Self-configuring server and server network

• US 7,315,903 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palladia Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Palladia Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Bowden, Tommy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): MESFIN, YEMANE
• Application Number:
  US10/200,721
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 709/250, 709/251
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers

Abstract

A self-configuring server system is disclosed. In this system, a plurality of nodes are linked together in a primary loop. Each node includes an external communication interface coupled to the loop, a command module for controlling the node and an internal interface. The internal interface, for each node, is in turn coupled to an internal loop associated with that node, the internal loop defining operation of that node. Messages and data circulate around the primary loop until reaching an appropriate node, where the message or data is acted upon. In some instances the messages or data is client-related, and in other instances the messages or data provide for dynamic reconfiguration of the system. In yet other instances, the messages or data is transmitted from one or more nodes in order to provide operational data about the node/nodes to a plurality of system controllers. Components in the loop also may receive information from components not in the loop but associated with the system, such as virile entities, that are used for monitoring and control.

Claims

1. A server network, comprising:

a plurality of modules;

a plurality of communication interfaces that are connected to the modules, where the communications interfaces are linked together in at least one loop where the communication interfaces transfer system messages and client messages between the modules;

an input tree queue and an output tree queue each configured as an N dimensional image map wherein discrete pixels therein contain information about respective ones of system messages and client messages, and further wherein said information about respective ones of said system messages and said client messages are spatially indexed in said image map according to their meaning, with at least a portion of said meaning residing in at least one pixel in said image map, said information about said system messages and said client messages being transferred between said input tree queue and said output tree queue,

at least one autonomous program for re-configuring assets of the server network to optimize network performance based on monitoring of said input tree queue and said output tree queue.

2. The network of claim 1 where pixels containing said meaning are organized in patterns according to relationships between other messages and system properties.

3. The network of claim 2 where color and intensity of said pixels are indicative of said meaning contained in those said pixels.

4. The network of claim 3 where said meaning about each of said system messages comprises a type of each said system message and function of each said system message.

5. The network of claim 4 where types of said system messages comprises at least one of the following:

a nexus pointer;

a message queue;

or

a message path.

6. The network of claim 4 where functions of said system messages comprise at least one of the following:

critical information;

access information; and

location information.

7. The network of claim 3 where said image map of a respective said input tree queue and said output tree queue indicate changes relevant to a respective said tree queue for monitoring of network performance.

8. The network of claim 3 where said input tree queue and said output tree queue are displayed for visual monitoring of said patterns by a system administrator.

9. The network of claim 7 wherein said autonomous program is at least one intelligent agent for monitoring the input tree queue and the output tree queue, said at least one intelligent agent responsive to changes, in at least one of the group of said patterns, said color and said intensity of said pixels containing said meaning for modifying said input tree queue and said output tree queue to optimize said system performance.

10. The network of claim 9, where said at least one intelligent agent re-configures the network to optimize network performance using at least one of the group of a color filter, a color intensity filter and a pattern map.

11. The network of claim 7 wherein said input tree queue and said output tree queue are N-dimensional structures represented by a plurality of layers of said image maps, and further comprising a plurality of intelligent agents, each intelligent agent of said plurality of intelligent agents configured for acting on at least one layer of said layers of said image maps, and each said intelligent agent provided with at least one of the group of a pattern map for detecting and acting on a selected pattern of said pixels, a color filter for detecting and acting on one or more selected colors of said pixels, and an intensity detector for detecting and acting on an intensity of at least one of said colors.

12. A server network, comprising:

a plurality of system modules;

means for communicating between the system modules including a plurality of communication interfaces connected to the modules, where the communications interfaces are linked together in at least one loop and transfer system messages and client messages between the modules;

means for monitoring network performance further comprising an input tree queue and an output tree queue each configured as an N dimensional image nap wherein discrete pixels therein contain information about respective ones of said system messages and said client messages, and further wherein said information about said system messages and said client messages are spatially indexed in said image map according to their meaning and organized in patterns according to relationships between other messages and system properties, with at least a portion of said meaning residing in color and intensity of at least one pixel in said image map, said information about said system messages and said client messages being transferred between said input tree queue and said output tree; and

means for re-configuring assets of the server network to optimize network performance based on results from the means for monitoring network performance.

13. A server network as set forth in claim 12 wherein said N dimensional image map further comprises a plurality of layers of 2 dimensional image maps.

14. A server network as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for reconfiguring said assets of said server network further comprises at least one intelligent agent provided with at least one of the group of a color filter, a color intensity filter, and a pattern map, for sensing changes in said patterns, said color and said intensity.