Digital object routing based on a service request

• US 20070291773A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cohen, Alexander, Khan, Shabbir
• Granted Patent: US 9,686,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• 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 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/54 Organization of routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A digital object may be routed via a network. Routing of a digital object may be based in part on a requested service, and/or on an ability of an intermediate node to provide the requested service, and/or on a willingness of the intermediate node to provide the requested service.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a digital object to be forwarded on a network, the digital object including at least one requested service;

determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service; and

routing the digital object on the network based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising arranging a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising arranging a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and adding routing table information to the digital object.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining whether there is a change in the availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and if so then arranging a routing table based at least in part on the change.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sending the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, receiving a service request reply from at least one or more of the or more downstream nodes, and arranging a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, said routing including forwarding the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and arranging payment for the at least one requested service.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one requested service information is stored separately from the digital object, and is transmitted on the network separately from the digital object.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving, said determining, or said routing, or any combination thereof, is performed at least in part by at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a destination node to transmit a digital object from a source node to the destination node via a network, the request including at least one requested service;

adding a payload to the digital object;

adding the at least one requested service to the digital object; and

forwarding the digital object according to the at least one requested service.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and arranging a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and arranging a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on at the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and adding routing table information to the digital object.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising determining whether there is a change in the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service, and if so then arranging a routing table based at least in part on the change.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising sending the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, receiving a service request reply from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes, and arranging a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, said forwarding including forwarding the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and arranging payment for the at least one requested service.

15. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein requested service information is stored separately from the digital object, and is transmitted on the network separately from the digital object.

16. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said receiving, said adding a payload, said adding the at least one requested service, or said forwarding, or any combination thereof, is performed at least in part by at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a digital object to be forwarded on a network, the digital object including at least one requested service;

means for determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service; and

means for routing the digital object on the network based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for arranging a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for arranging a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and means for adding routing table information to the digital object.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for determining whether there is a change in the availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and means for arranging a routing table based at least in part on the change when said means for determining determines there is a change.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for sending the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, means for receiving a service request reply from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes, and means for arranging a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, said means for routing to forward the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and further comprising means for arranging payment for the at least one requested service.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for storing at least one requested service information separately from the digital object, and means for transmitting the at least one requested service information on the network separately from the digital object.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said means for receiving, said means for determining, or said means for routing, or any combination thereof, comprises at least in part at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a destination node to transmit a digital object from a source node to the destination node via a network, the request including at least one requested service;

means for adding a payload to the digital object;

means for adding the at least one requested service to the digital object; and

means for forwarding the digital object according to the at least one requested service.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means for determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and means for arranging a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means for determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, means for arranging a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and means for adding routing table information to the digital object.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means for determining whether there is a change in the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service, and means for arranging a routing table based at least in part on the change when said means for determining whether there is a changer determines there is a change.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means for sending the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, means for receiving a service request reply from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes, and means for arranging a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, said means for forwarding to forward the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and further comprising means for arranging payment for the at least one requested service.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means for storing requested service information separately from the digital object, and means for transmitting the requested service information on the network separately from the digital object.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein at least one of said means for receiving, said means for adding a payload, said means for adding the at least one requested service, or said means for forwarding, or any combination thereof, comprises at least in part at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.

33. An apparatus comprising a computing platform, the computing platform being adapted to:

receive a digital object to be forwarded on a network, the digital object including at least one requested service;

determine an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service; and

route the digital object on the network based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service.

34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, the computing platform being further adapted to arrange a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, the computing platform being further adapted to arrange a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and to add routing table information to the digital object.

36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, the computing platform being further adapted to determine whether there is a change in the availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and if so to arrange a routing table based at least in part on the change.

37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, the computing platform being further adapted to send the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, to receive a service request reply from one or more of the at least one or more downstream nodes, and to arrange a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, the computing platform being further adapted to forward the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and to arrange payment for the at least one requested service.

39. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, the computing platform being further adapted to store at least one requested service information stored separately from the digital object, and being further adapted to transmit the at least one requested service information on the network separately from the digital object.

40. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, the computing platform being adapted to perform at least one of said receiving, said determining, or said routing, or any combination thereof, at least in part as at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.

41. An apparatus comprising a computing platform, the computing platform being adapted to:

receive a request from a destination node to transmit a digital object from a source node to the destination node via a network, the request including at least one requested service;

add a payload to the digital object;

add the at least one requested service to the digital object; and

forward the digital object according to the at least one requested service.

42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, the computing platform being further adapted to determine an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and to arrange a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

43. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, the computing platform being further adapted to determine an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, to arrange a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and to add routing table information to the digital object.

44. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, the computing platform being further adapted to determine whether there is a change in the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service, and if so to arrange a routing table based at least in part on the change.

45. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, the computing platform being further adapted to send the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, to receive a service request reply from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes, and to arrange a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

46. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, the computing platform being further adapted to forward the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and to arrange payment for the at least one requested service.

47. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, the computing platform being further adapted to store requested service information separately from the digital object, and being further adapted to transmit the requested service information on the network separately from the digital object.

48. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, the computing platform being adapted to perform at least one of said receiving, said adding a payload, said adding the at least one requested service, or said forwarding, or any combination thereof, at least in part as at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.

49. An article of manufacture comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing platform, result in the routing of a digital object by:

receiving a digital object to be forwarded on a network, the digital object including at least one requested service;

determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service; and

routing the digital object on the network based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service.

50. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by arranging a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

51. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by arranging a routing table based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and adding routing table information to the digital object.

52. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by determining whether there is a change in the availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and if so then arranging a routing table based at least in part on the change.

53. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by sending the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, receiving a service request reply from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes, and arranging a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

54. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by forwarding the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and in the arranging of payment for the at least one requested service.

55. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in at least one requested service information being stored separately from the digital object, and the at least one requested service information being transmitted on the network separately from the digital object.

56. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in at least one of said receiving, said determining, or said routing, or any combination thereof, being performed at least in part by at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.

57. An article of manufacture comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing platform, result in the routing of a digital object by:

receiving a request from a destination node to transmit a digital object from a source node to the destination node via a network, the request including at least one requested service;

adding a payload to the digital object;

adding the at least one requested service to the digital object; and

forwarding the digital object according to the at least one requested service.

58. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 57, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and arranging a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service.

59. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 57, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by determining an availability of one or more nodes on the network to provide the at least one requested service, and arranging a routing table for the digital object based at least in part on the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service and/or on the at least one requested service, and adding routing table information to the digital object.

60. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 57, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by determining whether there is a change in the availability of the one or more nodes to provide the at least one requested service, and if so then arranging a routing table based at least in part on the change.

61. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 57, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by sending the at least one requested service to one or more downstream nodes, receiving a service request reply from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes, and arranging a routing table based at least on part on the service request reply received from at least one or more of the one or more downstream nodes.

62. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 57, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the routing of a digital object by forwarding the digital object to one or more of the nodes coupled to a link on the network that may provide the at least one requested service, and in the arranging of payment for the at least one requested service.

63. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 57, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in requested service information being stored separately from the digital object, and being transmitted on the network separately from the digital object.

64. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 57, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in at least one of said receiving, said adding a payload, said adding the at least one requested service, or said forwarding, or any combination thereof, being performed at least in part by at least one of a proxy, an agent, or a service provider, or any combination thereof.