Distributed Server Connection Selection Without Central Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network technologies rely on central controllers for load balancing and connection management, limiting redundancy and availability since servers must be collocated and lack visibility into server status for remote applications, which restricts intelligent connection routing and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A distributed system where each server in a group is configured with a unique identifier and posts its status and connection details to a central database, allowing remote clients to access and choose the best server for connections based on available information without a central controller, using a dummy server to aggregate data and provide extrinsic information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a central controller is used for load balancing and connection management, then connection routing is simplified, but system reliability deteriorates due to single point of failure and limited redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the central controller function from the system by having servers independently publish their own status and connection information to a distributed database. Each server becomes autonomous in managing its own connectivity, eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining simplified client access through group-based queries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the central control function across multiple independent servers that each publish their own status information. Instead of one centralized controller, multiple servers distributed throughout the network independently manage their own connection information, providing redundancy and fault tolerance.
2Ease of manufacture
If servers are collocated and grouped as a physical unit, then virtualization and redundancy are simplified, but adaptability deteriorates as servers cannot operate in different physical and logical locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic server placement where servers can be located anywhere in the network and assigned to logical groups based on functional requirements rather than physical proximity. The distributed database enables dynamic association of servers with client groups, allowing flexible deployment across different physical and logical locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables any server to serve multiple logical groups and any client to connect to any server in the network, regardless of physical location. The universal database structure allows servers to be universally accessible and reassigned to different functional groups as needs change.
3Device complexity
If remote applications lack server status information, then connection decisions are simplified, but connection efficiency deteriorates as applications cannot intelligently route based on server conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where servers continuously publish their status information (uptime, downtime, impaired state, sunset status) and connection details to the distributed database. Clients query this feedback information to make intelligent connection decisions, enabling efficient routing based on real-time server conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Servers perform preliminary actions by proactively publishing their status and connection information before clients need to make connection decisions. This advance information availability allows clients to pre-determine optimal routing paths without requiring complex real-time negotiation.
4Ease of manufacture
If maintenance is performed on a server, then server updates can be applied, but connection continuity deteriorates as all existing connections may be disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic maintenance operations where servers can be individually taken offline for updates while the distributed database automatically redirects clients to alternative servers in the same logical group. This dynamic reconfiguration maintains connection continuity during maintenance activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides beforehand cushioning by ensuring multiple servers in each logical group are pre-configured with backup capabilities. When maintenance is needed, the system has already established redundant pathways through the distributed database, cushioning against connection interruptions.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is that of systems and methods for controllerless and distributed network connections to servers on a network by remote clients seeking their services. The invention comprises a central database where servers within a server group identified by a group name may post unique identifiers (UIDs) for retrieval by group clients configured with the group name, which may query the central database for server connection information such as uptime, downtime, and congestion in order to select a server for a preferential connection based on an overall availability profile as determined by the group client. In some embodiments, one server of the group is a “dummy server” that may aggregate and selectively transmit server information from other servers in the group, or other devices, and posts it to the central database for client access. The methods described herein eliminate a separate controller and thereby a single point of failure (SPOF).