Method for switching group modes in a distributed computing application

• US 20050229180A1
• Filed: 06/04/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blaze Entertainment Incorporated (iWin, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kayak Interactive Corporation
• Inventors: Ricciardi, Aleta
• Application Number:
  US11/145,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229180A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention is a method of handling groups of services where the makeup of the groups can be determined and changed while the application is running. In one embodiment a group of services switches from peer mode to coordinator cohort mode to perform a task and then switches back. This is mainly accomplished through a group proxy, which is generated at run time, and which handles interactions with groups of services on behalf of one or more clients. The group proxy, buffers calls from a client to a group when the group is unavailable because it is in transition. When the transition is complete the group proxy transmits the stored client commands to the group.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of internally switching the group mode of a group of services in order to perform a task comprising the steps of:

a grouping agent for one of the services in the group instructing the grouping agents for the other services in the group to switch to a new group mode;

all of the grouping agents in the group switching to the new group mode;

performing the task;

a grouping agent for one of the services in the group instructing the grouping agents for the other services in the group to return to the original group mode; and

all of the grouping agents in the group returning to the original group mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the group modes are peer or coordinator cohort.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the group does not appear to change group modes to its client.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein commands from a client of the group are buffered until the group returns to its original mode.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the commands are buffered by at least one of the grouping agents.

6. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method of internally switching the group mode of a group of services in order to perform a task comprising the steps of:

a grouping agent for one of the services in the group instructing the grouping agents for the other services in the group to switch to a new group mode;

all of the grouping agents in the group switching to the new group mode;

performing the task;

a grouping agent for one of the services in the group instructing the grouping agents for the other services in the group to return to the original group mode; and

all of the grouping agents in the group returning to the original group mode.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein the group modes are peer or coordinator cohort.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein the group does not appear to change group modes to its client.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein commands from a client of the group are buffered until the group returns to its original mode.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the commands are buffered by at least one of the grouping agents.

11. A computer implemented method of sending a command from a peer group of services to a service outside the group comprising the steps of:

changing the group to a coordinator cohort group with one of the services in the group acting as coordinator;

the coordinator service sending a command to the outside service;

the coordinator service receiving the command response from the outside service;

the coordinator service sharing the command response with all the other services in the group; and

returning the group to a peer group.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the group does not appear to change group modes to its client.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein communication between the services in the group is handled by a grouping agent for each service in the group.

14. The method described in claim 11 wherein commands from a client of the group are buffered while the group is a coordinator cohort group.

15. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method of sending a command from a peer group of services to a service outside the group comprising the steps of:

changing the group to a coordinator cohort group with one of the services in the group acting as coordinator;

the coordinator service sending a command to the outside service;

the coordinator service receiving the command response from the outside service;

the coordinator service sharing the command response with all the other services in the group; and

returning the group to a peer group.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the group does not appear to change group modes to its client.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein communication between the services in the group is handled by a grouping agent for each service in the group.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein commands from a client of the group are buffered while the group is a coordinator cohort group.