System and method for distributed call processing using load sharing groups

• US 6,947,752 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Collins, David Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US10/038,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 455/560, 455/453, 455/424, 455/403, 455/561, 455/452.1, 455/524, 455/525, 455/422.1, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/418, 455/428, 455/426.1, 455/439, 455/445, 455/433, 455/507, 455/556.1, 455/555, 455/554.2, 455/554.1, 455/552.1, 370/232, 370/229, 370/235, 370/216, 370/217, 370/219, 370/220, 370/221, 370/359, 370/231, 370/256, 370/465, 370/328, 370/329, 370/230, 370/327, 370/326, 370/340, 370/341, 370/342, 709/203, 709/220, 709/245, 709/223, 709/224, 379/242, 379/284, 379/233, 379/59, 379/60, 379/165, 379/166, 379/225, 379/67.1, 379/93.07, 379/93.02, 379/309, 379/229, 379/399.02, 379/93.05, 379/399.01, 379/335
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• 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 67/1017 based on a round robin mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1036 Load balancing of requests to servers for services different from user content provisioning, e.g. load balancing across domain name servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13164 Traffic (registration, measurement,...)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 Signaling in general, in-band signalling

Abstract

A switch for handling call connections between calling devices and called devices on trunk lines of the switch. The switch comprises a main processing unit for executing call process client applications. Each call process client applications is associated with a call connections. The switch also comprises N call application nodes for executing call process server applications. A first call process server application executed on a first call application node is associated with a similar second call process server application executed on a separate second call application node. The first and second call process server applications form a first load sharing group server application. Each call process client application sends a call process service request to the first load sharing group server application, which selects one of the first and second call process server applications to perform the requested call process service according to a load distribution algorithm.

Claims

1. A switch capable of handling call connections between calling devices and called devices on a plurality of trunk lines associated with said switch, said switch comprising:

a main processing unit capable of executing call process client applications, wherein each of said call process client applications is associated with one of said call connections; and

N call application nodes capable of executing call process server applications, wherein a first call process server application is executed on a first one of said N call application nodes and is associated with a similar second call process server application executed on a second one of said N call application nodes separate from said first call application node, said first and second call process server applications thereby forming a first load sharing group server application,

wherein said each call process client application sends a call process service request to said first load sharing group server application and said first load sharing group server application selects one of said first and second call process server applications to perform said call process service request according to a load distribution algorithm.

2. The switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said load distribution algorithm distributes new call process services requests in an alternating manner between said first and second call process server applications.

3. The switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said load distribution algorithm distributes new call process service requests according to a current call process load of said first call process server application and a current call process load of said second call process server application.

4. The switch as set forth in claim 3 wherein said load distribution algorithm distributes said new call process service requests in order to maintain said current call process load of said first call process server application at a level substantially equal to said current call process load of said second call process server application.

5. The switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first call process server application comprises a first primary-backup group server application, wherein said first primary-backup group server application comprises a first primary call process executed on said first call application node and a first backup call process associated with said first primary call process.

6. The switch as set forth in claim 5 wherein state information associated with said first primary call process is mirrored to said first backup call process associated with said first primary call process.

7. The switch as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first backup call process resides on said first call application node.

8. The switch as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first backup call process resides on a call application node separate from said first call application node.

9. The switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second call process server application comprises a second primary-backup group server application, wherein said second primary-backup group server application comprises a second primary call process executed on said second call application node and a second backup call process associated with said second primary call process.

10. The switch as set forth in claim 9 wherein state information associated with said second primary call process is mirrored to said second backup call process associated with said second primary call process.

11. The switch as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second backup call process resides on said second call application node.

12. The switch as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second backup call process resides on a call application node separate from said second call application node.

13. A wireless network comprising:

a plurality of base stations capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of said wireless network; and

a mobile switching center coupled to said plurality of base stations and to a public switched telephone network by a plurality of trunk lines, wherein said mobile switching center is capable of handling call connections between calling devices and called devices on said plurality of trunk lines, said mobile switching center comprising;

a main processing unit capable of executing call process client applications, wherein each of said call process client applications is associated with one of said call connections; and

N call application nodes capable of executing call process server applications, wherein a first call process server application is executed on a first one of said N call application nodes and is associated with a similar second call process server application executed on a second one of said N call application nodes separate from said first call application node, said first and second call process server applications thereby forming a first load sharing group server application, wherein said each call process client application sends a call process service request to said first load sharing group server application and said first load sharing group server application selects one of said first and second call process server applications to perform said call process service request according to a load distribution algorithm.

14. The wireless network as set forth in claim 13 wherein said load distribution algorithm distributes new call process services requests in an alternating manner between said first and second call process server applications.

15. The wireless network as set forth in claim 13 wherein said load distribution algorithm distributes new call process service requests according to a current call process load of said first call process server application and a current call process load of said second call process server application.

16. The wireless network as set forth in claim 15 wherein said load distribution algorithm distributes said new call process service requests in order to maintain said current call process load of said first call process server application at a level substantially equal to said current call process load of said second call process server application.

17. The wireless network as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first call process server application comprises a first primary-backup group server application, wherein said first primary-backup group server application comprises a first primary call process executed on said first call application node and a first backup call process associated with said first primary call process.

18. The wireless network as set forth in claim 17 wherein state information associated with said first primary call process is mirrored to said first backup call process associated with said first primary call process.

19. The wireless network as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first backup call process resides on said first call application node.

20. The wireless network as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first backup call process resides on a call application node separate from said first call application node.

21. The wireless network as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second call process server application comprises a second primary-backup group server application, wherein said second primary-backup group server application comprises a second primary call process executed on said second call application node and a second backup call process associated with said second primary call process.

22. The wireless network as set forth in claim 21 wherein state information associated with said second primary call process is mirrored to said second backup call process associated with said second primary call process.

23. The wireless network as set for in claim 22 wherein said second backup call process resides on said second call application node.

24. The wireless network as set forth in claim 22 wherein said second backup call process resides on a call application node separate from said second call application node.