Research at Georgia Institute of Technology on the communication patterns of bees throws light on how Internet servers can be optimized to manage massive loads, without being overwhelmed with requests.

An excerpt from EarthTimes:

Georgia Tech researchers developed a honeybee dance-inspired communications system to help single-task Internet servers move between tasks as needed, reducing the chances of a Web site being overwhelmed with and locking out potential visitors, the news release said. When compared with the way server banks normally run, the honeybee method improved service between 4- and 25 percent in tests based on real Internet traffic.

The research focuses on the technique called Swarm Intelligence, a branch of Artificial Intelligence based on collective behavior. Led by Professor Craig Tovey, the team designed the system by recognizing that bees and Internet servers have one thing in common — limited resources to be deployed for the best results.

More information:

Boffins copy bees to boost web servers (VNUnet)

Bumblebee boogie analysis in webserver boost (ChannelRegister )

Bee Strategy Helps Servers Run More Sweetly (ScienceDaily)

The Swarm Intelligence and Internet Servers (TechnologyNewsDaily)