Role-based message addressing for a computer network

• US 20040122903A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veritas Technologies, LLC (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Slaughter, Gregory L., Muth, John, Saulpaugh, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• 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 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1048 Departure or maintenance mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Various embodiments of a system and method related to location-independent message addressing for a computer network are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a plurality of nodes, e.g., computer systems, may be connected to a network. The plurality of nodes may include a first node which is operable to send a message addressed using a “role”. The role may be associated with one or more other nodes coupled to the network. The message may be sent to each of the one or more nodes with which the role is associated without specifying locations of the one or more nodes. For example, the role may have an associated name, and the message may be addressed using the role name.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling a plurality of nodes to a network, wherein the plurality of nodes coupled to the network includes a first node;

storing first network software in a memory of the first node; and

executing the first network software on a processor coupled to the memory of the first node to send a message addressed to a role;

wherein the role is associated with one or more other nodes coupled to the network;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending the message to the one or more other nodes without specifying locations of the one or more other nodes.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role has an associated name;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending the message addressed using the name of the role.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a tree, wherein the tree includes a subset of the plurality of nodes coupled to the network;

wherein the message includes;

information specifying the tree; and

information specifying the role;

wherein said sending the message to the one or more other nodes comprises sending the message to one or more nodes on the tree.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein said sending the message to the one or more nodes on the tree comprises propagating the message through a path including one or more nodes coupled to the network;

wherein the path through which the message is propagated includes only nodes which are on the tree and does not include nodes which are not on the tree.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a first one or more nodes coupled to the network;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending a first message to the first one or more nodes;

wherein the method further comprises;

associating the role with a second node in addition to the first one or more nodes; and

executing the first network software on the processor coupled to the memory of the first node to send a second message addressed to the role;

wherein said sending the second message addressed to the role comprises sending the message to the second node in addition to the first one or more other nodes.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the second message is addressed in an identical manner as the first message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the role is associated with a first one or more nodes coupled to the network;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending a first message to the first one or more nodes;

wherein the method further comprises;

un-associating the role with a second node from the first one or more nodes; and

executing the first network software on the processor coupled to the memory of the first node to send a second message addressed to the role;

wherein said sending the second message addressed to the role comprises sending the message to each of the first one or more other nodes except the second node.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the second message is addressed in an identical manner as the first message.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a second node coupled to the network;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending a first message to the second node;

wherein the method further comprises;

re-associating the role with a third node coupled to the network instead of the second node; and

executing the first network software on the processor coupled to the memory of the first node to send a second message addressed to the role;

wherein said sending the second message addressed to the role comprises sending the message to the third node instead of the second node.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein the second message is addressed in an identical manner as the first message.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a second node coupled to the network;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending a message to the second node requesting the role;

wherein the method further comprises;

executing the first network software on the processor coupled to the memory of the first node to receive a response from the second node, wherein the response indicates that the second node grants the role to the first node; and

creating a new instance of the role associated with the first node.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a second node coupled to the network;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending a first message to the second node requesting the role;

wherein the method further comprises;

executing the first network software on the processor coupled to the memory of the first node to receive a response from the second node, wherein the response indicates that the second node gives up the role to the first node; and

creating a new instance of the role associated with the first node.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing first network software in a memory of a second node coupled to the network; and

executing the first network software on a processor coupled to the memory of the second node to send a second message addressed to the role;

wherein said sending the second message addressed to the role comprises sending the message to the first node.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein the second message is addressed in an identical manner as the first message.

15. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a plurality of nodes coupled to the network, wherein each of the plurality of nodes with which the role is associated has an instance of the role;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the role comprises sending the message to each instance of the role.

16. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a plurality of nodes coupled to the network, wherein each of the plurality of nodes with which the role is associated has an instance of the role;

wherein the method further comprises requesting the first network software to send the message to a specified minimum number of instances of the role;

wherein the first network software executes to send the message to the specified minimum number of instances of the role.

17. The method of claim 1,

wherein the role is associated with a plurality of nodes coupled to the network, wherein each of the plurality of nodes with which the role is associated has an instance of the role;

wherein the method further comprises requesting the first network software to send the message to a single instance of the role;

wherein the first network software executes to send the message to a single instance of the role.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing client application software in the memory of the first node; and

executing the client application software on a processor coupled to the memory of the first node;

wherein the client application software executes to request the first network software to send the message addressed to the role;

wherein the first network software executes to send the message addressed to the role in response to the request.

19. A system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of nodes interconnected via the network, wherein the plurality of nodes interconnected via the network includes a first node;

wherein the first node includes;

a memory storing program instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory;

wherein the processor of the first node is operable to execute the program instructions stored in the memory to send a message, wherein the message is addressed in a location-independent manner by using a name;

wherein the name is associated with one or more other nodes coupled to the network;

wherein said sending the message addressed to the name comprises sending the message to the one or more other nodes without specifying locations of the one or more other nodes.

20. A method for sending messages on a network in a location-independent manner, the method comprising:

coupling a plurality of nodes to a network; and

publishing a plurality of roles, wherein each role has a name, wherein each role has one or more instances, wherein each role instance is associated with a node in the network;

wherein for each role, said publishing the role comprises sending information to at least a subset of nodes in the network to notify the at least a subset of nodes in the network of the role;

wherein each node is operable to send messages to other nodes in the network;

wherein each message is addressed in a location-independent manner by using a name of a role;

wherein sending a message addressed using a name of a role comprises sending the message to each node with which an instance of the role is associated.

21. A system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of computer systems interconnected via the network, wherein the plurality of computer systems includes a first computer system;

wherein the first computer system is operable to publish a first role, wherein the first role has a name, wherein said publishing the first role comprises sending information specifying the name of the first role to at least a subset of the other computer systems interconnected via the network;

wherein each computer system that receives the information sent by the first computer system is operable to create routing information based on the information;

wherein the routing information is usable to send messages addressed to the first role to the first computer system.