Cloud Server Session Management During Management Server Downtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information processing systems face challenges in managing tunnel communications when the tunnel management apparatus stops functioning, preventing effective control of devices connected to a local area network (LAN) through a cloud server due to firewall restrictions.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system comprising a cloud server and a management server outside the firewall, with a relay device inside the firewall, that establishes and manages communication sessions to control target devices within the firewall, including a stop period mechanism to handle service refrains and maintain communication sessions during service interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tunnel management apparatus is used to control tunnel communications between devices, then communication management is improved, but the system becomes unreliable when the management apparatus stops functioning
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud server preliminarily establishes communication sessions with relay devices before the management server stops functioning. When the management server is unavailable, these pre-established sessions enable the cloud server to directly communicate with target devices without requiring management server intervention, thus maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Relay devices serve as intermediaries between the cloud server and target devices. The relay devices receive connection requests from the cloud server and forward them to target devices, enabling communication to continue even when the management server is unavailable, as the relay devices maintain local session information independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cloud server establishes communication sessions with relay devices, then device control capability is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud server establishes communication sessions with relay devices on-demand rather than maintaining continuous connections. Sessions are created when control operations are needed and disconnected when not in use, allowing the system to balance device control capability with network resource conservation through periodic rather than continuous communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication session state is dynamic, transitioning between established and disconnected states based on operational needs. The cloud server can quickly establish sessions when control is required and disconnect them when idle, making the system adaptable to varying control requirements while minimizing unnecessary network resource consumption during idle periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A cloud server acquires a stop period indicating a period during which a management server refrains from providing services; transmits connection requests to said management server if not in the stop period; establishes first communication session when establishment requests including the same address information as address information of connection destination included in the connection request are received from a relay device receiving connection requests forwarded from the management server after transmission of connection requests; transmits jobs to a control target device via first communication session; after first communication session is established, in response to acquisition of result of jobs executed by the control target device, if in the stop period, disconnects first communication session after the stop period finished; and if jobs are generated in the stop period, transmits to the control target device jobs generated in the stop period, via first communication session established before the stop period starts.