Providing and Resolving an IP Address for Swarm-Based Services

Abstract

Providing and maintaining an IP address for swarm-based services. A swarm is a group of digital devices operating cooperatively on a network, such as a group of wireless access points. Services may be distributed over members of the swarm, with each service having a master which is hosted on one member of the swarm. The master broadcasts a periodic heartbeat, advertising its service and the address of the host member. If a swarm member fails to hear a particular service's heartbeat for a predetermined interval, it broadcasts a message announcing its intent to be master for the service. If the swarm member does not receive any other broadcasts from members indenting to take the role of master for the service, it takes over the role of master for the service and begins broadcasting periodic heartbeats identifying itself as the service master. If multiple swam members broadcast their intent to become master of the same service, a resolution protocol is invoked and one swarm member is selected to be master. In operation, each member of the swarm maintains a table of services and the address of the swarm member hosting the service; this information is obtained from the periodic heartbeats broadcast by each service master. When a swarm member receives a service request, the request is either redirected to the service master, or the request is terminated at the swarm member and handled.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 listening, by a first digital device in a group of digital devices, for a periodical message identifying a service, wherein the service is to be hosted by one or more digital devices in the group of digital devices, wherein the service is associated with a static network address shared by the one or more digital devices, and wherein the periodical message comprises the static network address;   in response to the periodical message being received by the first digital device, storing the static network address associated with the service at the first digital device; and   in response to no periodical message being received by the first digital device within a predetermined time period, determining that no digital device in the one or more digital devices is hosting the service.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a second digital device in the one or more digital devices starts hosting the service after a first digital device in the one or more digital devices stops hosting the service, thereby allowing the first digital device and the second digital device to jointly provide continuous service for clients. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second digital device is elected as a host for the service based on one or more of the following factors:
 a capability of the second digital device;   a capacity of the second digital device;   a classification associated with the second digital device;   a function of the service;   an operating history of the second digital device;   an identifier associated with the second digital device; and   a result from a resolution protocol performed by the one or more digital devices.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more digital devices uses same factors to elect the host for the service. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the static network address comprises a fixed Internet Protocol (IP) address. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more digital devices comprises access points that are not coupled to any network device having capabilities of a controller, and wherein the service comprises one or more controller functionalities. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a plurality of services are distributed across the one or more digital devices that host the services. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a first digital device in a group of digital devices, a request for a service hosted by one or more digital devices in the group of digital devices, wherein the request comprises a network address corresponding to the requested service;   determining, by the first digital device, whether a second digital device in the group of digital devices hosts the requested service based on the network address; and   in response to the second digital device hosting the requested service, redirecting, by the first digital device, the request to the second digital device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the first digital device, a periodical message comprising the network address, wherein the periodical message indicates that the second digital device hosts the service associated with the request; and   storing, at the first digital device, the network address in the received periodical message and the service associated with the network address.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a third digital device in the one or more digital devices is elected as a new host for the service in response to the second digital device stopping hosting the service. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the third digital device in lieu of the second digital device is associated with the network address when hosting the service. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the network address comprises a static Internet Protocol (IP) address. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more digital devices comprises access points that are not coupled to any network device having capabilities of a controller, and wherein the service comprises one or more controller functionalities. 
     
     
         25 . A digital device in the group of digital devices, the digital device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a listening mechanism operating with the processor, the listening mechanism to listen for a periodical message identifying a service, wherein the service is to be hosted by one or more digital devices in the group of digital devices, wherein the service is associated with a static network address shared by the one or more digital devices, and wherein the periodical message comprises the static network address;   a storing mechanism coupled to the memory, the storing mechanism to store the static network address associated with the service at the first digital device in response to the periodical message being received by the first digital device; and   a determining mechanism operating with the processor, the determining mechanism to determine that no digital device in the one or more digital devices is hosting the service in response to no periodical message being received by the first digital device within a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         26 . The digital device of  claim 25 , wherein a second digital device in the one or more digital devices starts hosting the service after a first digital device in the one or more digital devices stops hosting the service, thereby allowing the first digital device and the second digital device to jointly provide continuous service for clients. 
     
     
         27 . The digital device of  claim 26 , wherein the second digital device is elected as a host for the service based on one or more of the following factors:
 a capability of the second digital device;   a capacity of the second digital device;   a classification associated with the second digital device;   a function of the service;   an operating history of the second digital device;   an identifier associated with the second digital device; and   a result from a resolution protocol performed by the one or more digital devices.   
     
     
         28 . The digital device of  claim 27 , wherein each of the one or more digital devices uses same factors to elect the host for the service. 
     
     
         29 . The digital device of  claim 25 , wherein the static network address comprises a fixed Internet Protocol (IP) address. 
     
     
         30 . The digital device of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more digital devices comprises access points that are not coupled to any network device having capabilities of a controller, and wherein the service comprises one or more controller functionalities. 
     
     
         31 . The digital device of  claim 25 , wherein a plurality of services are distributed across the one or more digital devices that host the services. 
     
     
         32 . A digital device in a group of digital devices, the digital device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a receiving mechanism operating with the processor, the receiving mechanism to receive a request for a service hosted by one or more digital devices in the group of digital devices, wherein the request comprises a network address corresponding to the requested service;   a determining mechanism operating with the processor, the determining mechanism to determine whether a second digital device in the group of digital devices hosts the requested service based on the network address; and   a redirecting mechanism operating with the processor, the redirecting mechanism to redirect the request to the second digital device in response to the second digital device hosting the requested service.   
     
     
         33 . The digital device of  claim 32 ,
 wherein the receiving mechanism further receives a periodical message comprising the network address, wherein the periodical message indicates that the second digital device hosts the service associated with the request; and   wherein the digital device further comprises a storing mechanism coupled to the memory, the storing mechanism to store the network address in the received periodical message and the service associated with the network address.   
     
     
         34 . The digital device of  claim 32 , wherein a third digital device in the one or more digital devices is elected as a new host for the service in response to the second digital device stopping hosting the service. 
     
     
         35 . The digital device of  claim 34 , wherein the third digital device in lieu of the second digital device is associated with the network address when hosting the service. 
     
     
         36 . The digital device of  claim 32 , wherein the network address comprises a static Internet Protocol (IP) address. 
     
     
         37 . The digital device of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more digital devices comprises access points that are not coupled to any network device having capabilities of a controller, and wherein the service comprises one or more controller functionalities.