Patent US6470389B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6470389B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hosting a network service on a cluster of servers using a single-address image
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1997-03-14
•
Granted: 2002-10-22
•
Expires: 2017-03-14
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for hosting a network service on a cluster of servers, each including a primary and a secondary Internet Protocol (IP) address. A common cluster address is assigned as the secondary address to each of the servers in the cluster. The cluster address may be assigned in UNIX-based servers using an ifconfig alias option, and may be a ghost IP address that is not used as a primary address by any server in the cluster. Client requests directed to the cluster address are dispatched such that only one of the servers of the cluster responds to a given client request. The dispatching may use a routing-based technique, in which all client requests directed to the cluster address are routed to a dispatcher connected to the local network of the server cluster. The dispatcher then applies a hash function to the client IP address in order to select one of the servers to process the request. The dispatching may alternatively use a broadcast-based technique, in which a router broadcasts client requests having the cluster address to all of the servers of the cluster over a local network. The servers then each provide a filtering routine, which may involve comparing a server identifier with a hash value generated from a client address, in order to ensure that only one server responds to each request broadcast by the router.
Inventors
- 👤 Pi-Yu Chung
- 👤 Om P. Damani
- 👤 Yennun Huang
- 👤 Chandra M. Kintala
- 👤 Yi-Min Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/35; H04L61/50; H04L61/5069; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/1001; H04L67/1004; H04L67/1023; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; G; G06; G06F; G06F2209/00; G06F2209/46; G06F2209/462; H04L61/45; H04L67/1034; H04L69/00; H04L69/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network utilizes a TCP/IP protocol and the primary and secondary addresses are primary and secondary IP addresses, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the common address is an IP address which does not correspond to a primary IP address of any of the plurality of servers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of servers is a UNIX-based server including multiple network interface cards, and the assigning step includes assigning the common address for the at least one server using an ifconfig command.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of servers are UNIX-based servers, and the assigning step includes assigning the common address utilizing an ifconfig alias option for at least a subset of the plurality of servers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the processing step includes the step of dispatching a request of a given client to one of the plurality of servers based on application of a hash function to an IP address of the given client.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the hash function is determined based on an analysis of a distribution of client IP addresses in an access log associated with one or more of the servers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the dispatching step includes reapplying the hash function to the client IP address to identify another server if a server identified as a result of a previous application of the hash function has failed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the processing step includes the steps of: routing client requests directed to the common address to a dispatcher connected to a local network associated with the plurality of servers; and selecting a particular one of the servers to process a given client request based on application of a hash function to a corresponding client address in the dispatcher.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the processing step includes the steps of: broadcasting a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers over a local network associated with the servers; and implementing a filtering routine in each of the plurality of servers so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the implementing step includes the steps of: applying a hash function to a client IP address associated with the given client request; and comparing the result of the applying step to an identifier of a particular server to determine whether that server should process the given client request.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the apparatus comprising: means for assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and means for processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the apparatus comprising: means for assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and means for processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the network utilizes a TCP/IP protocol and the primary and secondary addresses are primary and secondary IP addresses, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the common address is an IP address which does not correspond to a primary IP address of any of the plurality of servers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the plurality of servers is a UNIX-based server including multiple network interface cards, and the assigning means is operative to assign the common address for the at least one server using an ifconfig command.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of servers are UNIX-based servers, and the assigning means is operative to assign the common address utilizing an ifconfig alias option for at least a subset of the plurality of servers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processing means is operative to dispatch a request of a given client to one of the plurality of servers based on application of a hash function to an IP address of the given client.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the hash function is determined based on an analysis of a distribution of client IP addresses in an access log associated with one or more of the servers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the processing means is further operative to reapply the hash function to the client IP address to identify another server if a server identified as a result of a previous application of the hash function has failed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processing means further includes a dispatcher connected to a local network associated with the plurality of servers, wherein the dispatcher is operative to receive client requests directed to the common address, and to select a particular one of the servers to process a given client request based on application of a hash function to a corresponding client address.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processing means further includes: means for broadcasting a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers over a local network associated with the servers; and means for filtering the given client request in each of the plurality of servers so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the filtering means is operative to apply a hash function to a client IP address associated with the given client request, and to compare the result of the applying step to an identifier of a particular server to determine whether that server should process the given client request.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for routing client requests for a network service over a communication network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of servers configured to support the network service, each of the servers having a primary address and a secondary address, wherein a common address is assigned as the secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and a router coupled to the servers and operative to route client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for routing client requests for a network service over a communication network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of servers configured to support the network service, each of the servers having a primary address and a secondary address, wherein a common address is assigned as the secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and a router coupled to the servers and operative to route client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the network utilizes a TCP/IP protocol and the primary and secondary addresses are primary and secondary IP addresses, respectively.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the common address is an IP address which does not correspond to a primary IP address of any of the plurality of servers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein at least one of the plurality of servers is a UNIX-based server including multiple network interface cards, and the common address is assigned for the at least one server using an ifconfig command.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the plurality of servers are UNIX-based servers, and the common address is assigned as the secondary address of the plurality of servers by utilizing an ifconfig alias option for at least a subset of the plurality of servers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the router is further operative to route client requests such that a request of a given client is routed to one of the plurality of servers based on application of a hash function to an IP address of the given client.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the hash function is determined based on an analysis of a distribution of client IP addresses in an access log associated with one or more of the servers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the hash function is reapplied to the client IP address to identify another server if a server identified as a result of a previous application of the hash function has failed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 23 further including a dispatcher coupled to the router and to a local network associated with the plurality of servers, such that the router directs client requests having the common address to the dispatcher, and the dispatcher selects a particular one of the servers to process a given client request based on application of a hash function to a corresponding client address.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the router is further operative to broadcast a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers over a local network associated with the servers, and further wherein each of the servers implements a filtering routine so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the filtering routine involves applying a hash function to a client IP address associated with the given client request, and comparing the result to an identifier of a particular server to determine whether that server should process the given client request.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request, wherein each of the servers provides access to substantially the same set of contents associated with the network service.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request, wherein each of the servers provides access to substantially the same set of contents associated with the network service.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the apparatus comprising: means for assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and means for processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request, wherein each of the servers provides access to substantially the same set of contents associated with the network service.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the apparatus comprising: means for assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and means for processing client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request, wherein each of the servers provides access to substantially the same set of contents associated with the network service.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for routing client requests for a network service over a communication network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of servers configured to support the network service, each of the servers having a primary address and a secondary address, wherein a common address is assigned as the secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address, and wherein each of the servers provides access to substantially the same set of contents associated with the network service; and a router coupled to the servers and operative to route client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for routing client requests for a network service over a communication network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of servers configured to support the network service, each of the servers having a primary address and a secondary address, wherein a common address is assigned as the secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address, and wherein each of the servers provides access to substantially the same set of contents associated with the network service; and a router coupled to the servers and operative to route client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; broadcasting a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers; and implementing a filtering routine in each of the plurality of servers so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; broadcasting a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers; and implementing a filtering routine in each of the plurality of servers so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the apparatus comprising: means for assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; means for broadcasting a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers; and means for filtering the given client request in each of the plurality of servers so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for routing client requests to a plurality of servers configured to support a network service over a communication network, each of the servers having a primary address, the apparatus comprising: means for assigning a common address as a secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; means for broadcasting a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers; and means for filtering the given client request in each of the plurality of servers so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for routing client requests for a network service over a communication network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of servers configured to support the network service, each of the servers having a primary address and a secondary address, wherein a common address is assigned as the secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and a router coupled to the servers and operative to route client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers, wherein the router is further operative to broadcast a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers, and further wherein each of the servers implements a filtering routine so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers without modification of the common address in the request.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for routing client requests for a network service over a communication network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of servers configured to support the network service, each of the servers having a primary address and a secondary address, wherein a common address is assigned as the secondary address for each of the plurality of servers such that each of the servers individually has the secondary address; and a router coupled to the servers and operative to route client requests directed to the common address such that each of the requests is processed by a particular one of the plurality of servers, wherein the router is further operative to broadcast a given client request directed to the common address to each of the plurality of servers, and further wherein each of the servers implements a filtering routine so that the given client request is processed by only one of the servers without modification of the common address in the request.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-21 | 2006-04-22 | 2006-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-21 | 2010-04-22 | 2010-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-04-22 | 2014-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |