Reliable isp access cloud state detection method and apparatus

Abstract

A Multi-Homing System is equipped with an Adaptive JSP Access Cloud State Detection apparatus (ACSD) that improves the reliability of digital connections, such as a Computer Premises Network and the Internet, in which such connections are made by connecting through a multiplicity of ISP Access Clouds (links). Reliability is improved by using data elements of Internet Protocol datagrams that are exchanged between the ISP Access Clouds and the CPN without creating additional data traffic. Data Elements from each ISP Access Cloud are used by processing functions of the by the ACSD to test for conditions that indicate that it may be in a DOWN status, when a DOWN status is suspected, other functions in the ACSD initiate transmission of a set of PROBE packets that can determine if the suspect link is actually DOWN or merely giving a response that would be interpreted as DOWN by prior art methods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adaptive multi-homing system (AMHS) comprising:
 one or more processors;   a first network interface coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the first network interface is configured to provide network connectivity between the AMHS and a plurality of site equipment devices;   a second network interface coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the second network interface is configured to provide network connectivity between the AMHS and a first internet access cloud; and   a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processors, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a plurality of first request packets from one or more of the site equipment devices via the first network interface; 
 receiving a plurality of first response packets from the first internet access cloud via the second network interface in response to the plurality of first request packets, and wherein the plurality of first request packets and the plurality of first response packets form a plurality of first request-response sequences; 
 computing a first round trip time duration based on a sample of the plurality of first request-response sequences; 
 computing a first Access Cloud State Detection (ACSD) timeout period associated with the first internet access cloud, wherein the first ACSD timeout period is a multiple of the first round trip time duration; and 
 declaring the first internet access cloud to be in a down status if no packets are received during the ACSD timeout period. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a third network interface coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the third network interface is configured to provide network connectivity between the AMHS and a second internet access cloud, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a plurality of second request packets from one or more of the site equipment devices via the first network interface; 
 receiving a plurality of second response packets from the second internet access cloud via the third network interface in response to the plurality of second request packets, and wherein the plurality of second request packets and the corresponding plurality of second response packets form a plurality of second request-response sequences; 
 computing a second round trip time duration based on a sample of the second request-response sequences; 
 computing a second Access Cloud State Detection (ACSD) timeout period associated with the second internet access cloud, wherein the second ACSD timeout period is a multiple of the second round trip time duration; and 
 declaring the second internet access cloud to be in a down status if no packets are received during the second ACSD timeout period. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second network interface is configured to connect to a plurality of internet access clouds.