body fastened to the reservoir opening, the body defining a fluid inlet communicating the reservoir to an inside of the body;
a pusher axially displaceable towards and away from the body between a rest position and a depressed position, the pusher forming a fluid dispenser orifice, the pusher further comprising a seat; and
a flexible part connecting the body to the pusher, the flexible part comprising a fastener engaged with the body that secures the flexible part to the body, the flexible part comprising an anchor engaged with the pusher that secures the flexible part to the pusher, the fastener surrounded by the anchor, and the flexible part comprising an elastically deformable portion that connects the fastener to the anchor means, the elastically deformable portion constituting both a return spring urging the pusher towards the rest position and an outlet valve moving member co-operating with the seat of the pusher; and
the elastically deformable portion is in a form of a prone swan neck such that the outlet valve moving member separates from the seat of the pusher by moving radially outwards.
11. The fluid dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the outlet valve moving member is a segment of the return spring and urges the pusher towards the rest position.
12. A fluid dispenser member comprising:
a body for fastening on a reservoir opening, the body defining a fluid inlet causing the reservoir to communicate with the inside of the body;
a pusher that is axially displaceable towards and away from the body between a rest position and a depressed position, the pusher forming a fluid dispenser orifice; and
a flexible part connecting the body to the pusher, the flexible part forming return spring means urging the pusher towards the rest position, the flexible part forming an outlet valve moving member co-operating with a seat formed by the pusher, the flexible part having support means engaged with the body to mount the flexible part securely on the body, the flexible part having anchor means engaged with the pusher to secure the flexible part to the pusher, the support means being surrounded by the anchor means, and the flexible part including an elastically deformable portion connecting the support means to the anchor means;
wherein the elastically deformable portion constitutes both the return spring means and the outlet valve moving member; and
wherein the outlet valve moving member is radially deformable outwards from its seat between the rest position and the depressed position.
13. The dispenser member according to claim 12, wherein the return spring means comprise an annular ring in the form of an upside-down dome.
14. The dispenser member according to claim 12, wherein the deformable portion forms a corolla shape that extends outwards around the support means towards the anchor means, the corolla shape presenting a section in the form of a siphon or of a prone swan neck.
15. The dispenser member according to claim 14, wherein the corolla shape has an inner first section that extends radially outwards, being upwardly curved, and an outer second section connected to the outside of the first section and extending radially outwards forming a downwardly-directed bend.
16. The dispenser member according to claim 15, wherein the outlet valve moving member is formed at the junction between the first and second sections.
17. The dispenser member according to claim 15, wherein the support means are formed inside the first section and the anchor means are formed outside the second section.
18. The dispenser member according to claim 12, wherein the flexible part also forms an inlet valve moving member elastically urged by resilient tabs against an inlet valve seat.
19. A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir and a dispenser member according to claim 12.
20. A dispenser member according to claim 12, in which the outlet valve moving member and its seat are annular in shape, the outlet valve moving member surrounding the seat from the outside.