Method and apparatus for self-organizing node groups on a network

• US 7,461,130 B1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: AbdelAziz, Mohamed M., Traversat, Bernard A., da Fonseca, Andre Marques, Veeraraghavan, Sriranga R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US10/997,725
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 709208-211, 709/230
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1051 Group master selection mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

Method and apparatus for the self-organization of nodes into groups in network computing environments. Embodiments may provide the ability to deploy nodes on a network, and to allow the nodes to organize into groups without human intervention. In one embodiment, a node may broadcast a query looking for a master node for the group. If the query produces no responses, the node may self-elect as the master node for the group and the node may broadcast its presence as the master node. If two or more nodes self-elect as master nodes, the nodes may negotiate to determine which node will be the master node. If the master node becomes unavailable, the remaining nodes in the group may elect a new master node. Some embodiments may be implemented on a peer-to-peer platform, such as the JXTA peer-to-peer platform, which may allow the scope of the group to span subnetworks and networks.

Claims

1. A network computing system, comprising:

a plurality of devices coupled to a network, wherein each device comprises one or more nodes;

two or more of the nodes configured to couple to the network and to self-organize as a group on the network to perform one or more applications on the network;

wherein, to self-organize as a group on the network, each of the two or more nodes is configured to;

broadcast a discovery query for a master node for the group on the network;

if a response to the discovery query is received indicating another node as the master node for the group, cache information indicating that the other node is the master node for the group; and

if no response to the discovery query is received, assume the role of master node for the group;

wherein the master node for a group is configured to provide or control one or more functions for nodes in the group; and

wherein the two or more nodes are peer nodes in a peer-to-peer networking environment on the network, wherein the peer-to-peer networking environment is implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content in the peer-to-peer networking environment.

2. The network computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein, if a node assumes the role of master node for the group, the node is configured to broadcast on the network that the node has assumed the role of master node for the group.

3. The network computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein, if two or more of the nodes in the group assume the role of master node for the group, the nodes that have assumed the role of master node for the group are configured to negotiate to determine one of the nodes to serve as the master node for the group.

4. The network computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the two or more nodes in the group are configured to, if the master node for the group goes down:

detect that the master node has become unavailable; and

select one of the nodes to assume the role of master node for the group.

5. The network computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the two or more nodes are peer nodes in a peer group on the network, wherein scope of said broadcast is the peer group, and wherein the peer group is implemented in accordance with the peer-to-peer platform.

6. The network computing system as recited in claim 5, wherein the peer group extends across two or more subnetworks on the network.

7. A network computing system, comprising:

a network;

a plurality of devices coupled to the network; and

a plurality of nodes implemented on the plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of nodes is configured to;

couple to the network and to self-organize as a node group on the network to perform one or more functions on the network; and

determine one of the plurality of nodes to serve as a master node for the group;

wherein the master node for a group is configured to provide or control one or more functions for nodes in the group; and

wherein, to determine one of the plurality of nodes to serve as a master node for the group, each of the nodes is configured to;

broadcast a discovery query for a master node for the group on the network;

if a response to the discovery query is received indicating another node as the master node for the group, cache information indicating that the other node is the master node for the group; and

if no response to the discovery query is received, assume the role of master node for the group;

wherein the plurality of nodes are peer nodes in a peer group on the network, wherein scope of said broadcast is the peer group, and wherein the peer group is implemented in accordance with a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content in a peer-to-peer networking environment.

8. The network computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein, if a node assumes the role of master node for the group, the node is configured to broadcast on the network that the node has assumed the role of master node for the group.

9. The network computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein, if two or more of the nodes in the group assume the role of master node for the group, the nodes that have assumed the role of master node for the group are configured to negotiate to determine one of the nodes to serve as the master node for the group.

10. The network computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the peer group extends across two or more subnetworks on the network.

11. The network computing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of nodes are further configured to, if the master node for the group goes down:

detect that the master node has become unavailable; and

determine another one of the plurality of nodes to assume the role of master node for the group.

12. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to implement a master node mechanism configured to;

broadcast a discovery query on a network for a master node for a group of nodes on the network, wherein the group of nodes is configured to perform one or more applications on the network, wherein the system is configured as a node in the group;

if a response to the discovery query is received indicating another node as the master node for the group, store information indicating that the other node is the master node for the group; and

if no response to the discovery query is received, self-elect the system as master node for the group;

wherein, the master node for a group is configured to provide or control one or more functions for nodes in the group; and

wherein the group of nodes are peer nodes in a peer-to-peer networking environment on the network, wherein the peer-to-peer networking environment is implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content in the peer-to-peer networking environment.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein, if the master node mechanism self-elects the system as the master node for the group, the master node mechanism is configured to broadcast the system'"'"'s presence as master node for the group.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein, if the master node mechanism self-elects the system as the master node for the group, and if one or more other nodes also self-elect as master nodes for the group, the master node mechanism is further configured to negotiate with the other nodes that have self-elected as master nodes to determine which one of the nodes is to serve as the master node for the group.

15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein, if another node in the group is the master node for the group, and if that other node becomes unavailable, the master node mechanism is further configured to:

detect that the master node has become unavailable; and

self-elect the system to assume the role of master node for the group.

16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the group of nodes are peer nodes in a peer group on the network, wherein scope of said broadcast is the peer group, and wherein the peer group is implemented in accordance with the peer-to-peer platform.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the peer group extends across two or more subnetworks on the network.

18. A network computing system, comprising:

means for a collection of nodes to self-organize as a group of nodes on a network to perform one or more applications on the network; and

means for the group of nodes to determine one of the nodes to serve as master node for the group, wherein, the master node for the group is configured to provide or control one or more functions for the nodes in the group;

wherein said means for the group of nodes to determine one of the nodes to serve as master node for the group comprises;

means for each of the nodes to self-elect as the master node for the group; and

if two or more of the nodes self-elect as the master node for the group, means for the two or more nodes to negotiate to select one of the nodes in the group as the master node for the group;

wherein the collection of nodes are peer nodes in a peer-to-peer networking environment on the network, wherein the peer-to-peer networking environment is implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content in the peer-to-peer networking environment.

19. The network computing system as recited in claim 18, further comprising means for the group of nodes to determine a new master node for the group if the master node for the group goes down.

20. A method, comprising:

a node broadcasting a discovery query on a network for a master node for a group of nodes on the network configured to perform one or more applications on the network;

if a response to the discovery query is received indicating another node as the master node for the group, storing information indicating that the other node is the master node for the group; and

if no response to the discovery query is received, the node assuming the role of master node for the group;

wherein, the master node for the group is configured to provide or control one or more functions for the nodes in the group; and

wherein the group of nodes are peer nodes in a peer-to-peer networking environment on the network, wherein the peer-to-peer networking environment is implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content in the peer-to-peer networking environment.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the method further comprises, if the node assumes the role of master node for the group, broadcasting the node'"'"'s presence as master node for the group.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the method further comprises, if the node assumes the role of master node for the group, and if one or more other nodes also self-elect as master nodes for the group, the node negotiating with the other nodes that have self-elected as master nodes to determine which one of the nodes is to serve as the master node for the group.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the method further comprises, if another node in the group is the master node for the group, and if that other node becomes unavailable:

the node detecting that the master node has become unavailable; and

the node assuming the role of master node for the group.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the group of nodes are peer nodes in a peer group on the network, wherein the scope of said broadcasting is the peer group, and wherein the peer group is implemented in accordance with the peer-to-peer platform.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the peer group extends across two or more subnetworks on the network.

26. A computer-accessible storage medium storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

a node broadcasting a discovery query on a network for a master node for a group of nodes on the network configured to perform one or more applications on the network;

if a response to the discovery query is received indicating another node as the master node for the group, storing information indicating that the other node is the master node for the group; and

if no response to the discovery query is received, the node assuming the role of master node for the group;

wherein, the master node for the group is configured to provide or control one or more functions for the nodes in the group; and

wherein the group of nodes are peer nodes in a peer group on the network, wherein the scope of said broadcasting is the peer group, wherein the peer group is implemented in accordance with a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content in a peer-to-peer networking environment.

27. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement, if the node assumes the role of master node for the group, broadcasting the node'"'"'s presence as master node for the group.

28. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement, if the node assumes the role of master node for the group, and if one or more other nodes also self-elect as master nodes for the group, the node negotiating with the other nodes that have self-elected as master nodes to determine which one of the nodes is to serve as the master node for the group.

29. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement, if another node in the group is the master node for the group, and if that other node becomes unavailable:

the node detecting that the master node has become unavailable; and

the node assuming the role of master node for the group.

30. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the peer group extends across two or more subnetworks on the network.