SELF-MANAGED DISTRIBUTED MEDIATION NETWORKS

• US 20080016198A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloudsoft Corp. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Enigmatec Corporation
• Inventors: Dearle, Alan, Heneveld, Alex, Johnston-Watt, Duncan, Connor, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,266,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1089 Hierarchical topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A distributed mediation network and method of employing such is provided, having a plurality of different types of network module. Each module has a non-reciprocal path therethrough for network traffic and the distribution of network traffic across the network is managed by an autonomic control plane.

Claims

1. A distributed mediation network, comprising:

a plurality of types of network module, including;

local points of presence (LPP) modules for receiving and transmitting network traffic between the mediation network and client programs;

mediator (M) modules for hosting mediation tasks;

mediator router (MR) modules for analyzing the content of incoming messages, each MR module routing the incoming messages to a predetermined mediation task in dependence upon said content; and

,

transmission proxy (TP) modules for forwarding messages to at least one of said LPP modules, wherein each of the MR, M and TP modules are adapted such that all paths for network traffic therethrough are non-reciprocal; and

,

an autonomic control plane for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst the modules.

2. A network according to claim 1, wherein the network couples network traffic along a unidirectional mediation cycle, in which:

LPP modules address MR modules, MR modules in turn address M modules, M modules in turn address TP modules, and TP modules in turn address LPP modules.

3. A network according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic control plane is adapted to effect the distribution of mediation tasks amongst the mediation modules.

4. A network according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic control plane is adapted to regulate the numbers of each type of module.

5. A network according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic control plane is hosted across a number of resources.

6. A network according to claim 1, wherein the modules contain sensor interfaces for communicating the status of the module to the autonomic control plane.

7. A network according to claim 1, wherein the modules contain effector interfaces for receiving commands from the autonomic control plane.

8. A network according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic control plane has a hierarchical structure comprising cloud managers for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst modules of a given type and a distributed mediation network (DMN) manager for managing the distribution of resources between the module types.

9. A network according to claim 3, wherein the distribution of mediation tasks comprises the transfer of a particular mediation task from a first M module to a second M module, the transfer comprising:

the autonomic control plane calling a HANDOVER_SEGMENT effector method on the first M module,

the first M module, on receipt of the HANDOVER_SEGMENT effector method, changing state to a HANDOVER_SENDER state, the first M module then processing content currently stored at the first M module relating to the particular mediation task and subsequently sending a MEDIATION_CHANGE control signal to all LPP modules,

sending a MEDIATION_CHANGE control signal from the first M module to the second M module, and forwarding content relating to the particular mediation task subsequently received by the first M module to the second M module

the second M module, on receipt of the MEDIATION_CHANGE control signal, changing state to a HANDOVER_RECEIVER state and sending a sensor signal to the autonomic control plane indicating this change of state, the second M module, then sending a NEW_MEDIATOR control signal to all LPP modules, wherein the LPP modules buffer content related to the particular mediation task that is received after the NEW_MEDIATOR control signal but prior to the MEDIATION CHANGE control signal;

the autonomic control plane, on receipt of the sensor signal indicating that the second M module is in a HANDOVER_RECEIVER state, calling an effector method on the MR modules to instruct MR modules to forward content relating to the particular mediation task to the second M module rather than the first M module;

each MR module, on changing the destination of forwarded content to the second M module, emitting a sensor signal to the autonomic control plane indicating the change and forwarding a RT_CHANGED control message for that MR module to the first M module, the first M module subsequently forwarding the RT_CHANGED control message to the second M module, wherein the second M module buffers content relating to the particular mediation task received directly from each MR module until it receives the RT_CHANGED control message for that MR module,

the second M module emitting a sensor signal to the autonomic control plane when it receives each RT_CHANGED signal originating at each MR module

the autonomic control plane calling effectors methods on the first and second M modules to return them to a stable state once it has received sensor signals from the second M module indicating that RT_CHANGED control signals have been received from all MR modules.

10. A network according to claim 1, wherein the management of load on across the network comprises the alteration of the destination of network traffic from an LPP module from a first MR module to a second MR module, the alteration comprising:

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_MR effector method on the LPP module;

the LPP module, on receipt of the SWITCH_MR effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending an MR_CHANGE control signal to the first MR module, and sending a NEW_MR control signal to a second MR module,

the first MR module, on receipt of the MR_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the MR_CHANGE signal to each M module and emitting an MR_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each M module to which the MR_CHANGE control signal has been sent

the second MR module, on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal, forwarding the NEW_MR control signal to each M module, wherein the M modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_MR control signal but prior to the MR_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order

each M module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal,

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all M modules for which an MR_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first MR module, calling an effector method to return the LPP module to a STABLE state.

11. A network according to claim 1, wherein the management of load on across the network comprises the alteration of the destination of network traffic from an M module from a first TP module to a second TP module, the alteration comprising:

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_TP effector method on the M module;

the M module, on receipt of the SWITCH_TP effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending a TP_CHANGE control signal to the first TP module, and sending a NEW_TP control signal to the second TP module,

the first TP module, on receipt of the TP_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the TP_CHANGE signal to each LPP module and emitting an TP_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each LPP to which the TP_CHANGE control signal has been sent

the second TP module, on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal, forwarding the NEW_TP control signal to each LPP module, wherein the LPP modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_TP control signal but prior to the TP_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order

each LPP module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal,

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all LPP modules for which a TP_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first TP, calling an effector method to return the M module to a STABLE state.

12. A network according to claim 1, wherein the incoming network traffic to the mediation network belongs to one of the group of message types including:

new information, which emanates from a process acting as an information source;

queries about state of nodes in the mediation network, which require a reply; and

expressions of interest, which require ongoing replies whenever pertinent new information is received by the mediation network.

13. A network according to claim 8, wherein the cloud managers are able to communicate directly.

14. A network according to claim 8, wherein all communication between cloud managers must pass through the DMN manager.

15. A method for mediating the flow of network traffic in a computer network, wherein the computer network has a mediation network that comprises:

a plurality of types of network module, including;

local points of presence (LPP) modules for receiving and transmitting network traffic between the mediation network and client programs;

mediator (M) modules for hosting mediation tasks;

mediator router (MR) modules for analyzing the content of incoming messages, each MR module routing the incoming messages to a predetermined mediation task in dependence upon said content; and

,

transmission proxy (TP) modules for forwarding messages to at least one of said LPP modules, wherein each of the MR, M and TP modules are adapted such that all paths for network traffic therethrough are non-reciprocal; and

,

an autonomic control plane for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst the modules,

wherein, in the method, incoming messages are propagated along a mediation cycle that comprises the steps of;

an LPP module addressing incoming messages to a respective one of said at least one mediator router (MR) modules;

at said addressed MR module, analyzing the content of incoming messages and routing said messages to a predetermined mediator module in dependence upon said analyzed content;

at said predetermined mediator module, applying the mediation task to said analyzed messages and directing mediated messages to a respective one of said TP modules; and

at said TP module that receives said mediated messages, forwarding said mediated messages to at least one of said LPP modules.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the autonomic control plane is adapted to effect the distribution of mediation tasks amongst the mediation modules.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the autonomic control plane is adapted to regulate the numbers of each type of module.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the autonomic control plane is hosted across a number of resources.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the modules contain sensor interfaces for communicating the status of the module to the autonomic control plane.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the modules contain effector interfaces for receiving commands from the autonomic control plane.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein the autonomic control plane has a hierarchical structure comprising cloud managers for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst modules of a given type and a distributed mediation network (DMN) manager for managing the distribution of resources between the module types.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein the distribution of mediation tasks comprises the transfer of a particular mediation task from a first M module to a second M module, the transfer comprising:

the autonomic control plane calling a HANDOVER_SEGMENT effector method on the first M module,

the first M module, on receipt of the HANDOVER_SEGMENT effector method, changing state to a HANDOVER_SENDER state, the first M module then processing content currently stored at the first M module relating to the particular mediation task and subsequently sending a MEDIATION_CHANGE control signal to all LPP modules,

sending a MEDIATION_CHANGE control signal from the first M module to the second M module, and forwarding content relating to the particular mediation task subsequently received by the first M module to the second M module

the second M module, on receipt of the MEDIATION_CHANGE control signal, changing state to a HANDOVER_RECEIVER state and sending a sensor signal to the autonomic control plane indicating this change of state, the second M module, then sending a NEW_MEDIATOR control signal to all LPP modules, wherein the LPP modules buffer content related to the particular mediation task that is received after the NEW_MEDIATOR control signal but prior to the MEDIATION CHANGE control signal;

the autonomic control plane, on receipt of the sensor signal indicating that the second M module is in a HANDOVER_RECEIVER state, calling an effector method on the MR modules to instruct MR modules to forward content relating to the particular mediation task to the second M module rather than the first M module;

each MR module, on changing the destination of forwarded content to the second M module, emitting a sensor signal to the autonomic control plane indicating the change and forwarding a RT_CHANGED control message for that MR module to the first M module, the first M module subsequently forwarding the RT_CHANGED control message to the second M module, wherein the second M module buffers content relating to the particular mediation task received directly from each MR module until it receives the RT_CHANGED control message for that MR module,

the second M module emitting a sensor signal to the autonomic control plane when it receives each RT_CHANGED signal originating at each MR module

the autonomic control plane calling effectors methods on the first and second M modules to return them to a stable state once it has received sensor signals from the second M module indicating that RT_CHANGED control signals have been received from all MR modules.

23. A method according to claim 15, wherein the management of load on across the network comprises the alteration of the destination of network traffic from an LPP module from a first MR module to a second MR module, the alteration comprising:

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_MR effector method on the LPP module;

the LPP module, on receipt of the SWITCH_MR effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending an MR_CHANGE control signal to the first MR module, and sending a NEW_MR control signal to a second MR module,

the first MR module, on receipt of the MR_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the MR_CHANGE signal to each M module and emitting an MR_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each M module to which the MR_CHANGE control signal has been sent

the second MR module, on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal, forwarding the NEW_MR control signal to each M module, wherein the M modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_MR control signal but prior to the MR_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order

each M module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal,

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all M modules for which an MR_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first MR module, calling an effector method to return the LPP module to a STABLE state.

24. A method according to claim 15, wherein the management of load on across the network comprises the alteration of the destination of network traffic from an M module from a first TP module to a second TP module, the alteration comprising:

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_TP effector method on the M module;

the M module, on receipt of the SWITCH_TP effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending a TP_CHANGE control signal to the first TP module, and sending a NEW_TP control signal to the second TP module,

the first TP module, on receipt of the TP_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the TP_CHANGE signal to each LPP module and emitting an TP_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each LPP to which the TP_CHANGE control signal has been sent

the second TP module, on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal, forwarding the NEW_TP control signal to each LPP module, wherein the LPP modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_TP control signal but prior to the TP_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order

each LPP module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal,

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all LPP modules for which a TP_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first TP, calling an effector method to return the M module to a STABLE state.

25. A network according to claim 15, wherein the incoming network traffic to the mediation network belongs to one of the group of message types including:

new information, which emanates from a process acting as an information source;

queries about state of nodes in the mediation network, which require a reply; and

expressions of interest, which require ongoing replies whenever pertinent new information is received by the mediation network.

26. A network according to claim 21, wherein the cloud managers are able to communicate directly.

27. A network according to claim 21, wherein all communication between cloud managers must pass through the DMN manager.