System and method for providing network services using redundant resources
First Claim
1. A system for providing a network service to users, comprising:
- a first data center for providing the network service at a first geographic location, including;
first active resources configured for active use;
first standby resources configured for standby use in the event that active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
first logic for managing access to resources;
a second data center for providing the network service at a second geographic location, including;
second active resources configured for active use;
second standby resources configured for standby use in the event that active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
second logic for managing access to resources;
wherein the first active resources include the same resources as the second standby resources, and wherein the first standby resources include the same resources as the second active resources, and wherein, the first logic is configured to;
assess a needed resource for use by a user coupled to the first data center;
determine whether the needed resource is contained within the first active resources or the first standby resources of the first data center;
provide the needed resource from the first active resources if the needed resource is contained therein;
provide the needed resource from the second active resources of the second data center if the needed resource is contained within the standby resources of the first data center; and
wherein, the second logic is configured to;
assess a needed resource for use by a user coupled to the second data center;
determine whether the needed resource is contained with the second active resources or the second standby resources of the second data center;
provide the needed resource from the second active resources if the needed resource is contained therein; and
provide the needed resource from the first active resources of the first data center if the needed resource is contained within the second standby resources of the second data center.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing a network service includes at least first and second data centers containing the same functionality and data content. The first data center designates a first group of resources as active, and another group of resources as standby resources. In a similar, but reciprocal, manner, the second data center designates a first group of resources as active, and another group of resources as standby resources. Users coupled to the first and second data centers may access active resources located in both the first and second data centers. In the event of a partial or complete failure of data center resources, the standby resources are activated and used to service user requests. In one embodiment, the data centers include a three-tier structure including a web access tier, an application logic tier, and a database management tier.
52 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for providing a network service to users, comprising:
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a first data center for providing the network service at a first geographic location, including;
first active resources configured for active use;
first standby resources configured for standby use in the event that active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
first logic for managing access to resources;
a second data center for providing the network service at a second geographic location, including;
second active resources configured for active use;
second standby resources configured for standby use in the event that active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
second logic for managing access to resources;
wherein the first active resources include the same resources as the second standby resources, and wherein the first standby resources include the same resources as the second active resources, and wherein, the first logic is configured to;
assess a needed resource for use by a user coupled to the first data center;
determine whether the needed resource is contained within the first active resources or the first standby resources of the first data center;
provide the needed resource from the first active resources if the needed resource is contained therein;
provide the needed resource from the second active resources of the second data center if the needed resource is contained within the standby resources of the first data center; and
wherein, the second logic is configured to;
assess a needed resource for use by a user coupled to the second data center;
determine whether the needed resource is contained with the second active resources or the second standby resources of the second data center;
provide the needed resource from the second active resources if the needed resource is contained therein; and
provide the needed resource from the first active resources of the first data center if the needed resource is contained within the second standby resources of the second data center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method system for providing a network service to users, comprising:
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in a system including first and second data centers located and first and second geographic locations, respectively, coupling a user to the first data center, wherein;
the first data center includes first active resources configured for active use; and
first standby resources configured for standby use in the event that active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
the second data center includes second active resources configured for active use; and
second standby resources configured for standby use in the event that active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
assessing a resource needed by the user, defining a needed resource;
determining whether the needed resource is contained with the first active resources or the first standby resources of the first data center;
providing the needed resource from the first active resources if the needed resource is contained therein; and
providing the needed resource from the second active resources of the second data center if the needed resource is contained within the standby resources of the first data center, wherein the first active resources include the same resources as the second standby resources, and wherein the first standby resources include the same resources as the second active resources. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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19. A system for providing a network service to users via a wide area network, comprising:
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a first data center for providing the network service at a first geographic location, including;
a first data storage containing a first database;
a first network access tier including logic for managing a user'"'"'s access to the first data center;
a first application tier including application logic for administering the network service; and
a first database tier including logic for managing access to the first database;
wherein the first database includes;
first active data resources configured for active use;
first standby data resources configured for standby use in the event that the needed resources cannot be obtained from another source;
a second data center for providing the network service at a second geographic location, including;
a second data storage including a second database;
a second network access tier including logic for managing a user'"'"'s access to the second data center;
a second application tier including application logic for administering the network service; and
a second database tier including logic for managing access to the second database;
wherein the second database includes;
second active data resources configured for active use;
second standby data resources configured for standby use in the event that the needed resources cannot be obtained from another source;
wherein the first active resources include the same resources as the second standby resources, and wherein the first standby resources include the same resources as the second active resources, and wherein, the first data center is configured to;
assess a needed resource for use by a user coupled to the first data center;
determine whether the needed resource is contained within the first active resources or the first standby resources of the first data center;
provide the needed resource from the first active resources if the needed resource is contained therein;
provide the needed resource from the second active resources of the second data center if the needed resource is contained within the standby resources of the first data center;
and wherein, the second data center is configured to;
assess a needed resource for use by a user coupled to the second data center;
determine whether the needed resource is contained with the second active resources or the second standby resources of the second data center;
provide the needed resource from the second active resources if the needed resource is contained therein; and
provide the needed resource from the first active resources of the first data center if the needed resource is contained within the standby resources of the second data center.
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22. A method for providing a network service to users via a wide area network, comprising:
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in a system including first and second data centers located and first and second geographic locations, respectively, coupling a user to the first data center, wherein;
the first data center includes;
first active resources configured for active use; and
first standby resources configured for standby use in the event active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
the second data center includes;
second active resources configured for active use; and
second standby resources configured for standby use in the event active resources cannot be obtained from another source;
assessing a resource needed by the user, defining a needed resource;
determine whether the needed resource is contained with the first active resources or the first standby resources of the first data center;
providing the needed resource from the first active resources if the needed resource is contained therein;
performing steps (a) and (b) if the needed resource is contained in the first standby resources;
(a) routing a request for the needed resource to the second data center via an inter-center network;
(b) providing the needed resource from the second active resources of the second data center;
wherein the first active resources include the same resources as the second standby resources, and wherein the first standby resources include the same resources as the second active resources. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification