US5793968A — Scalable distributed computing environment

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

A scalable distributed digital network interconnecting a plurality of nodes, with at least one of the plurality of nodes being associated with one or more resources, each resource having an active state in which the resource is available to other nodes and an inactive state in which the resource is not available, the network comprising: means for storing a request by a node for a requested resource if that resource is not available; means for automatically identifying by the node a resource that becomes available when the resource switches from the inactive to the active state; and means for automatically informing the node that the requested resource has become available if the resource matches the requested resource.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 117 words

A scalable distributed digital network interconnecting a plurality of nodes, with at least one of the plurality of nodes being associated with one or more resources, each resource having an active state in which the resource is available to other nodes and an inactive state in which the resource is not available, the network comprising: means for storing a request by a node for a requested resource if that resource is not available; means for automatically identifying by the node a resource that becomes available when the resource switches from the inactive to the active state; and means for automatically informing the node that the requested resource has become available if the resource matches the requested resource.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The network of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nodes are arranged in at least two levels, and wherein nodes in a first level contain information relating to the resources present in nodes in a second level.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The network of claim 2 wherein: at least one node in the first level contains a cache for storing requests for resources; and the means for storing comprises the cache.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The network of claim 3 further comprising means for removing the request from the cache when the requested resource becomes available and satisfies the request.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

The network of claim 2 wherein the first level is a parent level and the second level is a child level, each node in the parent level being associated with one or more nodes in the child level and each node in the child level being associated with one node in the parent level.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The network of claim 1 wherein: at least one of said plurality of nodes contains a cache for storing requests for resources; and the means for storing comprises the cache.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The network of claim 6 further comprising the means for removing the request from the cache when the requested resource becomes available and satisfies the request.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 101 words

A scalable distributed computing network with a plurality of nodes for independently executing software components, a node comprising: means for generating a logical hierarchy of the roles of the nodes with three or more levels where any node can assume one or multiple roles, with the assumption of which neither requires nor precludes the assumption of any other role; and means for negotiating its role with other nodes when there is a change in the configuration of the network, such that a node at the lowest level of the hierarchy can assume the role of the highest level of the hierarchy.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

A scalable distributed computing network with a plurality of nodes for independently executing software components, a node comprising: means for generating a logical hierarchy of the roles of the nodes with three or more levels where any node can assume one or multiple roles, with the assumption of which neither requires nor precludes the assumption of any other role; and means for negotiating its role with other nodes when there is a change in the configuration of the network, such that a node at the lowest level of the hierarchy can assume the role of the highest level of the hierarchy.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

The network of claim 8 with one of the nodes being a parent, and one of the remaining nodes being a child, the means for generating in the node comprising means for monitoring the status of the parent and the child.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

The node of claim 9 wherein the means for monitoring further comprises: means for exchanging status messages between the parent and the child at specified time intervals; and means for searching for a new parent node when the child does not receive status messages from the parent within a predetermined period of time.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The node of claim 9 wherein the means for monitoring comprising means for de-registering the child when the parent does not receive status message from the child within a predetermined period of time.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The node of claim 8 wherein the means for generating comprises means for searching for a parent node when the node enters the network.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 94 words

The node of claim 12 wherein the means for searching further comprises: means for listening to messages for a specified period of time; means for determining, if a message is received, the entering node's parent based on the received message; means for broadcasting, if no parent is found upon expiration of the specified period of time, a message for searching its parent; means for determining whether any one of the responses to the broadcasted message originates from its parent; and means for assuming the role as its own parent when no response is received.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The network of claim 8 with one of the nodes being a parent node, the means for generating in the node comprising means for registering a child node upon its entering the network.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 73 words

The node of claim 14 wherein the means for registering comprises: means for listening to messages sent by entering nodes; means for determining whether one of the messages is sent by a child node or a duplicate child node; means for informing the duplicate child node of a role conflict if such a node is detected; and means for sending an acknowledge message to the child node if such a node is detected.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 92 words

The network of claim 8 with a node having a managerial role leaving the network, and with a remaining node negotiating to assume the managerial role, the means for negotiating in the remaining node comprising: means for broadcasting a message indicating the participating node's interest in assuming the managerial role; means for listening, subsequent to the said broadcasting step, for messages on the network; and means for assuming the managerial role if there is no message on the network which indicates that another node is better qualified to assume the managerial role.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

The remaining node of claim 8 wherein the means for negotiating further comprises means for withdrawing from participating so as to allow the node to withdraw when the node receives messages indicating that there is at least one participating node which is more qualified to assume the managerial role.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 133 words

The node of claim 8 wherein the means for negotiating comprises: means for setting up a database containing the names of all known nodes participating in the process; means for transmitting election messages to nodes included in the data base, the election messages containing information relating to the participating nodes known to the sending node; means for receiving election messages from other participating nodes; means for updating the database using the information containing in the received election messages; and means for determining, based on the information contained in the updated database, which one of the participating node assumes the managerial role; such that when two conflicting nodes claim the same managerial role, at least one of the conflicting nodes can participate in a process to determine which node can assume the managerial role.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 12 words

The network of claim 8 wherein the number of levels is changeable.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 106 words

A scalable distributed computing network with a plurality of nodes for independently executing software components, the network comprising: means for generating a logical hierarchy of the roles of the nodes with three or more levels where any node can assume one or multiple roles, with the assumption of which neither requires nor precludes the assumption of any other role; and wherein each node comprises means for negotiating its role with other nodes when there is a change in the configuration of the network, such that a node at the lowest level of the hierarchy being can assume the role of the highest level of the hierarchy.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 106 words

A scalable distributed computing network with a plurality of nodes for independently executing software components, the network comprising: means for generating a logical hierarchy of the roles of the nodes with three or more levels where any node can assume one or multiple roles, with the assumption of which neither requires nor precludes the assumption of any other role; and wherein each node comprises means for negotiating its role with other nodes when there is a change in the configuration of the network, such that a node at the lowest level of the hierarchy being can assume the role of the highest level of the hierarchy.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 91 words

The network of claim 20 wherein: a node having a managerial role leaves the network; a remaining node negotiates to assume the managerial role; and the means for negotiating in the remaining node comprises: means for broadcasting a message indicating the participating node's interest in assuming the managerial role; means for listening, subsequent to the said broadcasting step, for messages on the network; and means for assuming the managerial role if there is no message on the network which indicates that another node is better qualified to assume the managerial role.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 52 words

The network of claim 20 wherein the means for negotiating in the remaining node further comprises means for withdrawing from participating so as to allow the node to withdraw when the node receives messages indicating that there is at least one participating node which is more qualified to assume the managerial role.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 137 words

The network of claim 20 wherein the means for negotiating in the remaining node comprises: means for setting up a database containing the names of all known nodes participating in the process; means for transmitting election messages to nodes included in the data base, the election messages containing information relating to the participating nodes known to the sending node; means for receiving election messages from other participating nodes; means for updating the database using the information containing in the received election messages; and means for determining, based on the information contained in the updated database, which one of the participating node assumes the managerial role; such that when two conflicting nodes claim the same managerial role, at least one of the conflicting nodes can participate in a process to determine the node to assume the managerial role.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 111 words

A heterogeneous network with a plurality of nodes, each node having a context bridge, each bridge being able to route packets between nodes having different communication protocols at different levels, a bridge comprising: means for setting up a list of context bridges and the communication protocols handled by each context bridge in the list; means for listening for routing information packets which are periodically broadcast by other context bridges informing recipients of the communication protocols handled by the broadcasting context bridge; means for updating the list using the information contained in the received routing information packets; and means for determining the routing paths in the context bridges using the updated list.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 111 words

A heterogeneous network with a plurality of nodes, each node having a context bridge, each bridge being able to route packets between nodes having different communication protocols at different levels, a bridge comprising: means for setting up a list of context bridges and the communication protocols handled by each context bridge in the list; means for listening for routing information packets which are periodically broadcast by other context bridges informing recipients of the communication protocols handled by the broadcasting context bridge; means for updating the list using the information contained in the received routing information packets; and means for determining the routing paths in the context bridges using the updated list.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 115 words

A network as recited in claim 24 wherein: each node has a routing protocol; the bridge further comprises: means for receiving a packet at a source node to be routed to a destination node using at least one context bridge; means for determining whether the destination node of the packet has a routable protocol; means for sending a route discovery packet to discover one or more context bridges if the destination has no routable protocol; and means for routing the packet from the source to the destination using either the routable protocol if the destination has a routable protocol, or through the one or more discovered context bridges if the destination has no routable protocol.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-08-10	2002-02-09	2002-08-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-08-10	2006-02-09	2006-08-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-08-10	2010-02-09	2010-08-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Scalable distributed computing environment

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