Service delivery network system and method

• US 20030179775A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Carolan, Jason T., Lofstrand, Mikael
• Application Number:
  US10/103,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179775A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/469
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A service delivery network is disclosed for delivering a plurality of services to users on a network. The service delivery network includes a service module having one or more service domains. Each service domain supports a service to be delivered to the users. The service module also includes a load balancing switch to access the service module and the service domains in response to a request or data packet for the service. The service delivery network can have additional service modules to support other services. The service delivery network also includes a distribution module to route communications within the service delivery network. The load balancing switch routes the packet according to a virtual internet protocol address that corresponds to the service domain.

Claims

1. A service delivery network for delivering a plurality of services, comprising:

a service module having a service domain, wherein said service domain supports a service from said plurality of services; and

a load balancing switch to provide a virtual internet protocol address for said service module, such that a packet is routed to said service domain using said virtual internet protocol address.

2. The service delivery network of claim 1, wherein said service module includes another service domain that supports another service.

3. The service delivery network of claim 1, wherein said service domain comprises at least one network attached device to support said service.

4. The service delivery network of claim 1, further comprising a distribution module coupled to said service module, wherein said distribution module routes said packet to said load balancing switch.

5. The service delivery network of claim 4, wherein said distribution module includes another load balancing switch.

6. The service delivery network of claim 1, wherein said service domain is coupled to said load balancing switch by a physical host connection switch.

7. The service delivery network of claim 1, wherein said service domain is coupled to said load balancing switch by a host connection switch comprised of virtual switches.

8. The service delivery network of claim 1, wherein said service domain has a physical address.

9. The service delivery network of claim 8, wherein physical address corresponds to said virtual internet protocol address.

10. The service delivery network of claim 1, further comprising another service module within said service delivery network, said another service module having another service domain.

11. The service delivery network of claim 1, wherein said service module comprises an integration layer, a distribution layer, and a service access layer.

12. A network for delivering a service to a user, comprising:

a service delivery network to host a plurality of services including said service, wherein said service delivery network includes a service module to support said service;

a service delivery interface to integrate a packet to be routed to said service module; and

a communications medium coupling said user and said service delivery interface, wherein said service is provided across said communications medium according to said packet.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein said service module comprises a service domain to support said service.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein said service domain comprises network appliances.

15. The network of claim 12, wherein said communications medium is the internet.

16. The network of claim 12, wherein said service delivery network includes a distribution module to route said request to said service module.

17. The network of claim 12, wherein said packet is routed to said service module according to a virtual internet protocol address.

18. The network of claim 12, wherein said service delivery network includes another service module.

19. The network of claim 12, further comprising another service delivery network, wherein said another service delivery network supports said service.

20. The network of claim 12, further comprising an access network to couple said users to said communication medium.

21. A service module configured to deliver services over a network, comprising:

a plurality of service domains to host said services, wherein said service domains comprise servers to store data and applications corresponding to said services;

a plurality of host connection switches coupled to said plurality of service domains to facilitate interaction between said service domains; and

a load balancing switch coupled to said host connection switches to route information between said plurality of service domains.

22. The service module of claim 21, wherein said load balancing switch includes a static table for receiving and routing a request for said services to said service domains.

23. The service module of claim 22, wherein said load balancing switch includes dynamic conditions for receiving and routing a request for said services to said service domains.

24. A method for delivering a service to a user over a network, comprising:

receiving a packet for said service at a service delivery network;

routing said packet to a service module within said service delivery network according to a virtual internet protocol address; and

accessing a service domain within said service module to deliver said packet.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising integrating said request at a service delivery interface coupled to said service delivery network.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said routing is performed by a distribution module within said service delivery network.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising enabling a load balancing switch coupled to said service domain to route said packet.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising translating said virtual internet protocol address to a physical address for said service domain.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said translating includes rewriting said packet with a destination address.

30. A system for delivering a service to a user over a network, comprising:

means for receiving a packet for said service at a service delivery network;

means for routing said packet to a service module within said service delivery network according to a virtual internet protocol address; and

means for accessing a service domain within said service module to deliver said packet.

31. A method for providing a service over a network, comprising:

receiving a packet for said service at a service delivery network coupled to said network;

integrating said packet at a service delivery interface coupled to said service delivery network;

routing said packet to a service module that supports said service within said service delivery network;

enabling said service from a service domain within said service module; and

delivering said service over said network from said service domain.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising allowing said packet access to said service delivery network.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising allowing said packet access to said service module.

34. A system for providing a service over a network, comprising:

means for receiving a packet for said service at a service delivery network coupled to said network;

means for integrating said packet at a service delivery interface coupled to said service delivery network;

means for routing said packet to a service module that supports said service within said service delivery network;

means for enabling said service from a service domain within said service module; and

means for delivering said service over said network from said service domain.

35. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering a service to a user over a network, the computer program product adapted when run on a computer to execute steps, including:

receiving a packet for said service at a service delivery network;

routing said packet to a service module within said service delivery network according to a virtual internet protocol address; and

accessing a service domain within said service module to deliver said packet.

36. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for providing a service over a network, the computer program product adapted when run on a computer to execute steps, including:

receiving a packet for said service at a service delivery network coupled to said network;

integrating said packet at a service delivery interface coupled to said service delivery network;

routing said packet to a service module that supports said service within said service delivery network;

enabling said service from a service domain within said service module; and

delivering said service over said network from said service domain.