Method and system for persisting content in decentralized network

• US 7,440,428 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: White, Payton R., Bates, John P., Corson, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/857,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1019 Random or heuristic server selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1027 Persistence of sessions during load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1048 Departure or maintenance mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Methods are provided to ensure that content defining a sub-grid of a decentralized network continues to be provided to the sub-grid upon departure of a node from the sub-grid that has been responsible for providing the content. A node intent on exiting a sub-grid ensures that content for which it has service responsibility is appropriately transferred to another node prior to exiting the sub-grid, wherein the other node is capable of serving the transferred content to the sub-grid.

Claims

1. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network, comprising:

operating a number of nodes to form a sub-grid based on a common interest, wherein a first node operating within the sub-grid is responsible for providing data content to the sub-grid, wherein the number of nodes operate in a cooperative manner to provide data content to define the common interest;

selecting a second node to provide to the sub-grid the data content for which the first node is responsible;

transferring the data content for which the first node is responsible from the first node to the second node;

causing the first node to exit the sub-grid; and

operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node.

2. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 1, wherein the second node is selected from nodes operating within the sub-grid.

3. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 2, wherein the second node is selected randomly from nodes operating within the sub-grid.

4. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 2, wherein the second node is selected based on applying a set of guidelines to nodes operating within the sub-grid.

5. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 4, wherein application of the set of guidelines serves to generate a load indicator for each node operating within the sub-grid.

6. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 5, wherein the second node is selected based on having a load indicator representing a lower load relative to other nodes operating within the sub-grid.

7. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 5, wherein the load indicator represents one of a number of objects being provided to the sub-grid, an amount of data being provided to the sub-grid, and an amount of data per unit time being provided to the sub-grid.

8. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 1, wherein the second node is selected from a volunteer pool of nodes operating outside of the sub-grid.

9. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 8, wherein operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node includes operating the second node to actively participate in the sub-grid.

10. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 8, wherein operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node includes operating the second node to establish a partial presence within the sub-grid.

11. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 10, wherein the partial presence includes storing data content for the sub-grid without actively participating in the sub-grid.

12. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

operating the second node to discontinue providing the data content transferred from the first node upon expiration of a time limit associated with the data content transferred from the first node.

13. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 1, wherein the sub-grid is defined as a fully connected grid within a peer-to-peer network.

14. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network, comprising:

program instructions for operating a number of nodes to form a sub-grid based on a common interest, wherein a first node operating within the sub-grid is responsible for providing data content to the sub-grid, wherein the number of nodes operate in a cooperative manner to provide data content to define the common interest;

program instructions for selecting a second node to provide to the sub-grid the data content for which the first node is responsible;

program instructions for transferring the data content for which the first node is responsible from the first node to the second node;

program instructions for operating the first node to exit the sub-grid; and

program instructions for operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node.

15. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 14, wherein the program instructions for selecting the second node are defined to direct the second node to be selected from nodes operating within the sub-grid.

16. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 15, wherein the program instructions for selecting the second node are defined to direct the second node to be selected randomly from nodes operating within the sub-grid.

17. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 15, wherein the program instructions for selecting the second node are defined to direct the second node to be selected based on applying a set of guidelines to nodes operating within the sub-grid.

18. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 17, wherein application of the set of guidelines serves to generate a load indicator for each node operating within the sub-grid.

19. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 18, wherein the program instructions for selecting the second node are defined to direct the second node to be selected based on having a load indicator representing a lower load relative to other nodes operating within the sub-grid.

20. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 18, wherein the load indicator represents one of a number of objects being provided to the sub-grid, an amount of data being provided to the sub-grid, and an amount of data per unit time being provided to the sub-grid.

21. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 14, wherein the program instructions for selecting the second node are defined to direct the second node to be selected from a volunteer pool of nodes operating outside of the sub-grid.

22. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 21, wherein the program instructions for operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node include program instructions for operating the second node to actively participate in the sub-grid.

23. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 21, wherein the program instructions for operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node include program instructions for operating the second node to establish a partial presence within the sub-grid.

24. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 23, wherein the partial presence includes storing data content for the sub-grid without actively participating in the sub-grid.

25. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

program instructions for operating the second node to discontinue providing the data content transferred from the first node upon expiration of a time limit associated with the data content transferred from the first node.

26. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within a sub-grid of a decentralized network as recited in claim 14, wherein the sub-grid is defined as a fully connected grid within a peer-to-peer network.

27. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid, comprising:

operating a first node within a sub-grid, wherein the sub-grid is based on a common interest, wherein nodes other than the first node are absent from the sub-grid, the first node being responsible for providing data content to the sub-grid to define the common interest; and

operating the first node to establish a partial presence within the sub-grid, wherein the partial presence enables the first node to cease operation within the sub-grid while maintaining the data content provision by the first node to the sub-grid.

28. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

operating the first node to monitor the sub-grid for operation of a second node within the sub-grid;

detecting operation of the second node within the sub-grid;

transferring the data content for which the first node is responsible from the first node to the second node;

operating the first node to exit the sub-grid; and

operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node.

29. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

operating the second node to discontinue providing the data content transferred from the first node upon expiration of the data content transferred from the first node.

30. A method for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid as recited in claim 27, wherein the sub-grid is defined as a fully connected grid within a peer-to-peer network.

31. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid, comprising:

program instructions for operating a first node within a sub-grid, wherein the sub-grid is based on a common interest, wherein nodes other than the first node are absent from the sub-grid, the first node being responsible for providing data content to the sub-grid to define the common interest; and

program instructions for operating the first node to establish a partial presence within the sub-grid, wherein the partial presence enables the first node to cease operation within the sub-grid while maintaining the data content provision by the first node to the sub-grid.

32. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

program instructions for operating the first node to monitor the sub-grid for operation of a second node within the sub-grid;

program instructions for detecting operation of the second node within the sub-grid;

program instructions for transferring the data content for which the first node is responsible from the first node to the second node;

program instructions for operating the first node to exit the sub-grid; and

program instructions for operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node.

33. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

program instructions for operating the second node to discontinue providing the data content transferred from the first node upon expiration of a time limit associated with the data content transferred from the first node.

34. A computer readable media including program instructions for ensuring persistence of data content within an empty sub-grid as recited in claim 31, wherein the sub-grid is defined as a fully connected grid within a peer-to-peer network.

35. A computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory capable of storing program instructions to be executed by the processor, the program instructions including,

computer code for providing data content within a sub-grid of a peer-to-peer network, wherein the sub-grid is based on a common interest shared among a number of computing devices, wherein the number of computing devices operate in a cooperative manner to provide data content to define the common interest,

computer code for selecting another computing device to which responsibility for providing the data content within the sub-grid can be passed,

computer code for transferring the data content to a selected computing device, and

computer code for enabling the computing device to disconnect from the sub-grid upon successfully transferring the data content to the selected computing device.

36. A computing device as recited in claim 35, wherein the computer code for selecting another computing device is defined to cause the other computing device to be selected from computing devices present within the sub-grid.

37. A computing device as recited in claim 35, wherein the computer code for selecting another computing device is defined to cause the other computing device to be selected from a volunteer pool of computing devices present outside the sub-grid.

38. A computing device as recited in claim 35, wherein the computer code for selecting another computing device is defined to cause the other computing device to be selected in a random manner.

39. A computing device as recited in claim 35, wherein the computer code for selecting another computing device is defined to cause the other computing device to be selected in accordance with a set of guidelines.

40. A computing device as recited in claim 39, wherein the set of guidelines are defined to preserve a load balance among computing devices present within the sub-grid.

41. A computing device as recited in claim 35, wherein the computing device is a game console.

42. A decentralized network, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected nodes forming a sub-grid, wherein the sub-grid is based on a common interest shared among the plurality of interconnected nodes, and wherein each of the plurality of interconnected nodes provides data content to the sub-grid; and

a data content persistence service deployed to operate on each of the plurality of interconnected nodes, the data content persistence service defined to ensure that data content provided by a first node to the sub-grid will be retained within the sub-grid upon departure of the first node from the sub-grid.

43. A decentralized network as recited in claim 42, wherein the data content persistence service operates to transfer data content provided by the first node to a second node present within the sub-grid, wherein the data content transfer occurs prior to departure of the first node from the sub-grid.

44. A decentralized network as recited in claim 43, wherein the data content persistence service operates to select the second node to which the data content is to be transferred based on a set of guidelines defined to preserve a load balance among nodes present within the sub-grid.

45. A decentralized network as recited in claim 42, wherein the data content persistence service operates to transfer data content provided by the first node to a volunteer node existing outside the sub-grid, wherein the data content transfer occurs prior to departure of the first node from the sub-grid.

46. A decentralized network as recited in claim 42, wherein the data content persistence service operates to direct the first node to retain a partial presence within the sub-grid to preserve the data content provided by the first node to the sub-grid.

47. A data content persistence mechanism for deployment across a decentralized network, comprising:

means for operating a first node to provide data content within a sub-grid of the decentralized network, wherein the sub-grid is based on a common interest, and wherein a number of nodes operate in a cooperative manner to provide data content to define the common interest;

means for selecting a second node to continue providing the data content within the sub-grid upon departure of the first node from the sub-grid;

means for transferring the data content from the first node to the second node;

means for causing the first node to depart the sub-grid; and

means for operating the second node to provide the data content transferred from the first node.

48. A data content persistence mechanism for deployment across a decentralized network as recited in claim 47, further comprising:

means for operating the first node to establish a partial presence within the sub-grid, wherein the partial presence enables the first node to cease operation within the sub-grid while maintaining the data content provision by the first node to the sub-grid.