System and method of message routing using name-based identifier in a distributed computing environment

• US 9,350,812 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PTC Inc.
• Original Assignee: PTC Inc.
• Inventors: Mahoney, Mike, DeRemer, Bob, Bullotta, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Halim, Sahera
• Application Number:
  US14/222,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A system and method of routing messages in a distributed computing environment is provided. The method includes providing a platform server, a set of intermediary servers, and a set of edge servers, collectively defining a network. The method includes binding, at the platform server, at a first instance, the end-point device to the platform server wherein the platform server binds, at the first instance, the end-point device using a non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device. The binding associates a first path across the network. The method includes communicating a first message to the end-point device along the first path. Method includes rebinding, at the platform server, at a second instance, the end-point device to the platform server, where the rebinding uses the non-addressable name value and associates a second path across the network. The method includes communicating a second message to the end-point device along the second path.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of communication between a platform server and an end-point device, the method comprising:

providing a platform server, a set of intermediary servers, and a set of edge servers, collectively defining a network, wherein

an end-point device communicates to an edge server of the set of edge servers, wherein

the set of edge servers communicates to the set of intermediary servers, and wherein

the set of intermediary servers communicates to a platform server;

binding, at the platform server, at a first instance, the end-point device to the platform server, wherein

the platform server binds, at the first instance, the end-point device using a non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device, wherein

the binding, at the first instance, associates a first path across the network, and wherein

the first path is defined between the end-point device and the platform server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers, including a first intermediary server;

communicating, at the platform server, a first message to the end-point device along the first path;

rebinding, at the platform server, at a second instance, the end-point device to the platform server, wherein

the platform server binds, at the second instance the end-point device, using the non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device, wherein

the rebinding, at the second instance, associates a second path across the network, wherein

the second path is defined between the end-point device and the platform server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers, including a second intermediary server;

communicating, at the platform server, a second message to the end-point device along the second path.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the platform server, at a given instance between the first and second instances, a request to unbind the end-point device from the platform server, wherein the platform server unbinds the end-point device based on the unbind request, wherein the unbinding dissociates the first path defined between the end-point device and the platform server.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the first path and the second path comprises a connection handle to an established persistent connection.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the established persistent connection comprises a WebSocket connection.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the non-addressable name value comprises a character string.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

binding, at the platform server, at the first instance, a second end-point device to the platform server, wherein the platform server binds, at the first instance, the second end-point device based on a second non-addressable name value associated to the second end-point device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the binding of the first end-point device and the binding of the second end-point device is the result of a single bind request.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first path and the second path includes at least two intermediary servers.

9. A computer-implemented method of communication between a platform server and an end-point device, the method comprising:

providing a platform server, a set of intermediary servers, and a set of edge servers, collectively defining a network, wherein

an end-point device communicates to an edge server of the set of edge servers, wherein

the set of edge servers communicates to the set of intermediary servers, and wherein

the set of intermediary servers communicates to the platform server;

binding, at an intermediary server of the set of intermediary servers, at a first instance, the end-point device to the intermediary server, wherein

the intermediary server binding at the first instance the end-point device based on a non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device, wherein

the binding, at the first instance, associates a given persistent connection to a given edge server of the set of edge servers, the given edge server communicating with the end-point device;

receiving, at the intermediary server, a signal from platform server, the signal having a value associated with the non-addressable name value of the end-point device;

determining at the intermediary server, a persistent connection among a set of persistent connection having been established to the set of edge servers, wherein the non-addressable name value has been associated to the persistent connection during the binding; and

transmitting, at the intermediary server, the signal to the end-point device using the determined persistent connection.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instruction stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

provide a platform server, a set of intermediary servers, and a set of edge servers, collectively defining a network, wherein

an end-point device communicates to an edge server of the set of edge servers,

the set of edge servers communicates to the set of intermediary servers, and

the set of intermediary servers communicates to a platform server;

bind, at a platform server, at a first instance, the end-point device to the platform server, wherein

the platform server binds, at the first instance, the end-point device based on a non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device, wherein

the binding, at the first instance, associates a first path across the network, wherein

the first path is defined between the end-point device and the platform server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers, including a first intermediary server;

communicate, at the platform server, a first message to the end-point device along the first path;

rebind, at the platform server, at a second instance, the end-point device to the platform server, wherein

the platform server binds, at the second instance, the end-point device based on the non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device, wherein

the rebinding, at the second instance, associates a second path across the network, wherein

the second path is defined between the end-point device and the platform server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers, including a second intermediary server;

communicate, at the platform server, a second message to the end-point device along the second path.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further comprise:

receive, at the platform server, at a given instance between the first and second instances, a request to unbind the end-point device from the platform server, wherein the platform server unbinds the end-point device based on the unbind request, wherein the unbinding dissociates the first path defined between the end-point device and the platform server.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein each of the first path and the second path comprises a connection handle to an established persistent connection.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the established persistent connection comprises a WebSocket connection.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the non-addressable name value comprises a character string.

15. The computer readable method of claim 10, wherein the instructions further comprise:

bind, at the platform server, at the first instance, a second end-point device to the platform server, wherein the platform server binds, at the first instance, the second end-point device based on a second non-addressable name value associated to the second end-point device.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the binding of the first end-point device and the binding of the second end-point device is the result of a single bind request.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first path and the second path includes at least two intermediary servers.