Service Advertisement Framework (SAF) in a Communications Network

• US 20090086726A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Edwards, Gregory, Savage, Donnie Van, Gudgin, Graham, Giorcelli, Stefano, Schuler, Timothy Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• 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 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 67/1036 Load balancing of requests to servers for services different from user content provisioning, e.g. load balancing across domain name servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0081 Network operation, administration, maintenance, or provisioning

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first update message at a first forwarding node from a second forwarding node of the communications network. The first update message includes forwarded service type data that indicates a type of service available via the second forwarding node, and forwarded cost data that indicates a first cost of communications to obtain the type of service via the second forwarding node. An incremental cost is determined for communications between the first forwarding node and the second forwarding node. Service data is stored at the first forwarding node. The service data indicates the type of service is associated with the second forwarding node at a total cost based on the first cost and the incremental cost. A second update message that includes forwarded cost data based on the total cost is sent over the network from the first forwarding node.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first forwarding node of a communications network from a second forwarding node of the communications network, a first update message that includes

forwarded service type data that indicates a type of service available via the second forwarding node, and

forwarded cost data that indicates a first cost of communications to obtain the type of service via the second forwarding node,

wherein the type of service is different from data packet routing through the network;

determining an incremental cost for communications between the first forwarding node and the second forwarding node;

storing, at the first forwarding node, service data that indicates the type of service is associated with the second forwarding node at a total cost based on the first cost and the incremental cost; and

sending a second update message that includes forwarded cost data based on the total cost.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, said step of sending the second update message further comprising sending the second update message that includes the forwarded service type data that indicates the type of service available via the second forwarding node.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, said step of sending the second update message further comprising sending the second update message to every forwarding node in communication with the first forwarding node and different from the second forwarding node.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the type of service is a call agent service for telephony using the Internet Protocol.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the type of service is a dial directory to associate a network address with a user identifier for telephony using the Internet Protocol.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the type of service is a security service for processing suspicious data packets received at a node in the communications network.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said step of receiving the first update message further comprises receiving the first update message that includes forwarded service property data that indicates particular properties of the type of service available via the second forwarding node; and

said step of sending the second update message further comprises sending the second update message that includes the forwarded service property data.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the method further comprises determining whether the first forwarding node is a penultimate forwarding node comprising determining whether a service node of the communications network has sent a message to the first forwarding node, wherein a service node is a node that provides the type of service or consumes the type of service or both; and

if the first forwarding node is a penultimate forwarding node, then said step of storing service data further comprises storing service data that includes the forwarded service property data.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said step of receiving the first update message further comprises receiving the first update message that includes sequence data that indicates a version of the type of service available via the second forwarding node;

the method further comprises

determining whether the sequence data indicates a later version of the type of service available than is already stored in the service data at the first forwarding node; and

if it is determined that the sequence data indicates a later version, then performing said step of storing the service data, further comprising storing service data that includes the sequence data.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein service type data includes:

category data that indicates a category that uniquely identifies a plurality of related services; and

subcategory data that indicates a particular service within the plurality of related services.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein service type data includes instance data that indicates uniquely a particular node that provides the type of service.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the first forwarding node from a service node of the communications network, a publication message that includes

published service type data that indicates a type of service available at the service node, and

published service property data that indicates particular properties of the type of service available at the service node;

determining an initial cost for communications between the first forwarding node and the service node;

storing, at the first forwarding node, service data that indicates the type of service available at the service node for the initial cost; and

sending a third update message that includes

forwarded service type data that indicates the type of service available at the service node, and

forwarded cost data that indicates the initial cost.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said storing service data further comprising storing service data that indicates the particular properties of the type of service available at the service node.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said step of sending a third update message further comprises sending the third update message that includes service property data that indicates the particular properties of the type of service available at the service node.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the first forwarding node from a requesting node, a first request message that includes requested service type data that indicates a type of service requested;

in response to receiving the first request message, determining whether service data stored at the first forwarding node indicates the type of service requested; and

if it is determined that the service data stored at the first forwarding node indicates the type of service requested, then sending a second request message that includes the requested service type only to a recipient node associated with a lowest total cost among all nodes associated with the requested service type in the service data stored at the first forwarding node.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the method further comprises determining whether service data stored at the first forwarding node indicates service property data that indicates particular properties of the type of service requested; and

said step of sending the second request message is performed only if it is determined that service data stored at the first forwarding node does not indicate service property data for the type of service requested.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising, if it is determined that service data stored at the first forwarding node indicates service property data of the type of service requested, then performing the step of sending a response message that includes the service property data of the type of service requested.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising, if it is determined that the service data stored at the first forwarding node does not indicate the type of service requested, then sending to every forwarding node in communication with the first forwarding node a query message that includes data that indicates the type of service requested.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, said step of receiving the first request message from the requesting node further comprising receiving a subscription message from a service node that is to consume the type of service requested.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising, storing notification data that indicates the service node is to be notified when a message is received that includes service type data that indicates the type of service requested.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message that includes service type data that indicates the type of service requested is available; and

based on the notification data, notifying the service node that the service type requested is available.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein:

said step of receiving the message that includes service type data that indicates the type of service requested is available further comprises receiving the message that includes service property data that indicates particular properties of the type of service requested; and

said step of notifying the service node that the service type requested is available further comprising sending to the service node a message that includes service type data that indicates the type of service requested and the service property data that indicates particular properties of the type of service requested.

23. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving, from a second apparatus of the communications network, a first update message that includes

forwarded service type data that indicates a type of service available via the second apparatus, and

forwarded cost data that indicates a first cost of communications to obtain the type of service via the second apparatus,

wherein the type of service is different from data packet routing through the network;

means for determining an incremental cost for communications between the apparatus and the second apparatus;

means for storing service data that indicates the type of service is associated with the second apparatus at a total cost based on the first cost and the incremental cost; and

means for sending a second update message that includes forwarded cost data based on the total cost.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface that is configured for communicating a data packet with a packet-switched network;

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and, when executed, operable for;

receiving from a second node of the communications network, a first update message that includes

forwarded service type data that indicates a type of service available via the second node, and

forwarded cost data that indicates a first cost of communications to obtain the type of service via the second node,

wherein the type of service is different from data packet routing through the network;

determining an incremental cost for communications between the apparatus and the second node;

storing service data that indicates the type of service is associated with the second node at a total cost based on the first cost and the incremental cost; and

sending through the network interface a second update message that includes forwarded cost data based on the total cost.

25. Software encoded in one or more computer-readable media and, when executed, operable for:

receiving, at a first forwarding node of a communications network from a second forwarding node of the communications network, a first update message that includes

forwarded service type data that indicates a type of service available via the second forwarding node, and

forwarded cost data that indicates a first cost of communications to obtain the type of service via the second forwarding node,

wherein the type of service is different from data packet routing through the network;

determining an incremental cost for communications between the first forwarding node and the second forwarding node;

storing, at the first forwarding node, service data that indicates the type of service is associated with the second forwarding node at a total cost based on the first cost and the incremental cost; and

sending a second update message that includes forwarded cost data based on the total cost.