SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALLOCATING RESOURCES BASED ON EVENTS IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120144038A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hildebrand, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0897 by horizontal or vertical scaling of resources, or by migrating entities, e.g. virtual resources or entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/823 Prediction of resource usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70

Abstract

An example method is provided and includes receiving information associated with a network event; predicting network activity associated with the network event; determining a level of network resources that can accommodate the network activity associated with the network event; evaluating currently deployed network resources; and allocating new network resources based on the network activity that was predicted. In more particular embodiments, the new network resources can include a cache configured to receive replicated content from a server. Additionally, the new network resources can include a virtual machine configured to interact with a server to distribute a load associated with the network event. The new network resources can be allocated before the network activity occurs. In other examples, the information associated with the network event is received based on a registration activity executed by a server configured to designate particular events for which it is interested.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving information associated with a network event;

predicting network activity associated with the network event;

determining a level of network resources that can accommodate the network activity associated with the network event;

evaluating currently deployed network resources; and

allocating new network resources based on the network activity that was predicted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new network resources include a cache configured to receive replicated content from a server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the new network resources include a virtual machine configured to interact with a server to distribute a load associated with the network event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the new network resources are allocated before the network activity occurs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the network event is received based on a registration activity executed by a server configured to designate particular events for which it is interested.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the network event is identified through a search engine element configured to monitor network traffic associated with certain types of events.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an application program interface (API) is used to interface with a source associated with the network event, and wherein the API is associated with a certain type of protocol.

8. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving information associated with a network event;

predicting network activity associated with the network event;

determining a level of network resources that can accommodate the network activity associated with the network event;

evaluating currently deployed network resources; and

allocating new network resources based on the network activity that was predicted.

9. The logic of claim 8, wherein the new network resources include a cache configured to receive replicated content from a server.

10. The logic of claim 8, wherein the new network resources include a virtual machine configured to interact with a server to distribute a load associated with the network event.

11. The logic of claim 8, wherein the new network resources are allocated before the network activity occurs.

12. The logic of claim 8, wherein the information associated with the network event is received based on a registration activity executed by a server configured to designate particular events for which it is interested.

13. The logic of claim 8, wherein the information associated with the network event is identified through a search engine element configured to monitor network traffic associated with certain types of events.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data;

a resource module; and

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor, the resource module, and the memory element cooperate in order to;

receive information associated with a network event;

predict network activity associated with the network event;

determine a level of network resources that can accommodate the network activity associated with the network event;

evaluate currently deployed network resources; and

allocate new network resources based on the network activity that was predicted.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the new network resources include a cache configured to receive replicated content from a server.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the new network resources include a virtual machine configured to interact with a server to distribute a load associated with the network event.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the new network resources are allocated before the network activity occurs.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the network event is received based on a registration activity executed by a server configured to designate particular events for which it is interested.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the network event is identified through a search engine element configured to monitor network traffic associated with certain types of events.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein an application program interface (API) is used to interface with a source associated with the network event, and wherein the API is associated with a certain type of protocol.