Enhanced network services using a subnetwork of communicating processors

• US 6,917,966 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Anthony J., Katz, David M., Phillips, Stuart G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/665,838
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-206, 709217-220, 709223-224
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/12 Shortest path evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A method and system for providing enhanced services for a network. The enhanced services use information about the network which is available to a subnet of communicating processors (such as a set of routers), collectively executing a common distributed technique for disseminating that network information. The router subnet collects network topology information and provides a service using that network topology information, responsive to requests from non-routers coupled to the network (such as a set of host processors). The router subnet also collects information advertised by hosts coupled to the network, and disseminates that host information to substantially all routers, using the common distributed technique for disseminating network topology information. The host information may comprise information about server processes available at the originating host (such as what services are available and to which users those services are available), or may comprise information about client processes operating at the originating host (such as which users are operating those client processes and which services they desire).

Claims

1. A method for providing enhanced services in a computer network, said method comprising:

receiving at a first network device a first message which includes client information;

receiving at the first network device a second message which includes server information;

comparing a first portion of the client information and a second portion of the server information; and

performing a first action based upon the comparison of the first portion of client information and second portion of server information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the client information includes application-level information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second portion of server information includes application-level information.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service; and

determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server; and

comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information in order to determine whether a match may be identified.

6. The method of claim 5:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to access a first service for a first desired price; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one service at at least one specified price.

7. The method of claim 5:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to access a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one service.

8. The method of claim 5:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first degree of urgency in performing a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one degree of expected delay in performing the first service.

9. The method of claim 5:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first desired priority relating to a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one degree of free capacity relating to at least one service.

10. The method of claim 5:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first set of server requirements relating to a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one set of server capabilities relating to at least one service.

11. The method of claim 5:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to perform a first set of subtasks; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating a capability of performing at least one set of subtasks.

12. The method of claim 5:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to obtain a first set of products or services; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one set of products or services.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information;

identifying a first match relating to the first request and the server advertisement information; and

generating at least one match message which includes information relating to the first match.

14. The method of claim 13:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device;

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device;

the method further comprising transmitting the at least one match message to the first client device.

15. The method of claim 13:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device;

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device;

the method further comprising transmitting the at least one match message to the first server device.

16. The method of claim 1:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device; and

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network device is a router.

18. A method for providing enhanced services in a computer network, said method comprising:

receiving at a first network device a first message which includes client information;

determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

receiving at the first network device a second message which includes server information;

determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information in order to determine whether a match may be identified; and

performing a first action based upon the comparison of the first portion of client information and second portion of server information.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first portion of the client information includes application-level information.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the second portion of server information includes application-level information.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

identifying a first match relating to the first request and the server advertisement information; and

generating at least one match message which includes information relating to the first match.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the first network device is a router.

23. A router for providing enhanced services in a computer network, said router comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and

memory;

the router being configured or designed to receive a first message which includes client information;

the router being configured or designed to receive a second message which includes server information;

the router being configured or designed to compare a first portion of the client information and a second portion of the server information; and

the router being configured or designed to perform a first action based upon the comparison of the first portion of client information and second portion of server information.

24. The router of claim 23 wherein the first portion of the client information includes application-level information.

25. The router of claim 23 wherein the second portion of server information includes application-level information.

26. The router of claim 23 being further configured or designed to:

determine that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

determine that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server; and

compare information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information.

27. The router of claim 23 being further configured or designed to:

determine that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

determine that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server; and

compare information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information in order to determine whether a match may be identified.

28. The router of claim 27:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to access a first service for a first desired price; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one service at at least one specified price.

29. The router of claim 27:

wherein fast request includes information indicating a desire to access a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one service.

30. The router of claim 27:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first degree of urgency in performing a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one degree of expected delay in performing the first service.

31. The router of claim 27:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first desired priority relating to a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one degree of free capacity relating to at least one service.

32. The router of claim 27:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first set of server requirements relating to a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one set of server capabilities relating to at least one service.

33. The router of claim 27:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to perform a first set of subtasks; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating a capability of performing at least one set of subtasks.

34. The router of claim 27:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to obtain a first set of products or services; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one set of products or services.

35. The router of claim 23 being further configured or designed to:

determine that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

determine that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

compare information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information;

identify a first match relating to the first request and the server advertisement information; and

generate at least one match message which includes information relating to the first match.

36. The router of claim 35:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device;

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device;

the router being further configured or designed to transmit the at least one match message to the first client device.

37. The router of claim 35:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device;

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device;

the router being further configured or designed to transmit the at least one match message to the first server device.

38. The router of claim 23:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device; and

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device.

39. A system for providing enhanced services in a computer network, said system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and

memory;

the system being configured or designed to receive a first message which includes client information;

the system being configured or designed to determine that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

the system being configured or designed to receive a second message which includes server information;

the system being configured or designed to determine that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

the system being configured or designed to compare information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information in order to determine whether a match may be identified; and

the system being configured or designed to perform a first action based upon the comparison of the first portion of client information and second portion of server information.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the first portion of the client information includes application-level information.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein the second portion of server information includes application-level information.

42. The system of claim 39 being further configured or designed to:

identify a first match relating to the first request and the server advertisement information; and

generate at least one match message which includes information relating to the first match.

43. The system of claim 39 wherein the system is a router.

44. A computer program product for providing enhanced services in a computer network, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code comprising;

computer code for receiving at a first network device a first message which includes client information;

computer code for receiving at the first network device a second message which includes server information;

computer code for comparing a first portion of the client information and a second portion of the server information; and

computer code for performing a first action based upon the comparison of the first portion of client information and second portion of server information.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the first portion of the client information includes application-level information.

46. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the second portion of server information includes application-level information.

47. The computer program product of claim 44 further comprising:

computer code for determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service; and

computer code for determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

wherein said analyzing code includes computer code for comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information.

48. The computer program product of claim 44 further comprising:

computer code for determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

computer code for determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server; and

computer code for comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information in order to determine whether a match may be identified.

49. The computer program product of claim 48:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to access a first service for a first desired price; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one service at at least one specified price.

50. The computer program product of claim 48:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to access a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one service.

51. The computer program product of claim 48:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first degree of urgency in performing a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one degree of expected delay in performing the first service.

52. The computer program product of claim 48:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first desired priority relating to a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one degree of free capacity relating to at least one service.

53. The computer program product of claim 48:

wherein first request includes information indicating a first set of server requirements relating to a first service; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating at least one set of server capabilities relating to at least one service.

54. The computer program product of claim 48:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to perform a first set of subtasks; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating a capability of performing at least one set of subtasks.

55. The computer program product of claim 48:

wherein first request includes information indicating a desire to obtain a first set of products or services; and

wherein the server advertising information includes information indicating an ability to provide at least one set of products or services.

56. The computer program product of claim 44 further comprising:

computer code for determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

computer code for determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

computer code for comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information;

computer code for identifying a first match relating to the first request and the server advertisement information; and

computer code for generating at least one match message which includes information relating to the first match.

57. The computer program product of claim 56:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device;

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device;

the computer program product further comprising computer code for transmitting the at least one match message to the first client device.

58. The computer program product of claim 56:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device;

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device;

the computer program product further comprising computer code for transmitting the at least one match message to the first server device.

59. The computer program product of claim 44:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device; and

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device.

60. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the first network device is a router.

61. A router for providing enhanced services in a computer network, said router comprising:

means for receiving at a first network device a first message which includes client information;

means for receiving at the first network device a second message which includes server information;

means for comparing a first portion of the client information and a second portion of the server information; and

means for performing a first action based upon the comparison of the first portion of client information and second portion of server information.

62. The router of claim 61 wherein the first portion of the client information includes application-level information.

63. The router of claim 61 wherein the second portion of server information includes application-level information.

64. The router of claim 61 further comprising:

means for determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service; and

means for determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

wherein said analyzing code includes means for comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information.

65. The router of claim 61 further comprising:

means for determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

means for determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server; and

means for comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information in order to determine whether a match may be identified.

66. The router of claim 61 further comprising:

means for determining that the first message includes a first request from a first client device for a first service;

means for determining that the second message includes server advertisement information relating to at least one service provided by a first server;

means for comparing information relating to the first request and the server advertisement information;

means for identifying a first match relating to the first request and the server advertisement information; and

means for generating at least one match message which includes information relating to the first match.

67. The router of claim 61:

wherein the first message corresponds to a client message originating from a first client device; and

wherein the second message corresponds to a server message originating from a first server device.