Offloading Node Status Probing from Load Balancers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Load balancing devices face excessive resource utilization when periodically probing nodes to determine their status, leading to inefficient use of computing and network resources.

Innovation Solution

A node management device is introduced to handle status determination for nodes, receiving configuration information from the load balancing device, transmitting status requests, updating data structures based on status changes, and providing updated information back to the load balancing device, thereby reducing the load on the device performing the probing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the load balancing device periodically probes nodes to determine their status, then the status monitoring function is achieved, but the computing and network resources of the load balancing device are excessively utilized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenode status monitoringVSAvoidcomputing resource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the node status monitoring function from the load balancing device and implements it in a separate health monitoring application. The load balancing device sends configuration information identifying nodes to monitor, and the health monitoring application independently performs the probing and status determination, returning results to the load balancing device. This separation removes the resource-intensive monitoring task from the load balancing device while maintaining reliable status tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a health monitoring application as an intermediary component between the load balancing device and the nodes. This intermediary handles all status probing and determination operations, allowing the load balancing device to focus on its primary function of distributing workloads. The intermediary application consumes the computing and network resources for monitoring, sparing the load balancing device from excessive resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the load balancing device periodically probes nodes to determine their status, then the status monitoring function is achieved, but the network communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenode status monitoringVSAvoidnetwork communication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the status probing and communication operations from the load balancing device and consolidates them in the health monitoring application. The application maintains a data structure storing node status information and performs all necessary communication with nodes for status determination. This reduces redundant network communications from the load balancing device while ensuring reliable status monitoring through the dedicated application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If a node management device is introduced to handle status determination, then resource utilization improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputing resource utilizationVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The health monitoring application serves multiple functions: it receives configuration information from the load balancing device, maintains a data structure of node statuses, performs status probing, determines status changes, and returns results. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex components into a single versatile application, reducing overall system complexity while improving resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The health monitoring application autonomously manages the node status monitoring process. It independently receives configuration information, maintains its own data structure for tracking node statuses, performs probing operations, determines status changes, and communicates results back to the load balancing device. This self-service capability eliminates the need for the load balancing device to directly manage monitoring operations, simplifying its role while maintaining comprehensive status awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9787764B2Server health monitoring for traffic load balancer

Publication Date: 2017.10.10 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC

AI summary

A device may receive, from a load balancing device, configuration information that identifies a set of nodes for which a status is to be determined. The device may generate a data structure. The data structure may store information that identifies a status of the set of nodes. The device may transmit a status request to one or more nodes. The device may determine the status of the one or more nodes based on transmitting the status request. The device may update the data structure based on determining a change in status of the one or more nodes. The device may provide, to the load balancing device, information that identifies the change in status of the one or more nodes based on updating the data structure.