Self-managed distributed mediation networks

• US 8,812,729 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloudsoft Corp. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cloudsoft Corp. Ltd.
• Inventors: Johnston-Watt, Duncan, Heneveld, Alex, Connor, Richard, Dearle, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorney, Boris
• Application Number:
  US13/457,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238, 709/239
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• 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 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1089 Hierarchical topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A distributed mediation network and method of employing such is provided, having a plurality of different types of network module. Each module has a non-reciprocal path therethrough for network traffic and the distribution of network traffic across the network is managed by an autonomic control plane.

Claims

1. A distributed mediation network, comprising:

a plurality of types of network modules forming a network topology, including;

local points of presence (LPP) modules for receiving and transmitting network traffic between the mediation network and client programs;

mediator (M) modules for hosting mediation tasks;

mediator router (MR) modules for analyzing the content of incoming messages, each MR module routing the incoming messages to a predetermined mediation task; and

,

transmission proxy (TP) modules for forwarding messages to at least one of said LPP modules, wherein each of the MR, M and TP modules are adapted such that all paths for network traffic therethrough are non-reciprocal; and

,

a processor that executes an autonomic control plane, said autonomic control plane being separate and distinct from said modules,

wherein the network couples network traffic along a unidirectional mediation cycle, in which;

the LLP module addresses incoming messages to a respective one of said mediator router (MR) modules;

said addressed one of said mediator router (MR) modules analyzes the content of incoming messages and routes said messages to a predetermined mediator module in dependence upon said analyzed content;

said predetermined mediator module applies the mediation task to said analyzed messages and directs said mediated messages to a respective one of said TP modules; and

said TP module that receives said mediated messages forwards said mediated messages to at least one of said LLP modules,

wherein the autonomic control plane controls said modules and manages the load across the network wherein managing the load across the network comprises the alteration of the destination of network traffic from an LPP module from a first MR module to a second MR module, the alteration comprising;

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_MR effector method on the LPP module;

the LPP module, on receipt of the SWITCH_MR effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending an MR_CHANGE control signal to the first MR module, and sending a NEW_MR control signal to a second MR module;

the first MR module, on receipt of the MR_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the MR_CHANGE signal to each M module and emitting an MR_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each M module to which the MR_CHANGE control signal has been sent;

the second MR module, on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal, forwarding the NEW_MR control signal to each M module, wherein the M modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_MR control signal but prior to the MR_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order, each M module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal; and

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all M modules for which an MR_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first MR module, calling an effector method to return the LPP module to a STABLE state.

2. A distributed mediation network according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic control plane is adapted to regulate the numbers of each type of module.

3. A distributed mediation network according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic control plane is hosted across a number of resources.

4. A distributed mediation network according to claim 1, wherein the modules contain sensor interfaces for communicating the status of the modules to the autonomic control plane.

5. A distributed mediation network according to claim 1, wherein the modules contain effector interfaces for receiving commands from the autonomic control plane.

6. A distributed mediation network according to claim 1, wherein the autonomic control plane has a hierarchical structure comprising cloud managers for each type of network node, each cloud manager for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst modules of a given type and responsible for load balancing by increasing or decreasing the number of modules of the cloud manager'"'"'s respective type in the network, and a distributed mediation network (DMN) manager for managing the distribution of resources between the module types.

7. A distributed mediation network according to claim 1, wherein the incoming network traffic to the mediation network belongs to one of the group of message types including:

new information, which emanates from a process acting as an information source;

queries about state of nodes in the mediation network, which require a reply; and

expressions of interest, which require ongoing replies whenever pertinent new information is received by the mediation network.

8. A distributed mediation network according to claim 6, wherein the cloud managers are able to communicate directly.

9. A distributed mediation network according to claim 6, wherein all communication between cloud managers must pass through the DMN manager.

10. A distributed mediation network, comprising:

a plurality of types of network modules forming a network topology, including;

local points of presence (LPP) modules for receiving and transmitting network traffic between the mediation network and client programs;

mediator (M) modules for hosting mediation tasks;

mediator router (MR) modules for analyzing the content of incoming messages, each MR module routing the incoming messages to a predetermined mediation task; and

,

transmission proxy (TP) modules for forwarding messages to at least one of said LPP modules, wherein each of the MR, M and TP modules are adapted such that all paths for network traffic therethrough are non-reciprocal; and

,

a processor that executes an autonomic control plane, said autonomic control plane being separate and distinct from said modules,

wherein the network couples network traffic along a unidirectional mediation cycle, in which;

the LLP module addresses incoming messages to a respective one of said mediator router (MR) modules;

said addressed one of said mediator router (MR) modules analyzes the content of incoming messages and routes said messages to a predetermined mediator module in dependence upon said analyzed content;

said predetermined mediator module applies the mediation task to said analyzed messages and directs said mediated messages to a respective one of said TP modules; and

said TP module that receives said mediated messages forwards said mediated messages to at least one of said LLP modules,

wherein the autonomic control plane controls said modules and manages the load across the network, wherein managing the load comprises the alteration of the destination of network traffic from an M module from a first TP module to a second TP module, the alteration comprising;

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_TP effector method on the M module;

the M module, on receipt of the SWITCH_TP effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending a TP_CHANGE control signal to the first TP module, and sending a NEW_TP control signal to the second TP module;

the first TP module, on receipt of the TP_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the TP_CHANGE signal to each LPP module and emitting an TP_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each LPP to which the TP_CHANGE control signal has been sent;

the second TP module, on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal, forwarding the NEW_TP control signal to each LPP module, wherein the LPP modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_TP control signal but prior to the TP_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order;

each LPP module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal; and

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all LPP modules for which a TP_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first TP, calling an effector method to return the M module to a STABLE state.

11. A distributed mediation network according to claim 10, wherein the autonomic control plane is adapted to regulate the numbers of each type of module.

12. A distributed mediation network according to claim 10, wherein the autonomic control plane is hosted across a number of resources.

13. A distributed mediation network according to claim 10, wherein the modules contain sensor interfaces for communicating the status of the modules to the autonomic control plane.

14. A distributed mediation network according to claim 10, wherein the modules contain effector interfaces for receiving commands from the autonomic control plane.

15. A distributed mediation network according to claim 10, wherein the autonomic control plane has a hierarchical structure comprising cloud managers for each type of network node, each cloud manager for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst modules of a given type and responsible for load balancing by increasing or decreasing the number of modules of the cloud manager'"'"'s respective type in the network, and a distributed mediation network (DMN) manager for managing the distribution of resources between the module types.

16. A distributed mediation network according to claim 10, wherein the incoming network traffic to the mediation network belongs to one of the group of message types including:

new information, which emanates from a process acting as an information source;

queries about state of nodes in the mediation network, which require a reply; and

expressions of interest, which require ongoing replies whenever pertinent new information is received by the mediation network.

17. A distributed mediation network according to claim 15, wherein the cloud managers are able to communicate directly.

18. A distributed mediation network according to claim 15, wherein all communication between cloud managers must pass through the DMN manager.

19. A method for mediating the flow of network traffic in a computer network, wherein the computer network has a mediation network that comprises a plurality of types of network modules forming a network topology, including:

local points of presence (LPP) modules for receiving and transmitting network traffic between the mediation network and client programs;

mediator (M) modules for hosting mediation tasks;

mediator router (MR) modules for analyzing the content of incoming messages, each MR module routing the incoming messages to a predetermined mediation task in dependence upon said content; and

,

transmission proxy (TP) modules for forwarding messages to at least one of said LPP modules, wherein each of the MR, M and TP modules are adapted such that all paths for network traffic therethrough are non-reciprocal; and

,

wherein a processor executes an autonomic control plane for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst the modules,

wherein, in the method, incoming messages are propagated along a mediation cycle that comprises the steps of;

an LPP module addressing incoming messages to a respective one of said mediator router (MR) modules;

at said addressed MR module, analyzing the content of incoming messages and routing said messages to a predetermined mediator module in dependence upon said analyzed content;

at said predetermined mediator module, applying the mediation task to said analyzed messages and directing said mediated messages to a respective one of said TP modules; and

at said TP module that receives said mediated messages, forwarding said mediated messages to at least one of said LPP modules,

wherein the autonomic control plane manages the load across the network by altering the destination of network traffic from an LPP module from a first MR module to a second MR module, the alteration comprising;

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_MR effector method on the LPP module;

the LPP module, on receipt of the SWITCH_MR effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending an MR_CHANGE control signal to the first MR module, and sending a NEW_MR control signal to a second MR module;

the first MR module, on receipt of the MR_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the MR_CHANGE signal to each M module and emitting an MR_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each M module to which the MR_CHANGE control signal has been sent;

the second MR module, on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal, forwarding the NEW_MR control signal to each M module, wherein the M modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_MR control signal but prior to the MR_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order;

each M module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_MR control signal; and

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all M modules for which an MR_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first MR module, calling an effector method to return the LPP module to a STABLE state.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the autonomic control plane regulates the numbers of each type of module.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the autonomic control plane is hosted across a number of resources.

22. A method according to claim 19, the method further comprising communicating the status of the modules to the autonomic control plane using sensor interfaces contained by the modules.

23. A method according to claim 19, further comprising receiving commands from the autonomic control plane using effector interfaces contained by the modules.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein the autonomic control plane has a hierarchical structure comprising cloud managers for each type of network node,

wherein the method further comprises:

each cloud manager managing the distribution of network traffic amongst modules of a given type;

each cloud manager load balancing by increasing or decreasing the number of modules of the cloud manager'"'"'s respective type in the network; and

managing, by a distributed mediation network (DMN) manager, the distribution of resources between the module types.

25. A method according to claim 19, wherein the incoming network traffic to the mediation network belongs to one of the group of message types including:

new information, which emanates from a process acting as an information source;

queries about state of nodes in the mediation network, which require a reply; and

expressions of interest, which require ongoing replies whenever pertinent new information is received by the mediation network.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the cloud managers are able to communicate directly.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein all communication between cloud managers must pass through the DMN manager.

28. A method for mediating the flow of network traffic in a computer network, wherein the computer network has a mediation network that comprises a plurality of types of network modules forming a network topology, including:

local points of presence (LPP) modules for receiving and transmitting network traffic between the mediation network and client programs;

mediator (M) modules for hosting mediation tasks;

mediator router (MR) modules for analyzing the content of incoming messages, each MR module routing the incoming messages to a predetermined mediation task in dependence upon said content; and

,

transmission proxy (TP) modules for forwarding messages to at least one of said LPP modules, wherein each of the MR, M and TP modules are adapted such that all paths for network traffic therethrough are non-reciprocal; and

,

wherein a processor executes an autonomic control plane for managing the distribution of network traffic amongst the modules,

wherein, in the method, incoming messages are propagated along a mediation cycle that comprises the steps of;

an LPP module addressing incoming messages to a respective one of said at least one mediator router (MR) modules;

at said addressed MR module, analyzing the content of incoming messages and routing said messages to a predetermined mediator module in dependence upon said analyzed content;

at said predetermined mediator module, applying the mediation task to said analyzed messages and directing said mediated messages to a respective one of said TP modules; and

at said TP module that receives said mediated messages, forwarding said mediated messages to at least one of said LPP modules, and

wherein the autonomic control plane manages the load across the network by altering the destination of network traffic from an M module from a first TP module to a second TP module, the alteration comprising;

the autonomic control plane calling a SWITCH_TP effector method on the M module;

the M module, on receipt of the SWITCH_TP effector method, changing state to a SWITCHOVER state, sending a TP_CHANGE control signal to the first TP module, and sending a NEW_TP control signal to the second TP module;

the first TP module, on receipt of the TP_CHANGE control signal, forwarding the TP_CHANGE signal to each LPP module and emitting an TP_CHANGE sensor event to the autonomic control plane for each LPP to which the TP_CHANGE control signal has been sent;

the second TP module, on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal, forwarding the NEW_TP control signal to each LPP module, wherein the LPP modules are adapted to buffer content received after the NEW_TP control signal but prior to the TP_CHANGE control signal, thereby ensuring that content is processed in the correct order;

each LPP module sending a sensor event to the autonomic control plane on receipt of the NEW_TP control signal; and

the autonomic control plane, upon receipt of a sensor event from all LPP modules for which a TP_CHANGE sensor event has been received from the first TP, calling an effector method to return the M module to a STABLE state.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the autonomic control plane regulates the numbers of each type of module.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the autonomic control plane is hosted across a number of resources.

31. A method according to claim 28, the method further comprising communicating the status of the modules to the autonomic control plane using sensor interfaces contained by the modules.

32. A method according to claim 28, further comprising receiving commands from the autonomic control plane using effector interfaces contained by the modules.

33. A method according to claim 28, wherein the autonomic control plane has a hierarchical structure comprising cloud managers for each type of network node,

wherein the method further comprises:

each cloud manager managing the distribution of network traffic amongst modules of a given type;

each cloud manager load balancing by increasing or decreasing the number of modules of the cloud manager'"'"'s respective type in the network; and

managing, by a distributed mediation network (DMN) manager, the distribution of resources between the module types.

34. A method according to claim 28, wherein the incoming network traffic to the mediation network belongs to one of the group of message types including:

new information, which emanates from a process acting as an information source;

queries about state of nodes in the mediation network, which require a reply; and

expressions of interest, which require ongoing replies whenever pertinent new information is received by the mediation network.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the cloud managers are able to communicate directly.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein all communication between cloud managers must pass through the DMN manager.