Node device, recording medium where storage control program is recorded, and information storing method

• US 8,654,678 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuo, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks Harold, Marsha D
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYLLIE, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US12/285,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 709/206
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2869 Operational details of access network equipments admission control or resource allocation in access networks H04L12/5692
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/42 Loop networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1048 Departure or maintenance mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1053 with pre-configuration of logical or physical connections with a determined number of other peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1065 Discovery involving distributed pre-established resource-based relationships among peers, e.g. based on distributed hash tables [DHT] pre-configuration of logical or physical connections H04L67/1053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

In a node device included in an information communication system which has a plurality of node devices capable of performing communication with each other via a network, common information shared by the plurality of node devices is stored so as to be spread to the plurality of node devices.

The node device includes:

• • first storing means for storing link information used at the time of performing communication with the node devices, the link information including node information indicative of one or more specific node devices;
  • means for storing the link information stored in the first storing means into second storing means while participating in the system;
  • means, when withdrawing from the system, and after that, participating in the system again, for storing the link information obtained from the node device of the node information included in the link information stored in the second storing means into the first storing means.

Claims

1. A node device included in an information communication system which comprises a plurality of node devices capable of performing communication with each other via a network,

the node device comprising:

a processor,

a memory configured to store a program to be executed by the processor, and

a first storing unit, which is volatile, that stores link information used for performing communication with another node device, the link information including node information indicative of at least one specific node device;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the program to;

cause the link information stored in the first storing unit to be stored in a second storing unit, which is nonvolatile, at a predetermined timing, while the node device is participating in the information communication system;

cause the link information stored in the second storing unit to be stored in the first storing unit, in response to participating in the information communication system again after withdrawing from the information communication system;

determine if any of the node information out of the node information included in the link information is stored in the first storing unit by the processor;

transmit participation notification for notifying the node device of the node information on the basis of the determined node information;

determine whether transmission of the participation notification succeeded or not; and

determine whether another node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit by the processor or not in response to determining that transmission of the participation notification fails,

wherein in the case where it is determined that the other node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

the processor transmits the participation notification to the node device corresponding to the other node information included in the link information stored in the first storing unit, and

wherein when it is determined that there is no other node information in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

the processor transmits the participation notification to a participation management node device for managing participation to the information communication system, which is another node device included in the information communication system,

the processor receives from the participation management node device, the link information including the node information of at least one or more node devices included in the information communication system, and

the processor stores link information received from the participation management node device in the first storing unit.

2. The node device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a common information storing unit that stores a plurality of common information shared by the plurality of node devices;

wherein the processor transmits a notification of disclosing the common information to any of the node devices of the node information stored in the first storing unit so that the common information stored in the common information storing unit can be shared by another node devices included in the information communication system.

3. The node device according to claim 1,

wherein the processor determines whether or not a lapse time elapsed since the time when the processor stored the link information stored in the first storing unit into the second storing unit until the present time is longer than a first predetermined storage time, and

wherein in the case where is determined that the lapse time is longer than the first predetermined storage time, the processor transmits the participation notification to the participation management node device.

4. The node device according to claim 1,

wherein the processor determines whether or not a lapse time elapsed since the time when the processor stored the link information stored in the first storing unit into the second storing unit until the present time is longer than a second predetermined storage time,

wherein in the case where it is determined that the lapse time is within the second predetermined storage time,

the processor stores the link information stored in the second storing unit ga4oin the first storing unit.

5. The node device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a common information storing unit that stores a plurality of common information shared by the plurality of node devices;

wherein the processor transmits a notification of disclosing the common information to any of the node devices of the node information stored in the first storing unit so that the common information stored in the common information storing unit can be shared by another node devices included in the information communication system; and

the processor determines whether transmission of the disclosure notification succeeded or not.

6. The node device according to claim 5,

wherein the processor transmits a participation notification of notifying of participation in the information communication system in response to determining that transmission of the disclosure notification has failed, to the another node device included in the information communication system, which is the participation management node device for managing participation in the information communication system;

and

the processor receives the link information including the node information of at least one node device included in the information communication system from the participation management node device, and

the processor stores the link information received from the participation management node device in the first storing unit.

7. The node device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a common information storing unit that stores a plurality of common information shared by the plurality of node devices;

wherein the processor causes location information indicative of location of the node device that stores the common information to be managed by the node device in the plurality of common information, and common information related information which is related to the plurality of common information shared by the plurality of node devices to be stored in the first storing unit,

the processor causes the location information and the common information related information stored in the first storing unit to be stored in the second storing unit at the predetermined timing, and

the processor causes the location information and the common information related information stored in the second storing unit to be stored in the first storing unit, in response to participating in the information communication system again after withdrawing from the information communication system.

8. The node device according to claim 1,

wherein the predetermined timing is at least any of:

each time a predetermined time elapses;

each time the link information, the location information, or the common information related information stored in the first storing unit is updated in association with transmission or reception of information to or from the other node devices included in the information communication system; and

the time when the power source of the node device is turned off.

9. The node device according to claim 1,

wherein the node devices are connected via an overlay network in the information communication system, and

the node information included in the link information includes a node ID for uniquely identifying a node device of the node information in an identification information space of the overlay network, and destination information of the node device.

10. The node device according to claim 1,

wherein the first storing unit is a RAM provided in the node device, and

the second storing unit is a hard disk, a flash memory, an EEPROM, or a semiconductor memory with a backup power source.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores a computer-executable program for a node device included in an information communication system which comprises a plurality of node devices capable of performing communication with each other via a network,

the program comprising:

instructions for causing link information stored in a first storing unit which is volatile, to be stored in a second storing unit, which is nonvolatile, at a predetermined timing, wherein the link information is used for performing communication with another node device, and the link information includes node information indicative of at least one specific node device, while the node device is participating in the information communication system;

instructions for causing the link information stored in the second storing unit to be stored in the first storing unit, in response to participating in the information communication system again after withdrawing from the information communication system;

instructions for determining if any of the node information out of the node information included in the link information is stored in the first storing unit;

instructions for transmitting participation notification for notifying the node device of the node information on the basis of the determined node information;

instructions for determining whether transmission of the participation notification succeeded or not; and

instructions for determining whether another node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit or not in response to determining that transmission of the participation notification fails,

wherein in the case where another node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

instructions for transmitting the participation notification to the node device corresponding to the other node information included in the link information stored in the first storing unit, and

wherein when there is no other node information in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

instructions for transmitting the participation notification to a participation management node device for managing participation to the information communication system, which is another node device included in the information communication system,

instructions for receiving from the participation management node device, the link information including the node information of at least one or more node devices included in the information communication system, and

instructions for storing link information received from the participation management node device into the first storing unit.

12. An information storing method in an information communication system which comprises a plurality of node devices capable of performing communication with each other via a network,

the information storing method comprising:

causing link information stored in a first storing unit, which is volatile, to be stored in a second storing unit, which is nonvolatile, at a predetermined timing, wherein the link information is used for performing communication with another node device, and the link information includes node information indicative of at least one specific node device, while the node device is participating in the information communication system;

causing the link information stored in the second storing unit to be stored in the first storing unit, in response to participating in the information communication system again after withdrawing from the information communication system;

determining if any of the node information out of the node information included in the link information is stored in the first storing unit; and

transmitting participation notification for notifying the node device of the node information on the basis of the determined node information;

determining whether transmission of the participation notification succeeded or not; and

determining whether another node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit or not in response to determining that transmission of the participation notification fails,

wherein in the case where the other node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

transmitting the participation notification to the node device corresponding to the other node information included in the link information stored in the first storing unit, and

wherein when there is no other node information in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

transmitting the participation notification to a participation management node device for managing participation to the information communication system, which is another node device included in the information communication system,

receiving from the participation management node device, the link information including the node information of at least one or more node devices included in the information communication system, and

storing link information received from the participation management node device into the first storing unit.

13. A node device included in an information communication system which comprises a plurality of node devices capable of performing communication with each other via a network,

the node device comprising:

a processor,

a memory configured to store a program to be executed by the processor, and

a first storing unit, which is volatile, that stores link information used for performing communication with another node device, the link information including node information indicative of at least one specific node device;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the program to;

cause the link information stored in the first storing unit to be stored in a second storing unit, which is nonvolatile, at a predetermined timing, while the node device is participating in the information communication system;

cause the link information stored in the second storing unit to be stored in the first storing unit, in response to participating in the information communication system again after withdrawing from the information communication system,

determine if any of the node information out of the node information included in the link information is stored in the first storing unit by the processor;

transmit participation notification for notifying the node device of the node information on the basis of the determined node information; and

delete the node information determined by the processor from the link information stored in the first storing unit in response to determining that transmission of the participation notification fails,

wherein the processor determines whether another node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

wherein in the case where it is determined that the other node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

the processor transmits the participation notification to the node device corresponding to the other node information included in the link information stored in the first storing unit, and

wherein in the case where it is determined that there is no other node information in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

the processor transmits the participation notification to a participation management node device,

the processor receives the link information including the node information of at least one node device included in the information communication system from the participation management node device, and

the processor stores, in place of the link information stored in the first storing unit, the link information received from the participation management node device in the first storing unit.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores a computer-executable program for a node device included in an information communication system which comprises a plurality of node devices capable of performing communication with each other via a network,

the program comprising:

instructions for causing link information stored in a first storing unit which is volatile, to be stored in a second storing unit, which is nonvolatile, at a predetermined timing, wherein the link information is used for performing communication with another node device, and the link information includes node information indicative of at least one specific node device, while the node device is participating in the information communication system;

instructions for causing the link information stored in the second storing unit to be stored in the first storing unit, in response to participating in the information communication system again after withdrawing from the information communication system;

instructions for determining if any of the node information out of the node information included in the link information is stored in the first storing unit;

instructions for transmitting participation notification for notifying the node device of the node information on the basis of the determined node information;

instructions for deleting the determined node information from the link information stored in the first storing unit in response to determining that transmission of the participation notification fails; and

instructions for determining whether another node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

wherein in the case where the other node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

instructions for transmitting the participation notification to the node device corresponding to the other node information included in the link information stored in the first storing unit, and

wherein in the case where there is no other node information in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

instructions for transmitting the participation notification to a participation management node device,

instructions for receiving the link information including the node information of at least one node device included in the information communication system from the participation management node device, and

instructions for storing, in place of the link information stored in the first storing unit, the link information received from the participation management node device into the first storing unit.

15. An information storing method in an information communication system which comprises a plurality of node devices capable of performing communication with each other via a network,

the information storing method comprising:

causing link information stored in a first storing unit, which is volatile, to be stored in a second storing unit, which is nonvolatile, at a predetermined timing, wherein the link information is used for performing communication with another node device, and the link information includes node information indicative of at least one specific node device, while the node device is participating in the information communication system;

causing the link information stored in the second storing unit to be stored in the first storing unit, in response to participating in the information communication system again after withdrawing from the information communication system;

determining if any of the node information out of the node information included in the link information is stored in the first storing unit;

transmitting participation notification for notifying the node device of the node information on the basis of the determined node information;

deleting the determined node information from the link information stored in the first storing unit in response to determining that transmission of the participation notification fails; and

determining whether another node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

wherein in the case where the other node information is still included in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

transmitting the participation notification to the node device corresponding to the other node information included in the link information stored in the first storing unit, and

wherein in the case where there is no other node information in the link information stored in the first storing unit,

transmitting the participation notification to a participation management node device,

receiving the link information including the node information of at least one node device included in the information communication system from the participation management node device, and

storing, in place of the link information stored in the first storing unit, the link information received from the participation management node device into the first storing unit.