Interim Network Nodes for Server Failover and Service Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network systems face challenges in maintaining resilience when servers degrade or fail, leading to service disruptions and inefficiencies in handling service requests.

Innovation Solution

Implementing interim nodes, such as network switching devices with loadable modules, to offload service requests from overloaded or failed servers, ensuring seamless service continuity by transitioning to an offloading state and utilizing agents with reduced capabilities to handle requests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If service requests are forwarded to backup nodes when the primary server fails, then network resilience is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple switching devices and coordination mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resilienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediary switching devices (first network switching device, second network switching device) that act as mediators between client devices and servers. These intermediaries manage the complexity of failover by centralizing the logic for detecting server failures and redirecting traffic to backup nodes, thereby improving network resilience while containing system complexity within the switching layer rather than distributing it throughout the entire network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The network architecture is segmented into distinct functional components: client devices, network switching devices (with primary and backup roles), and servers. This segmentation allows the failover mechanism to be isolated to specific network switching devices rather than requiring changes across the entire system, thus improving resilience without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If interim nodes with reduced capabilities are used to handle service requests, then resource utilization is optimized, but service quality may deteriorate due to limited capabilities of secondary nodes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidservice quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by allowing interim nodes (second network switching device) to handle only a subset of service requests—specifically those redirected during failover scenarios—rather than requiring full-capability nodes for all requests. This optimizes resource utilization by using simpler nodes for backup functions while maintaining service quality for primary requests handled by full-capability servers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The interim nodes function as temporary, on-demand resources activated only during failover conditions. These nodes with reduced capabilities serve as cost-effective backup resources that are brought into service only when needed, optimizing overall resource utilization while maintaining service quality through selective deployment rather than requiring all nodes to have maximum capabilities at all times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the first network switching device transitions to offloading state upon detecting server failure, then service continuity is maintained, but latency may increase due to the transition process and additional routing through the second network switching device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the network switching devices with knowledge of backup nodes and failover procedures before failures occur. The first network switching device is pre-programmed with the capabilities and locations of second network switching devices, allowing for rapid transition to offloading state without extensive discovery or negotiation delays, thus maintaining service continuity while minimizing latency during the failover process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12519686B2Systems and methods for providing network resilience using interim nodes

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

AI summary

In a system including a network, a client device connected to the network may employ services (e.g., data storage or analysis) provided by resources (e.g., computing and storage resources) of servers that are in the network and connected to the network. Under various circumstances, the ability of such a server to provide a service may degrade, or, e.g., if the server fails, cease entirely. As such, systems and methods for providing network resilience using interim nodes are provided.