Network load balancing and overload control
First Claim
1. A method of routing messages in a network comprising a plurality of servers, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving in a first server feedback information from downstream servers of the network, the downstream servers including at least first and second downstream servers associated with respective first and second paths between the first server and a target server, the feedback information comprising congestion measures for respective ones of the downstream servers; and
adjusting a message routing process in the first server based on the received feedback information to compensate for imbalance among the congestion measures;
wherein at least a given one of the downstream servers on one of the first and second paths receives a response from the target server to an invite request sent to the target server from the first server; and
wherein the given downstream server compares a congestion measure contained in the response from the target server with a congestion measure of the given downstream server and if the congestion measure of the given downstream server indicates a higher level of congestion than the congestion measure contained in the response from the target server, the given downstream server modifies the response from the target server to include the congestion measure of the given downstream server before forwarding the response upstream to the first server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Load balancing and overload control techniques are disclosed for use in a SIP-based network or other type of network comprising a plurality of servers. In a load balancing technique, a first server receives feedback information from at least first and second downstream servers associated with respective first and second paths between the first server and a target server, the feedback information comprising congestion measures for the respective downstream servers. The first server dynamically adjusts a message routing process based on the received feedback information to compensate for imbalance among the congestion measures of the downstream servers. In an overload control technique, the first server utilizes feedback information received from at least one downstream server to generate a blocking message for delivery to a user agent.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of routing messages in a network comprising a plurality of servers, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving in a first server feedback information from downstream servers of the network, the downstream servers including at least first and second downstream servers associated with respective first and second paths between the first server and a target server, the feedback information comprising congestion measures for respective ones of the downstream servers; and adjusting a message routing process in the first server based on the received feedback information to compensate for imbalance among the congestion measures; wherein at least a given one of the downstream servers on one of the first and second paths receives a response from the target server to an invite request sent to the target server from the first server; and wherein the given downstream server compares a congestion measure contained in the response from the target server with a congestion measure of the given downstream server and if the congestion measure of the given downstream server indicates a higher level of congestion than the congestion measure contained in the response from the target server, the given downstream server modifies the response from the target server to include the congestion measure of the given downstream server before forwarding the response upstream to the first server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for use in routing messages in a network, comprising:
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a first server of the network, configured to receive feedback information from downstream servers of the network, the downstream servers including at least first and second downstream servers associated with respective first and second paths between the first server and a target server, the feedback information comprising congestion measures for respective ones of the downstream servers; wherein the first server is further configured to adjust a message routing process thereof based on the received feedback information to compensate for imbalance among the congestion measures; wherein at least a given one of the downstream servers on one of the first and second paths receives a response from the target server to an invite request sent to the target server from the first server; and wherein the given downstream server compares a congestion measure contained in the response from the target server with a congestion measure of the given downstream server and if the congestion measure of the given downstream server indicates a higher level of congestion than the congestion measure contained in the response from the target server, the given downstream server modifies the response from the target server to include the congestion measure of the given downstream server before forwarding the response upstream to the first server.
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13. A method of routing messages in a network comprising a plurality of servers, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving in a first server feedback information from at least one downstream server of the network, the downstream server being associated with a path between the first server and a target server, the feedback information comprising a congestion measure and generating a blocking message in the first server for delivery to a user agent based on the feedback information; wherein the downstream server receives a response from the target server to an invite request sent to the target server from the first server; and wherein the downstream server compares a congestion measure contained in the response from the target server with a congestion measure of the downstream server and if the congestion measure of the downstream server indicates a higher level of congestion than the congestion measure contained in the response from the target server, the downstream server modifies the response from the target server to include the congestion measure of the downstream server before forwarding the response upstream to the first server. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for use in routing messages in a network, comprising:
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a first server of the network, configured to receive feedback information from at least one downstream server of the network, the downstream server being associated with a path between the first server and a target server, the feedback information comprising a congestion measure; wherein the first server is further configured to generate a blocking message for delivery to a user agent based on the feedback information; wherein the downstream server receives a response from the target server to an invite request sent to the target server from the first server; and wherein the downstream server compares a congestion measure contained in the response from the target server with a congestion measure of the downstream server and if the congestion measure of the downstream server indicates a higher level of congestion than the congestion measure contained in the response from the target server, the downstream server modifies the response from the target server to include the congestion measure of the downstream server before forwarding the response upstream to the first server.
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Specification