Method and apparatus for providing back-up capability in a communication system

• US 7,257,629 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Manzardo, Marcel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/965,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709223-229, 714/4, 714/10, 714/13, 714/15, 379 103- 104, 379/9.05, 379/12, 379/15.01, 379 1505- 16
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for facilitating or providing a back-up capability in a communication system and for improving availability and reliability of a distributed communication system. Switch over occurs from a main server to a stand-by server for supporting or facilitating calls having traffic routed across an IP network when the main server is disrupted or becomes unavailable. The main server initiates one or more signals provided to the stand-by server that inform the stand-by server of availability of the main server. When the stand-by server does not receive a designated number of the signals, or the main server fails to respond to a request or inquiry from the stand-by server regarding the signal, the stand-by server may initiate providing support for the calls previously supported by the main server and request call state information at the time of switch over from the main server to the stand-by server. As a result, the stand-by server does not need to receive call state information prior to the time of switch over.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a stand-by server to operate as a replacement for a main server, comprising:

detecting, by a stand-by server, lack of a signal initiated by a main server, wherein reception of said signal is indicative of availability of said main server;

establishing a connection with at least one client connection device by said stand-by server to support a call, wherein said stand-by server operates as a replacement for said main server;

requesting current call state information from said client connection device;

receiving current call state information from said client connection device; and

updating a call state information resource based on said current call state information received from said client connection device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving configuration information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing a connection with at least one client connection device includes establishing a connection with said client connection device using an IP address known to said client connection device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said requesting current call state information from said client connection device includes requesting information from said client connection device regarding status of at least one communication line supported by said client connection device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving current call state information from said client connection device includes receiving information regarding status of at least one communication line supported by said client connection device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to said detecting lack of a signal initiated by said main server, receiving at least one signal initiated by said main server, said at least one signal being indicative of availability of said main server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting information regarding availability of said main server after said detecting lack of a signal initiated by said main server indicative of availability of said main server.

8. A method for allowing a stand-by server to take over support for communications from a main server, comprising:

detecting lack of a signal sent initiated by a main server, wherein reception of said signal is indicative of availability of said main server;

establishing a connection with at least one client connection device by said stand-by server to support a call, wherein said stand-by server operates as a replacement for said main server;

requesting that said client connection device reset an active call to a designated call state; and

creating a call state information resource based, at least in part, on said designated call state.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving configuration information.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

prior to said detecting lack of a signal initiated by said main server, receiving at least one signal initiated by said main server, said at least one signal being indicative of availability of said main server.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

requesting information regarding availability of said main server after said detecting lack of a signal initiated by said main server indicative of availability of said main server.

12. A method for allowing a stand-by server to take over support for communications from a main server, comprising:

a main server establishing at least one connection with at least one client connection device for support of at least one call;

said main server providing at least one signal to a stand-by server when said main server is available;

said stand-by server establishing at least one connection with said at least one client connection device to support said at least one call when said stand-by server does not receive a designated number of signals from said main server indicative of availability of said main server, wherein said stand-by server operates as a replacement for said main server;

said stand-by server requesting call state information from said at least one client connection device; and

said stand-by server updating a call state information resource based on said call state information received from said at least one client connection device.

13. A method for allowing a stand-by server to take over support for communications from a main server, comprising:

a main server establishing at least one connection with at least one client connection device for support of at least one call;

said main server providing at least one signal to a stand-by server when said main server is available;

said stand-by server establishing at least one connection with said at least one client connection device to support said at least one call when said stand-by server does not receive a designated number of signals from said main server indicative of availability of said main server, wherein said stand-by server operates as a replacement for said main server;

said stand-by server requesting said at least one client connection device to reset to a designated call state; and

said stand-by server creating a call state information resource based, at least in part, on said designated call state.

14. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for facilitating communications, comprising:

instructions for directing a first server to establish at least one connection with at least one client connection device for support of at least one call;

instructions for directing said first server to initiate at least one signal sent to a second server when said first server is available, said signal being indicative of availability of said first server to support said at least one call;

instructions for directing said second server to establish at least one connection with said at least one client connection device to support said at least one call when said second server does not receive a designated number of signals initiated by said first server indicative of availability of said first server, wherein said stand-by server operates as a replacement for said main server;

instructions for directing said second server to request call state information from said at least one client connection device; and

instructions for directing said second server to update a call state information resource based on said call state information received from said at least one client connection device.

15. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for facilitating communications, comprising:

instructions for directing a first server to establish at least one connection with at least one client connection device for support of at least one call;

instructions for directing said first server to initiate at least one signal sent to a second server when said first server is available, said signal being indicative of said first server being available to support said at least one call;

instructions for directing said second server to establish at least one connection with said at least one client connection device to support said at least one call when said second server does not receive a designated number of signals initiated by said first server indicative of availability of said first server, wherein said stand-by server operates as a replacement for said main server;

instructions for directing said second server to request said at least one client connection device to reset to a designated call state; and

instructions for directing said second server to create a call state information resource based, at least in part, on said designated call state.