Method for optimally routing specific service in network, and server and routing node used in the network

• US 7,929,550 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Namihira, Daisuke, Terasaki, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US11/248,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/026 Details of "hello" or keep-alive messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Information (service information) about service contents provided by servers is registered or updated by each of routing nodes by exchanging said information through use of a routing protocol used in controlling a path among the routing nodes. The routing node selectively changes address information about a service access request on the basis of the service information owned by the routing node, to thus route the service access request to an optimal destination. Thereby, concentration of load to a specific service can be efficiently dispersed.

Claims

1. A method for optimally routing a specific service in a network having a plurality of servers and a plurality of routing nodes which route service access requests to said servers in accordance with address information assigned to said service access requests, said method comprising:

on each of said routing nodes,

managing registering and updating of service information pertaining to service contents provided by said each routing node upon receipt of said service information from a server connected to said each routing node or another routing node; and

selectively changing address information about said service access requests on the basis of said managed service information owned by said each routing node, to thus route said service access requests.

2. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein said service information which includes a service identifier showing a service type provided by said servers is registered or updated in each of said routing nodes through use of a routing protocol, and

each of said routing nodes route said service access requests for the every service type on the basis of said service identifier.

3. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 2, wherein a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is used as said service identifier.

4. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein said servers notify said routing nodes connected to said servers of a service operating status of said servers, by means of a service operation status notification message;

said routing nodes update said service information owned by said routing nodes according to a service operation status notified by means of said service operation status notification message; and

an update of said service information is reflected on said routing nodes in said network respectively by means of a routing protocol.

5. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 4, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said servers for providing identical service contents, said master server periodically notifies a routing node connected to said master server of said service operation status notification message;

when said routing nodes determine, based on said service operation status notification message, that said master server has stayed inactive for a predetermined period of time, registration of said service information about said mirror server is deleted, and deletion of said service information is transmitted to and reflected on said routing nodes in said network respectively by means of a routing protocol.

6. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein said servers transmit a service update message to said routing nodes connected to said servers, every time said service contents provided by said servers are updated;

said routing nodes delete registration of said service information about said service contents when said routing nodes do not receive said service update message from said servers for a predetermined period of time; and

deletion of said service information is transmitted to and reflected on respective routing nodes in the network by means of a routing protocol.

7. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 6, wherein, even when said service update message is not received for said predetermined period of time, said routing nodes maintain registration of service information about service contents which are objects of non-updating.

8. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein each of said routing nodes monitor an operation status of another routing node by monitoring receipt of dead/alive ascertainment information to be periodically received from the other routing node, through use of a routing protocol;

and

when the other routing node is ascertained to be inactive, service information about the other routing node among pieces of service information owned by said routing nodes is deleted, and deletion of said service information is transmitted to and reflected on each routing node in said network by means of said routing protocol.

9. The method for optimally routing a specific service in a network according to claim 1, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said servers for providing identical service contents, said mirror server transmits an access request used for updating service contents provided by said mirror server to a routing node connected to said mirror server, and said routing node converts address information about said access request into direct access address information which enables direct access to said master server, thereby routing said access request.

10. A server used in a network having a plurality of servers and a plurality of routing nodes for routing service access requests from user terminals to said servers in accordance with address information assigned to said service access requests, said server comprising:

a providing unit that provides said user terminals with services; and

a service notifier that notifies a routing node connected to said server of service information pertaining to service contents provided by said server, wherein

said service information notified to said routing node is used for selectively changing address information about said service access requests to thus route said service access requests, and

when a mirror server which provides service contents identical with those provided by said servers exists separately from said servers, said mirror server further comprises a direct access address information notifier which notifies said routing node connected to said server of direct access address information for enabling direct access to said server when service contents provided by said mirror server are updated.

11. The server used in a network according to claim 10, wherein said service notifier further comprises a service update notifier, when said service contents are updated, that notifies said routing node of information pertaining to said updated service contents.

12. The server used in a network according to claim 10, wherein said server further comprises a service operation status notifier that notifies said routing node of a service operation status of said server.

13. A routing node used in a network having a plurality of servers, and a plurality of routing nodes for routing service access requests to said servers in accordance with address information assigned to said service access requests, said routing node comprising:

a service information manager that manages registration and updating of service information pertaining to service contents provided by said routing node upon receipt of said service information from a server connected to said routing node or another routing node;

a service information transmitter which transmits said service information to an additional routing node through use of a routing protocol used in said routing nodes, in response to registration and updating of said service information performed by said service information manager; and

a routing controller which selectively changes address information about said service access requests on the basis of said service information in said service information manager, to thus route said service access requests.

14. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information manager is configured to maintain or manage said service information including a service identifier showing a type of a service provided by said servers;

and said routing controller is configured to route said service access requests for every service type on the basis of said service identifier.

15. The routing node used in a network according to claim 14, wherein said service information manager maintains and manages a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as said service identifier.

16. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information manager comprises an updating unit that updates said service information according to a service operation status of said servers notified by said servers.

17. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information manager has a deleting unit that deletes registration of service information about said service contents when a service update message, which is to be issued every time said service contents provided by said servers are updated, has not been received from said servers for a predetermined period of time.

18. The routing node used in a network according to claim 17, wherein said service information manager has a maintaining unit that maintains registration of service information about service contents, which are objects of non-updating, even when said service update message has not been received for said predetermined period of time.

19. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said servers for providing identical service contents, said service information manager comprises

a determining unit that determines whether or not said master server remains inactive for a predetermined period of time, by means of a service operation status notification message periodically issued by said master server;

and

a deleting unit that deletes registration of said service information about said mirror server of said service information manager when said master server is determined to be inactive.

20. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein said service information manager comprises

a monitoring unit that monitors operation status of another routing node by monitoring receipt of dead/alive ascertainment information to be periodically received from said other routing node by means of said routing protocol;

and

a deleting unit that deletes service information about said other routing node, among pieces of service information retained by said service information manager, when nonoperation of said other routing node is ascertained through said monitoring operation.

21. The routing node used in a network according to claim 13, wherein, when a master server and a mirror server exist as said servers for providing identical service contents, said service information manager comprises

a requesting unit that requests direct access address information which enables direct access to said master server when service contents provided by said mirror server to said master server are updated;

and

a transmitter that transmits said direct access address information to be received from said master server in response to said request to another routing node including said service information.

22. The routing node used in a network according to claim 21, wherein said routing controller has an address converter that converts address information concerning an access request received from said mirror server into said direct access address information.