Method and apparatus for asynchronous information transactions

• US 20010054108A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Lincoln, Adrian David, Debney, Charlie William
• Granted Patent: US 9,602,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/52 Multiprotocol routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0478 applying multiple layers of encryption, e.g. nested tunnels or encrypting the content with a first key and then with at least a second key cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements using a plurality of keys or algorithms H04L9/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring

Abstract

A method of responding to an information request involved in an asynchronous data transaction is described. An information request is produced in a client device and then wrapped in one or more layers to produce a request package. The request package is transmitted over a distributed network comprising a plurality of processing nodes. Layers are added to and/or removed from the package at one or more of the nodes. The package is processed at its final destination, and a response package is generated for transmission back to the client device via the distributed network.

Claims

1. A data package for holding an information request and corresponding response data, comprising

a plurality of layers, the layers including a routing layer and a client request layer respectively containing routing information and an information request,

the package being transmittable over a distributed network including a plurality of processing nodes and each layer being interpretable by only a subset of the processing nodes.

2. A package according to

claim 1

, wherein the layers further include at least one or more layer selected from a group containing client device information, user identification information, and application identification information.

3. A distributed network including a plurality of processing nodes each operative to interpret at least a respective one of the layers of the package of

claim 1

and to add and/or remove layers before passing the package to another one of the nodes.

4. Apparatus for responding to an information request, comprising means for providing an information request in a client device,

wrapping means for wrapping the information request in one or more layers to produce a request package,

transmitting means for transmitting the request package over a distributed network comprising a plurality of processing nodes,

means for adding and/or removing layers from the package at one or more of the nodes,

processing means for processing the package at its final destination, and

means for generating a response package for transmission back to the client device via the distributed network.

5. Apparatus according to

claim 4

, wherein the means for generating the response package generates it to include said information request.

6. A method of responding to an information request, comprising the steps of providing an information request in a client device,

wrapping the information request in one or more layers to produce a request package,

transmitting the request package over a distributed network comprising a plurality of processing nodes,

adding and/or removing layers to or from the package at one or more of the nodes,

processing the package at its final destination, and

generating a response package for transmission back to the client device via the distributed network.