System/method for recovering network resources in a distributed environment, via registered callbacks

• US 5,819,019 A
• Filed: 12/01/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Espial Incorporated (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Michael N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Norman M.
• Application Number:
  US08/566,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 395/182.02, 395/182.13, 395/182.19, 395/392, 395/200.06, 395/200.05, 395/329, 395/331, 395/335, 395/870.01, 395/650, 395/182.03, 395/182.23, 395/184.01, 395/185.01, 395/200.11, 395/200.1, 395/205.05, 364/281.6, 364/281.1, 364/468.05, 364/967.4, 364/674
• US Class Current: 714/4.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5627 Fault tolerance and recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5631 Resource management and allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system and method for resource recovery in a distributed system uses a resource audit service to monitor the status of a client that receives a resource from a service that allocates the resource. The allocating service registers a callback with the resource audit service identifying the client. The resource audit service subsequently monitors the status of the client. When the resource audit service determines that the client has failed, the resource audit service performs the callback to the allocating service indicating the failure of the client. Upon receiving the callback, the allocating service is able to recover the resource from the client.

Claims

1. In a system having an allocating service that provides resources to clients, a method for recovering a resource from a client after the client fails, the method comprising the steps of:

registering a first callback with a resource audit service, wherein said first callback identifies the client, said step of registering performed by the allocating service;

determining whether the client has failed, said step of determining performed by said resource audit service; and

performing said first callback when the client has failed thereby notifying the allocating service that the client has failed and allowing said resource to be recovered, said step of performing performed by said resource audit service,

wherein the client is a non-local client and wherein said step of determining comprises the steps of;

polling a second resource audit service associated with said non-local client, said second resource audit service local to said non-local client, said step of polling performed by said resource audit service; and

receiving a status of said non-local client from said second resource audit service, said status indicating whether said non-local client has failed, said step of receiving performed by said resource audit service.

2. In a system having an allocating service that provides resources to clients, a method for recovering a resource from a client after the client fails, the method comprising the steps of:

registering a first callback with a resource audit service, wherein said first callback identifies the client, said step of registering performed by the allocating service;

determining whether the client has failed, said step of determining performed by said resource audit service; and

performing said first callback when the client has failed thereby notifying the allocating service that the client has failed and allowing said resource to be recovered, said step of performing performed by said resource audit service,

wherein the client is a foreign client and wherein said step of determining comprises the steps of;

querying a status service that is associated with and aware of a status of said foreign client, said step of querying performed by said resource audit service; and

receiving said status from said status service, said status indicating whether said foreign client has failed, said step of receiving performed by said resource audit service.

3. A system for recovering a resource in a distributed system, the system comprising:

an allocating service that allocates resources in the distributed system;

a client that receives the resource from said allocating service, and

a resource audit service that receives a registration that the resource is allocated to said client from said allocating service, that monitors a status of said client and that notifies said allocating service when said client fails thereby allowing said allocating service to recover the resource,

wherein said client is a non-local client, and wherein said resource audit service polls a second resource audit service to determine a status of said non-local client, said second resource audit service local to said non-local client.

4. A system for recovering a resource in a distributed system, the system comprising:

an allocating service that allocates resources in the distributed system;

a client that receives the resource from said allocating service; and

a resource audit service that receives a registration that the resource is allocated to said client from said allocating service, that monitors a status of said client and that notifies said allocating service when said client fails thereby allowing said allocating service to recover the resource,

wherein said client is a foreign client, and wherein said resource audit service queries a status service to determine a status of said foreign client, said status service associated with and aware of said status of said foreign client.

5. A computer program product for use in a computer system having an allocating service that allocates a resource to a client, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for recovering the resource from the client when the client fails, said computer readable program code means comprising;

computer readable means for causing the allocating service to register a first callback with a resource audit service, wherein said first callback identifies the client;

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to determine whether the client has failed; and

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to perform said first callback to the allocating service when the client has failed thereby allowing the resource to be recovered,

wherein the client is a non-local client, and wherein said computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to determine further comprises;

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to poll a second resource audit service, said second resource audit service local to said non-local client; and

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to receive a status of said non-local client from said second resource audit service.

6. A computer program product for use in a computer system having an allocating service that allocates a resource to a client, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for recovering the resource from the client when the client fails, said computer readable program code means comprising;

computer readable means for causing the allocating service to register a first callback with a resource audit service, wherein said first callback identifies the client;

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to determine whether the client has failed; and

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to perform said first callback to the allocating service when the client has failed thereby allowing the resource to be recovered,

wherein said client is a foreign client, and wherein said computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to determine further comprises;

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to query a status service that is associated with and aware of a status of said foreign client; and

computer readable means for causing said resource audit service to receive said status from said status service.

7. In an interactive television system, a system for recovering a resource, the system comprising:

a server having an allocating service for allocating the resource;

a client connected to said server and receiving the resource from said allocating service; and

a resource audit service, operating on said server, comprising;

means for receiving a registration from said allocating service, said registration identifying said client,

means for determining whether said client has failed, and

means for notifying said allocating service when said client has failed thereby allowing said allocating service to recover the resource,

wherein said client is a non-local client operating on a second server connected to said server via a network, and wherein said means for determining further comprises;

means for polling a second resource audit service operating on said second server about a status of said non-local client; and

means for receiving said status of said non-local client from said second resource audit service.