Network clustering technology

• US 7,783,766 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Big Kahuna Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Worldspace, LLC
• Inventors: Tinsley, David, Busalacchi, Frank, Skinner, Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava; Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH CHAU
• Application Number:
  US11/461,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20080005298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 709/246, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/091 Measuring contribution of individual network components to actual service level

Abstract

Network Clustering Technology (“NCT”) creates an controlled environment that allows organizations to manage their networks, information resources, users and uses through a common structure. Although that capability is valuable in and of itself, it has the additional advantage of being both highly configurable and extensible. NCT is implemented so that it can function as a multiple-redundant implementation configuration to ensure that the network experiences minimal downtime with optimized throughput through one or more connections. As part of a Global Information Architecture (“GIA”), NCT provides the capability to establish rules for prioritizing and optimizing network traffic for specific users or classes of users, and specific classes of information traffic.

Claims

1. A method for managing a set of network-support devices on a network in a controlled environment with a device, the method comprising the steps of:

defining an application model for each network-support device, the application model including a parameter structure, a parameter configuration having a parameter for the controlled environment, and a command structure;

describing a model of the network and its characteristics;

describing a parameter model that translates the network and its characteristics into the application model for each network-support device;

configuring the device with the network, parameter, and application models for each network-support device;

receiving a description of desired network behavior from a network control system;

translating said network behavior description into a configuration for each network-support device through the parameter and application models; and

transmitting said configuration to its respective network-support device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein defining said application model further comprises

defining a parameter structure, wherein said parameter structure comprises a parameter for an application and a first information object;

defining a parameter configuration, wherein said parameter configuration comprises a parameter for a controlled environment and a second information object; and

defining a command structure, wherein said command structure comprises a template with said parameter structure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said parameter structure includes a parameter specifying a location of an executable to run said application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises the steps of:

polling a specified location for an updated description of network behavior; and

receiving from said specified location an updated description of network behavior.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said specified location has no access to the system receiving said network behavior definition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said description of network behavior is received at a secure location accessible by the device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration is transmitted using a secure transmission scheme.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network support devices are not homogeneous.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the device that manages the network-support devices comprises a network-support device.

10. A computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

defining an application model for each network-support device, the application model including a parameter structure, a parameter configuration having a parameter for the controlled environment, and a command structure;

describing a model of the network and its characteristics;

describing a parameter model that translates the network and its characteristics into the application model for each network-support device;

configuring the device with the network, parameter, and application models for each network-support device;

receiving a description of desired network behavior definition from a network control system;

translating said network behavior description into a configuration for each network-support device through the parameter and application models; and

transmitting said configuration to its respective network-support device.