System and method for automatic load balancing in a data-over-cable network
First Claim
1. A method for dynamic load balancing of requests in a network system, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first message on a first network device from a second network device and marking the first message with an identifier of a network access device;
intercepting the first message on a third network device prior to at least one first protocol server receiving the first message, wherein the third network device comprises a set of rules for load balancing of requests between a plurality of channel pairs, each channel pair having predetermined resources for a network device with predetermined capabilities;
determining capabilities of the second network device on the third network device; and
applying the set of rules to determine an assignment of the second network device to one of the channel pairs based on the capabilities of the second network device, a load factor associated with the channel pair or a threshold value defining a capacity of the channel pair.
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Abstract
A method and system for load balancing in a network system such as a data-over-cable system. One method includes receiving a first message on a first network device such as a cable modem termination system (“CMTS”) from a second network device and marking the first message with an identifier of a network access device. The method further includes intercepting the first message on a third network device such as a provisioning/access manager prior to any first protocol server such a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server receives the first message. When the third network device intercepts the first message, the third network device determines capabilities of the second network device and applies a set of rules to load balance any requests between a plurality of channel pairs. Each charmel pair is associated with at least one capability of a network device and also has a load factor parameter and a threshold value defining a capacity of a channel pair. The third network device assigns the second network device to a predetermined channel pair based on the capabilities of the second network device, a load factor of the channel pair and a capacity of the channel pair.
368 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for dynamic load balancing of requests in a network system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first message on a first network device from a second network device and marking the first message with an identifier of a network access device;
intercepting the first message on a third network device prior to at least one first protocol server receiving the first message, wherein the third network device comprises a set of rules for load balancing of requests between a plurality of channel pairs, each channel pair having predetermined resources for a network device with predetermined capabilities;
determining capabilities of the second network device on the third network device; and
applying the set of rules to determine an assignment of the second network device to one of the channel pairs based on the capabilities of the second network device, a load factor associated with the channel pair or a threshold value defining a capacity of the channel pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network system for load balancing of requests from network devices, the system comprising in combination:
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a first network device for marking a first message from a second network device with an identifier of a network access device; and
a third network device for load balancing of requests from network devices, the third network device intercepting the first message prior to at least one first protocol server receiving the first message and applying a set of load balancing policy rules to determine an assignment of the second network device to a predetermined channel pair based on capabilities of the second network device, a load factor associated with the channel pair or a threshold value defining a capacity of the channel pair. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification