Distributed services architecture through use of a dynamic service point map

• US 7,353,295 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motive Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Crow, James J., Parker, Dennis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US09/542,273
• Time in Patent Office: 2,919 Days
• Field of Search: 709/244, 709200-203, 709/217, 709/220, 370/359, 707/102
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1031 Controlling of the operation of servers by a load balancer, e.g. adding or removing servers that serve requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1038 Load balancing arrangements to avoid a single path through a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

An information management system within a client/server based computer system is disclosed. The information management system manages information as to the dynamic locations and continuous changes relating to services offered within the computer system. The information management system utilizes a service point map (SPM) that monitors such changes. The SPM tracks changes relating to services, sphere, location, port, and epoch value. The SPM may be hierarchical in nature. Parallel or duplicate services may also exist within the system.

Claims

1. A communication network, comprising:

a plurality of server devices for providing a plurality of services, respectively, to the network, where each service of the plurality of services has a corresponding service address, and wherein the plurality of services are distinct from each other;

a client device configured to access a first service of the plurality of services by performing at least the following;

accessing a service point map on the client device to obtain a first service address for the first service, and

sending a request for the first service wherein the request comprises the first address for the first service,

wherein the service point map comprises a listing of the plurality of services and their corresponding service addresses, including the first service address;

a service point map manager for generating a new service point map after the corresponding service address for the first service is changed from the first service address to a second service address, wherein the new service point map comprises the second service address;

wherein the service point map comprises a client epoch value;

wherein a third service has a corresponding service epoch value, whereby the third service causes the client device to take corrective action at the time that a mismatch is detected between the client epoch value and the service epoch value using executable commands embedded in the service point map.

2. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the service point map manager is configured to send the new service point map to the client device.

3. The communication network of claim 2, wherein the service point map manager device selects at least one connected service for inclusion in the new service point map using server load balancing techniques.

4. The communication network of claim 3, wherein the server load balancing techniques are implemented by supplying a first service point map to the client device, wherein the first service point map has been processed for load balancing.

5. The communication network of claim 3, wherein the server load balancing techniques are implemented by supplying a first service point map to the client device, wherein the client device runs a script code in the first service point map to select the at least one connected service.

6. The communication network of claim 2, wherein the service point map manager device selects at least one connected service for inclusion in the new service point map based on the topographical location of the client device in the network.

7. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the client epoch value is for a second service identified in the service point map, wherein the client epoch value is used to correlate the performance of the client device and the second service.

8. The communication network of claim 1, wherein a second service of the plurality of services causes the client device to perform actions using executable commands in the service point map.

9. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the service point map includes backup service address information for a selected service identified in the service point map in the event that the selected service cannot be reached.

10. The communication network of claim 9, wherein the backup service address information comprises address information for a service point map manager device.

11. The communication network of claim 9, wherein the backup service address information comprises address information for an alternate server device providing the selected service.

12. In a client/server communication network wherein a plurality of services are located on a plurality of servers operable to connect to the network, a server computer system for:

generating a table listing comprising identities of first and second services provided by first and second servers, respectively, of the plurality of servers and first and second location information for the first and second services, respectively, wherein the first and second location information are distinct from each other, and wherein the first and second services are distinct from each other;

sending the table listing to a client computer system for storage therein, wherein the table listing enables the client computer system to access the second service using the second location information in the table listing for the second service;

generating a new table listing after the second location information for the second service is changed to a third location information, wherein the new table listing comprises the identities of the first and second services and first and third location information for the first and second services, respectively, wherein the second and third location information are distinct from each other;

wherein the table listing is sent to the client computer system along with a client epoch value;

wherein a third service has a corresponding service epoch value, whereby the third service causes the client computer system to take corrective action at the time that a mismatch is detected between the client epoch value and the service epoch value using executable commands embedded in a service point map.

13. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein the server computer system generates the table listing based on service topology existing at the time the table listing was generated.

14. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein the server computer system sends the table listing to client computer system when the client computer system connects to the network.

15. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein the first service is selected from the plurality of services using a first partitioning scheme, wherein the first partitioning scheme is a functional partitioning of the plurality of services.

16. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein the first service is selected from the plurality of services using a first partitioning scheme, wherein the first partitioning scheme uses identification data associated with the client computer system to select the first service.

17. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein the first service is selected from the plurality of services using a first partitioning scheme, wherein the first partitioning scheme is uses a resource connection to select the first service.

18. The server computer system of claim 12, wherein the first service is selected from the plurality of services using a first partitioning scheme, wherein the first partitioning scheme uses equivalency to select the first service.

19. A method comprising:

in a first server of a plurality of servers transferring a dynamic service point map to a client in response to the client connecting to a computer network;

wherein the dynamic service point map comprises identities of first and second services along with first and second location information, respectively, wherein the first and second services are provided by first and second servers, respectively, and wherein the first and second services are distinct from each other;

creating a new dynamic service point map by changing the second location information for the second service to a third location information in the dynamic service point map in response to adding the second service to a third server;

the first server transferring the new dynamic service point map to the client;

wherein the new dynamic service point map comprises identities of first and second services along with first and third location information, respectively, wherein the second and third location information are distinct from each other;

wherein the service point map comprises a client epoch value;

wherein a third service has a corresponding service epoch value, whereby the third service causes the client to take corrective action at the time that a mismatch is detected between the client epoch value and the service epoch value using executable commands embedded in the service point map.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

the first server receiving the second location information for inclusion in the dynamic service point map.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising transferring the new service point map to the client upon failure of the client to connect to the second service listed in the dynamic service point map.

22. A computer-readable medium comprising:

transferring instructions to transfer a dynamic service point map to a client process running on a client from a first server of a plurality of servers in a network in response to the client process connecting to the network, wherein the dynamic service point map comprises first and second location information corresponding to the first and second services, respectively, implemented on first and second servers, respectively, and wherein the first and second services are distinct from each other;

transferring instructions to transfer a new dynamic service point map to the client process running on the client after the second location information for the second service is changed to a third location information;

wherein the new dynamic service point map comprises identities of first and second services along with first and third location information, respectively, wherein the second and third location information are distinct from each other;

wherein the new dynamic service point map comprises a client epoch value;

wherein a third service has a corresponding service epoch value, whereby the third service causes the client process to take corrective action at the time that a mismatch is detected between the client epoch value and the service epoch value using executable commands embedded in the new dynamic service point map.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 further comprising:

generating instructions to generate the second location information, and

publishing instructions to publish the second location information for inclusion in the dynamic service point map.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 further comprising:

second transferring instructions to transfer the new dynamic service point map to the client process upon failure of the client process to connect to second service listed in the dynamic service point map.