Data Center Arbitration for Dynamic Service Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disaster recovery configurations for data centers are inflexible, as they fixly rely on one data center to provide services when a communication link between them is faulty, preventing the proper data center from being dynamically selected based on actual service module statuses.

Innovation Solution

An arbitration method and apparatus that synchronizes status information across data centers, allowing for the flexible determination of a data center to provide services by detecting network connection statuses and service module weights, enabling accurate selection even when communication links are faulty.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If services are fixedly provided by one data center when communication link is faulty, then service continuity is maintained, but flexibility in selecting the proper data center is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidflexibility in selecting data center
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic service provision by enabling data centers to flexibly switch between active and standby roles based on real-time arbitration of service module statuses. The system dynamically determines which data center should provide services after a fault occurs, rather than following a fixed assignment, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining service continuity and preserving selection flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms through arbitration processes that continuously monitor and evaluate the statuses of service modules in both data centers. This feedback loop allows the system to make informed decisions about service provision, selecting the data center with better service module conditions to maintain reliability while adapting to current system states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If all services are borne by one data center when network is disconnected, then service availability is ensured, but system load becomes unbalanced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidsystem load distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts service distribution by arbitrating between data centers based on their actual service module statuses. When one data center cannot provide services due to disconnection or fault, the arbitration mechanism dynamically reallocates services to the other data center, maintaining service availability while adapting load distribution to current capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of data centers by transitioning service modules between active and standby states based on arbitration results. This parameter change allows the system to maintain service availability while balancing load across data centers according to their current operational capacity and status conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If service modules are frequently switched between active and standby states, then service continuity is maintained, but system stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary arbitration to determine service provision status before faults actually occur. By pre-establishing arbitration rules and evaluating service module statuses in advance, the system can make stable, pre-planned decisions about service allocation, reducing the need for frequent reactive switching and thereby maintaining system stability while ensuring service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from service module status monitoring to make informed arbitration decisions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to identify when switching is truly necessary versus when current configurations should be maintained, thereby maintaining service continuity while avoiding unnecessary switches that would destabilize the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3817296B1Arbitration method and related device
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3817296B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3817296B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3817296B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application discloses an arbitration method and a related apparatus. The method includes: detecting, by the first ABS apparatus, first status information of a service module in the first DC; when determining that a communication link between the first DC and the second DC is faulty, obtaining, by the first ABS apparatus, second status information, wherein the second status information is status information that is of a service module in the second DC and that is detected by the second ABS apparatus; and arbitrating, by the first ABS apparatus, a subsequent service providing capability of the first DC based on the first status information and the second status information. It can be learned that a DC that subsequently provides a service can be determined based on actual statuses of the service modules in the first DC and the second DC by implementing this application. In this way, a proper DC can be flexibly determined to provide a subsequent service.