US-20260128943-A1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING NETWORK RESILIENCE USING INTERIM NODES

US20260128943A1US 20260128943 A1US20260128943 A1US 20260128943A1US-20260128943-A1

Abstract

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.

Inventors

Dean Ballew
John R.B. WOODWORTH

Assignees

CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (18)

1 . A system, comprising: a first network switching device; a first server, connected to the first network switching device; and a second network switching device, the first server being configured to provide a first service; the first network switching device being configured: to receive a first service request, for the first service, from a client device; to forward the first service request to the first server; to detect a first trigger condition; in response to detecting the first trigger condition, to transition to an offloading state; to receive, in the offloading state, a second service request, for the first service; and to forward the second service request to the second network switching device, the second network switching device being configured to handle the second service request.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein: the first server has a first set of capabilities for providing the first service; and the second network switching device has a second set of capabilities for providing the first service, the second set of capabilities being less than the first set of capabilities.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network switching device is further configured to determine that the second service request is a request for the first service.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second network switching device is further configured to determine that the second service request is a request for the first service.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the first trigger condition comprises determining that the first server has failed.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first network switching device is further configured: to receive, in the offloading state, a third service request; to forward the third service request to the second network switching device; to receive, in the offloading state, a fourth service request from a client; and to forward the fourth service request to a third network switching device.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein: the third service request is a request for the first service, and the fourth service request is a request for the first service.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein: the third service request is a request for the first service, and the fourth service request is a request for a second service, different from the first service.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the first trigger condition comprises determining that a measure of load, on the first server, has exceeded a threshold.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first network switching device is further configured to notify the first server that it has transitioned to the offloading state.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network switching device is further configured to send a query to the second network switching device to determine whether the second network switching device is configured to provide the first service.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the handling of the second service request comprises: receiving data from the client device; and storing data from the client device.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the storing of data from the client device comprises: storing less than all of the data from the client device.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the second network switching device is further configured to send the data to the first server.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the detecting of the first trigger condition comprises determining that an internal latency of the first server exceeds a round trip network latency between the first network switching device and the second network switching device by more than a threshold amount.
16 . A method, comprising: receiving, by a first network switching device, a first service request, for a first service, from a client device; forwarding the first service request to a first server; detecting, by the first network switching device, a first trigger condition; in response to detecting the first trigger condition, transitioning to an offloading state; receiving, in the offloading state, a second service request, for the first service; sending a query to a second network switching device to determine whether the second network switching device is configured to provide the first service; receiving an affirmative response, to the query, from the second network switching device; and forwarding the second service request to a second network switching device.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein: the first server has a first set of capabilities for providing the first service; and the second network switching device has a second set of capabilities for providing the first service, the second set of capabilities being less than the first set of capabilities.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising: detecting that the first trigger condition is no longer met; sending, to the second network switching device, a request for data stored while the first trigger condition was met; receiving data from the second network switching device; and sending the data to the first server.

Description

FIELD One or more aspects of embodiments according to the present disclosure relate to network services, and more particularly to systems and methods for providing network resilience using interim nodes. BACKGROUND In a system including a network, a client device connected to the network may employ services (e.g., data storage or processing) 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. It is with respect to this general technical environment that aspects of the present disclosure are related. SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. In examples, systems and methods for providing network resilience using interim nodes are provided. In an aspect, a system includes a first network switching device; a first server, connected to the first network switching device; and a second network switching device. The first server may be configured to provide a first service. The first network switching device may be configured: to receive a first service request, for the first service, from a client device; to forward the first service request to the first server; to detect a first trigger condition; in response to detecting the first trigger condition, to transition to an offloading state; to receive, in the offloading state, a second service request, for the first service; and to forward the second service request to the second network switching device. The second network switching device may be configured to handle the second service request. In examples, the first server has a first set of capabilities for providing the first service; and the second network switching device has a second set of capabilities for providing the first service, the second set of capabilities being less than the first set of capabilities. In examples, the first network switching device is further configured to determine that the second service request is a request for the first service. In examples, the second network switching device is further configured to determine that the second service request is a request for the first service. In examples, the second network switching device is configured to load a module, the module containing instructions that, when executed by the second network switching device, cause the second network switching device to provide the first service. In examples, the detecting of the first trigger condition comprises determining that the first server has failed. In examples, the first network switching device is further configured: to receive, in the offloading state, a third service request; to forward the third service request to the second network switching device; to receive, in the offloading state, a fourth service request from a client; and to forward the fourth service request to a third network switching device. In examples, the third service request is a request for the first service, and the fourth service request is a request for the first service. In examples, the third service request is a request for the first service, and the fourth service request is a request for a second service, different from the first service. In examples, the detecting of the first trigger condition comprises determining that a measure of load, on the first server, has exceeded a threshold. In examples, the first network switching device is further configured to notify the first server that it has transitioned to the offloading state. In examples, the first network switching device is further configured to send a query to the second network switching device to determine whether the second network switching device is configured to provide the first service. In examples, the handling of the second service request comprises: receiving data from the client device; and storing data from the client device. In examples, the storing of data from the client device comprises storing less than all of the data from the client device. In examples, the second network switching device is further configured to send the data to the first server. In examples, the detecting of the first trigger condition comprises determining that an internal latency of the first server exceeds a round trip network latency between the first network switching device and the second network switching device by more than a threshold amount. In another aspect, a method is provided, comprising: receiving, by a first network switching device, a first service request, for a first service, from a client device; forwarding the first service req