Multi-Core Intermediary Device Cookie Session Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-core appliances complicate client-server connectivity management, leading to user frustration and loss of customers due to repeated deferral of access requests when a server exceeds response time limits, as each core may independently defer access without knowledge of previous deferrals.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a multi-core intermediary device with packet processing engines to generate and interpret cookies identifying user sessions redirected due to server response time limits, allowing preferred client connectivity by propagating policies across cores and providing alternate content or progress indicators to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multi-core appliance processes client requests independently on each core, then processing capacity and speed are improved, but client connectivity management deteriorates due to repeated deferrals when servers exceed response time limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cookie as an intermediary mechanism that carries session identification information between packet processing engines across different cores. When Core 1 defers a client request due to server unavailability, it generates a cookie with session ID and stores it. When Core 2 receives a subsequent request from the same client, it checks the cookie to recognize the existing session and avoid redundant deferral, thus maintaining reliable client connectivity management while preserving multi-core processing capacity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the appliance defers access to overloaded servers, then server response time is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to repeated deferrals across different cores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the appliance monitors server response times and dynamically adjusts its behavior. When servers exceed response time thresholds, the appliance generates cookies that provide feedback to subsequent packet processing engines about the current server state and ongoing session deferrals. This feedback loop ensures that users receive consistent treatment across different cores, preventing repeated deferrals and improving user experience while still managing server load effectively.
3Speed
If packet processing engines are distributed across multiple cores, then processing speed is improved, but system complexity increases due to policy propagation and cookie interpretation across cores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cookie copying as a simple mechanism to propagate session information across packet processing engines on different cores. Instead of implementing complex inter-core communication protocols or shared state management, the system creates and copies lightweight cookie structures containing session IDs and deferral status. This copying approach maintains high processing speed while minimizing system complexity, as cookies are simple data structures that can be efficiently replicated and interpreted across cores without requiring sophisticated synchronization mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for providing a cookie by an intermediary device comprising a plurality of packet processing engines executing on a corresponding plurality of cores, the cookie identifying a session of a user that was redirected responsive to a service exceeding a response time limit. The cookie may be generated with identifiers based off a name of a virtual server managing a service of a server, and a name of a policy associated with the virtual server. Each packet processing engine of the plurality of packet processing engines may interpret cookies generated by other packet processing engines due to the name of the virtual server and name of the policy, and may provide preferred client connectivity based on cookies included in requests for access to a service.