Abstract:
Methods and systems for providing a virtual network are disclosed. At least one layer of abstraction is created between network service applications and conventional network protocols by inserting an adaptive dispatcher between applications and network transport services on each machine in a network. The message protocol in the virtual network is extensible, allowing application programs to create new headers within any message as needed. The adaptive dispatcher contains handlers that route and dispatch messages within the virtual network based on arbitrary content within each message, including any combination of headers and/or data content. Each device on the virtual network has a virtual address to which messages are directed, allowing devices to move within the network without reconfiguring routing tables. Handlers may be automatically created when an event meeting predefined criteria occurs, including the non-occurrence of a condition, making the virtual network self-healing and adaptive to reconfiguration.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is provided for resolving virtual network names using one or more name routers. A conventional Uniform Resource Locator (URL) naming scheme is extended by allowing any component to be mapped to an address. The resolution process occurs recursively through a plurality of name routers. Resolution can be contextual, such that the same virtual network name may be resolved differently depending on the identity of the client or other parameters.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for providing a virtual network are disclosed. At least one layer of abstraction is created between network service applications and conventional network protocols by inserting an adaptive dispatcher between applications and network transport services on each machine in a network. The message protocol in the virtual network is extensible, allowing application programs to create new headers within any message as needed. The adaptive dispatcher contains handlers that route and dispatch messages within the virtual network based on arbitrary content within each message, including any combination of headers and/or data content. Each device on the virtual network has a virtual address to which messages are directed, allowing devices to move within the network without reconfiguring routing tables. Handlers may be automatically created when an event meeting predefined criteria occurs, including the non-occurrence of a condition, making the virtual network self-healing and adaptive to reconfiguration.
Abstract:
Mechanisms in which upon receiving a message (201), the message is passed through one or more receiving path components (202A,202B) that are positioned in the receiving path (202) of the message (201) prior to being passed to a dispatching component (205). One or more of the receiving path components (202A,202B) may modify the message (201) to include information (203A) that may be helpful to the dispatching component (205) in order to perform the dispatch. The dispatching component receives modified message (201'), and uses information (204) from the modified message (including potentially the modification itself) to perform the dispatch. Since the message (201) is modified to include additional information (204) helpful to the dispatching component (205), the dispatching component (205) may be more flexible in identifying the processing (207) that should occur with the message (201). Accordingly, specialized and flexible processing (207) may be enabled that is ideally suited for the message (201).
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is provided for resolving virtual network names using one or more name routers. A conventional Uniform Resource Locator (URL) naming scheme is extended by allowing any component to be mapped to an address. The resolution process occurs recursively through a plurality of name routers. Resolution can be contextual, such that the same virtual network name may be resolved differently depending on the identity of the client or other parameters.