Hardware independent hierarchical cluster of heterogeneous media servers using a hierarchical command beat protocol to synchronize distributed parallel computing systems and employing a virtual dynamic network topology for distributed parallel computing system
First Claim
1. A hierarchical clustered parallel processing system comprising:
- a plurality of cluster nodes, each cluster node comprising at least one computer system cluster, each computer system cluster comprising at least one computer processing system;
a physical network connected to allow any of said computer processing systems incorporated within said plurality of cluster nodes to communicate with any other of said computer processing systems within said cluster nodes and connected to allow communication between each cluster node;
a plurality of virtual networks, each virtual network comprising a plurality of said computer processing systems, wherein each computer processing system includes at least one neighbor'"'"'s listing, each neighbor'"'"'s listing defining said computer processing system as a member of one of said plurality of said virtual networks and virtually connected through a virtual multicast bus to other member computer processing systems of said virtual network to allow direct and shared communication with the member processors; and
a configuration service apparatus in communication with each of said computer processing systems to provide each of said plurality of computer processing systems with;
a neighbor'"'"'s listing for each of said plurality of virtual networks that each of said plurality of computer systems is a member computer system;
a node identification to identify one cluster node that each member computer processing system is a member computer processing system,a multicast bus address to broadcast communications to said member computer processing systems of said hierarchical cluster by way of said virtual networks to which said member computer processing systems, anda cluster node priority list designating a priority for each cluster node within said hierarchical cluster; and
a cluster supervising processor to provide operational control services for each of said cluster nodes, said cluster supervising processor being selected of said member computer processing systems of each of said cluster nodes according to the priority from said priority list.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video distribution system is implemented on a hierarchical parallel processing system that has clusters that are automatically formed from nodes of computer processing systems. Each cluster has a cluster supervising processor or group leader system that controls cluster configuration, fault detection and isolation, and data distribution. The group leader is determined according to a priority determined during the configuring of the hierarchical parallel processing system. The clusters are able to be reconfigured to allow removal and addition of nodes without impact on operation of the parallel processor system. The cluster provide a node status or heartbeat message that which provides detection and isolation of failure of nodes and disk storage devices within a cluster. The nodes within the cluster are able to join or leave a cluster and not affect performance.
-
Citations
66 Claims
-
1. A hierarchical clustered parallel processing system comprising:
-
a plurality of cluster nodes, each cluster node comprising at least one computer system cluster, each computer system cluster comprising at least one computer processing system; a physical network connected to allow any of said computer processing systems incorporated within said plurality of cluster nodes to communicate with any other of said computer processing systems within said cluster nodes and connected to allow communication between each cluster node; a plurality of virtual networks, each virtual network comprising a plurality of said computer processing systems, wherein each computer processing system includes at least one neighbor'"'"'s listing, each neighbor'"'"'s listing defining said computer processing system as a member of one of said plurality of said virtual networks and virtually connected through a virtual multicast bus to other member computer processing systems of said virtual network to allow direct and shared communication with the member processors; and a configuration service apparatus in communication with each of said computer processing systems to provide each of said plurality of computer processing systems with; a neighbor'"'"'s listing for each of said plurality of virtual networks that each of said plurality of computer systems is a member computer system; a node identification to identify one cluster node that each member computer processing system is a member computer processing system, a multicast bus address to broadcast communications to said member computer processing systems of said hierarchical cluster by way of said virtual networks to which said member computer processing systems, and a cluster node priority list designating a priority for each cluster node within said hierarchical cluster; and a cluster supervising processor to provide operational control services for each of said cluster nodes, said cluster supervising processor being selected of said member computer processing systems of each of said cluster nodes according to the priority from said priority list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A virtual network formed within a plurality of clusters of computer processing systems interconnected by a physical network to allow each computer processing system of the clusters of computer processing systems to transfer data between any of the plurality of computer processing systems, said virtual network comprising:
-
a plurality of nodes, each node comprising at least one computer system cluster designated to be a member of said virtual network, each computer system cluster comprising at least one of said computer processing systems; a virtual multicast bus to provide communication between member nodes of said virtual network; and a configuration service apparatus in communication with each of the computer systems to provide each of the plurality of computer systems with; a neighbor'"'"'s listing for each of said computer processing systems included in a member node of said virtual network, a separate neighbor'"'"'s listing associated with any virtual network included within said a plurality of clusters; a node identification to identify a node for each member computer processing system within said cluster, a multicast bus address to broadcast communications to said member nodes of said virtual network by way of said virtual multicast bus, and a node priority list designating a priority for each member node within said virtual network; and a cluster supervising processor to provide operational control services for each of said member nodes, said cluster supervising processor being selected of said computer systems within said nodes according to the priority from said priority list. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A method for forming a virtual network within a plurality of clusters of computer processing systems interconnected by a physical network to allow each computer processing system of the clusters of computer processing systems to transfer data between any of the plurality of computer systems, said method for forming said virtual network comprising steps of:
-
creating a plurality of nodes such that each node comprises at least one computer system cluster designated to be a member of said virtual network, each computer system cluster comprising at least one of said computer processing systems; providing communication between member nodes of said virtual network through a virtual multicast bus; and establishing a configuration service apparatus communicating with each of said computer systems; transferring from said configuration service apparatus to each of the plurality of computer processing systems; a neighbor'"'"'s listing for each of said computer processing systems included in a member node of said virtual network, a separate neighbor'"'"'s listing associated with any virtual network included within said a plurality of clusters; a node identification to identify a node for each member computer processing system within said cluster, a multicast bus address to broadcast communications to said member nodes of said virtual network by way of said virtual multicast bus, and a node priority list designating a priority for each member node within said virtual network; and selecting one of said computer systems within said nodes according to the priority from said priority list to be a cluster supervising processor to provide operational control services for each of said member nodes. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
-
Specification