Offloading application components to edge servers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for off-loading application components to edge servers are provided. An application is made edge-aware by defining which components of the application may be run from an edge server, and which components cannot be run from an edge server. When a request is received that is to be processed by an application on an origin server, a determination is made as to whether the application contains edgable components. If so, an edgified version of the application is created. When a request is received that is handled by a component that may be run on the edge server, the request is handled by that component on the edge server. When a request is received that is handled by a component that is not edgable, the request is passed to a proxy agent which then provides the request to a broker agent on the origin server.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method of executing an application having a plurality of components in a distributed data processing system including an origin server and an edge server, comprising:
 receiving a request directed to the application, the application written for execution on the distributed data processing system;   identifying whether one or more of the plurality of components are capable of being executed by the edge server; and   creating an edge version of the application on the edge server, wherein   the application executes on both the origin server and the edge server.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising
 classifying the plurality of components into edgable components and non-edgable components.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising
 using, in the edge version of the application, a proxy agent in lieu of a non-edgable component of the application, wherein   the non-edgable component is located in the origin server.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein
 the proxy agent redirects a request to the non-edgable component on the origin server.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein
 a request to be processed by an edgable component is handled by the edge version of the application; and   a request to be processed by a non-edgable component is forwarded to the origin server.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein
 the request to be processed by the non-edgable component is sent to a broker agent on the origin server, and   the broker agent invokes the non-edgable component of the application.   
     
     
         49 . A distributed data processing system configured to execute an application having a plurality of components and written to execute on the distributed data processing system, comprising:
 an origin server; and   an edge server, wherein   the distributed data processing system is configured to perform:
 receiving a request directed to the application; 
 identifying whether one or more of the plurality of components are capable of being executed by the edge server; and 
 creating an edge version of the application on the edge server, wherein 
 the application executes on both the origin server and the edge server. 
   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the distributed data processing system is further configured to perform
 classifying the plurality of components into edgable components and non-edgable components.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the distributed data processing system is further configured to perform
 using, in the edge version of the application, a proxy agent in lieu of a non-edgable component of the application, wherein   the non-edgable component is located in the origin server.   
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein
 the proxy agent redirects a request to the non-edgable component on the origin server.   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein
 a request to be processed by an edgable component is handled by the edge version of the application; and   a request to be processed by a non-edgable component is forwarded to the origin server.   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein
 the request to be processed by the non-edgable component is sent to a broker agent on the origin server, and   the broker agent invokes the non-edgable component of the application.   
     
     
         55 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer usable program code for executing an application having a plurality of components in a distributed data processing system including an origin server and an edge server, the computer usable program code, which when executed by the distributed data processing system, causes the distributed data processing system to perform:   receiving a request directed to the application, the application written for execution on the distributed data processing system;   identifying whether one or more of the plurality of components are capable of being executed by the edge server; and   creating an edge version of the application on the edge server, wherein   the application executes on both the origin server and the edge server.   
     
     
         56 . The computer program product of  claim 55 , wherein the computer usable program code further causes the distributed data processing system to perform
 classifying the plurality of components into edgable components and non-edgable components.   
     
     
         57 . The computer program product of  claim 56 , wherein the computer usable program code further causes the distributed data processing system to perform
 using, in the edge version of the application, a proxy agent in lieu of a non-edgable component of the application, wherein   the non-edgable component is located in the origin server.   
     
     
         58 . The computer program product of  claim 57 , wherein
 the proxy agent redirects a request to the non-edgable component on the origin server.   
     
     
         59 . The computer program product of  claim 56 , wherein
 a request to be processed by an edgable component is handled by the edge version of the application; and   a request to be processed by a non-edgable component is forwarded to the origin server.   
     
     
         60 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein
 the request to be processed by the non-edgable component is sent to a broker agent on the origin server, and   the broker agent invokes the non-edgable component of the application.