Method for optimally routing specific service in network, and server and routing node used in the network

• US 20060029076A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Namihira, Daisuke, Terasaki, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/026 Details of "hello" or keep-alive messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Information (service information) about service contents provided by servers is registered or updated by each of routing nodes by exchanging said information through use of a routing protocol used in controlling a path among the routing nodes. The routing node selectively changes address information about a service access request on the basis of the service information owned by the routing node, to thus route the service access request to an optimal destination. Thereby, concentration of load to a specific service can be efficiently dispersed.

Claims

1. A method for optimally routing a specific service in a network having a plurality of servers and a plurality of routing nodes which route service access requests to said servers in accordance with address information assigned to said service access requests, said method comprising:

registering and updating service information pertaining to service contents provided by said server at each routing node by means of exchanging said service information through use of a routing protocol used in controlling a path among said routing nodes; and

each of said routing nodes selectively changing address information about said service access request on the basis of said service information owned by said routing node, to thus route said service access request to an optimal address.

2. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein said service information which includes a service identifier showing a service type provided by said server is registered or updated in each of said routing nodes through use of said routing protocol, and

each of said routing node routes said service access request for the every service type on the basis of said service identifier.

3. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 2, wherein a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is used as said service identifier.

4. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein said server notifies said routing node connected to said server of a service operating status of said server, by means of a service operation status notification message;

said routing node updates said service information owned by said routing node according to a service operation status notified by means of said service operation status notification message; and

an update of said service information is reflected on said respective routing nodes in said network by means of said routing protocol.

5. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein said server transmits a service update message to said routing node connected to said server, every time said service contents provided by said server are updated;

said routing node deletes registration of said service information about said service contents when said routing node does not receive said service update message from said server for a predetermined period of time; and

deletion of said service information is transmitted to and reflected on respective routing nodes in the network by means of said routing protocol.

6. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 5, wherein, even when said service update message is not received for said predetermined period of time, said routing node maintains registration of service information about service contents which are objects of non-updating.

7. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 4, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said server for providing identical service contents, said master server periodically notifies a routing node connected to said master server of said service operation status notification message;

when said routing node determines, based on said service operation status notification message, that said master server has stayed inactive for a predetermined period of time, registration of said service information about said mirror server is deleted, and deletion of said service information is transmitted to and reflected on said respective routing nodes in said network by means of said routing protocol.

8. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein each of said routing nodes monitor the operation status of another routing node by monitoring receipt of dead/alive ascertainment information to be periodically received from said other routing node, through use of said routing protocol;

and

when said other routing node is ascertained to be inactive, service information about said inactive other routing node among pieces of service information owned by said routing node is deleted, and deletion of said service information is transmitted to and reflected on each routing node in said network by means of said routing protocol.

9. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said server for providing identical service contents, said mirror server transmits an access request used for updating service contents provided by said mirror server to a routing node connected to said mirror server, and said routing node converts address information about said access request into direct access address information which enables direct access to said master server, thereby routing said access request data.

10. A server used in a network having a plurality of servers, and a plurality of routing nodes for routing service access requests to said server in accordance with address information assigned to said service access requests, said server comprising:

service notification means for notifying a routing node connected to said server of service information pertaining to service contents provided by said server; and

service operation status notification means for notifying said routing node of said service operation status of said server.

11. The server used in a network according to claim 10, wherein said service notification means further comprises service update notification means, when said service contents are updated, notifying said routing node of information pertaining to said updated service contents.

12. The server used in a network according to claim 10, wherein, when a mirror server which provides service contents identical with those provided by said server exists separately from said server, said mirror server further comprises direct access address information notification means which notifies said routing node connected to said server of direct access address information for enabling direct access to said server when service contents provided by said mirror serer are updated.

13. A routing node used in a network having a plurality of servers, and a plurality of routing nodes for routing service access requests to said server in accordance with address information assigned to said service access requests, said routing node comprising:

service information management means for managing registration and updating of service information pertaining to service contents provided by said routing node upon receipt of said service information from a server connected to said routing node or another routing node;

service information transmission means which transmits said service information to an additional routing node through use of a routing protocol used in controlling a path among said routing nodes, in response to registration and updating of said service information performed by said service information management means; and

routing control means which selectively changes address information about said service access request on the basis of said service information in said service information management means, to thus route said service information to an optimal address.

14. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information management means is configured to maintain or manage said service information including a service identifier showing a type of a service provided by said server;

and said routing control means is configured to route said service access request for every service type on the basis of said service identifier.

15. The routing node used in a network according to claim 14, wherein said service information management means maintains and manages a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as said service identifier.

16. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information management means comprises means for updating said service information according to a service operation status of said server notified by said server.

17. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information management means has means for deleting registration of service information about said service contents when a service update message, which is to be issued every time said service contents provided by said server are updated, has not been received from said server for a predetermined period of time.

18. The routing node used in a network according to claim 17, wherein said service information management means has means for maintaining registration of service information about service contents, which are objects of non-updating, even when said service update message has not been received for said predetermined period of time.

19. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said server for providing identical service contents, said service information management means comprises

means for determining whether or not said master server remains inactive for a predetermined period of time, by means of a service operation status notification message periodically issued by said master server;

and

means for deleting registration of said service information about said mirror server of said service information management means when said master server is determined to be inactive.

20. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information management means comprises

means for monitoring operation status of another routing node by monitoring receipt of dead/alive ascertainment information to be periodically received from said other routing node by means of said routing protocol;

and

means for deleting service information about said inactive other routing node, among pieces of service information retained by said service information management means, when nonoperation of said other routing node is ascertained through said monitoring operation.

21. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said server for providing identical service contents, said service information management means comprises

means for requesting direct access address information which enables direct access to said master server when service contents provided by said mirror server to said master server are updated;

and

means for transmitting said direct access address information to be received from said master server in response to said request to another routing node including said service information.

22. The routing node used in a network according to claim 21, wherein said routing control means has address conversion means for converting address information concerning an access request received from said mirror server into said direct access address information.