Method and apparatus for indirectly assessing a status of an active entity

摘要

A method and system permit a backup entity of a redundant apparatus of a communication system that shares control of hardware resources or other network resources with an active entity to indirectly determine a status of the active entity based upon behavior and reaction to actions it takes in connection with resources it shares control of with the active entity. Such a method and system permit the backup entity to deduce the state of the active entity without having any a hardware connection or other communication connection with the active entity.

主权项

1. A communication apparatus comprising:
an active entity having at least one processor unit communicatively connected to at least one memory; a backup entity having at least one processor unit communicatively connected to at least one memory, the backup entity communicatively connected to the active entity via at least one communication connection; at least one resource communicatively connectable to the active entity and the backup entity, the active entity configured to oversee or manage the at least one resource to provide a service and the backup entity configured to provide a redundancy service for the active entity; one of the backup entity and the active entity is configured to send at least one first message to the at least one resource such that the at least one resource responds to that at least one first message for eliciting a reaction from the one of the backup entity and the active entity that did not send the at least one first message when the at least one communication connection fails such that messages are not exchangeable between the backup entity and the active entity via the at least one communication connection such that the backup entity takes over control of the at least one resource from the active entity for a first period of time to oversee or manage the at least one resource and drops control of the at least one resource after the first period of time elapses; and wherein the elicited reaction is comprised of at least one second message sent to the at least one resource that requires at least one action of the at least one resource that is interpretable by the one of the backup entity and the active entity that sent the at least one first message comprises the active entity reinitiating control of the at least one resource; and wherein the backup entity is configured such that, upon the backup entity making a determination of a second time period passing in which the active entity does not reinitiate control of the at least one resource, the backup entity determines that the active entity experienced a failure and takes over control of the at least one resource to oversee or manage the at least one resource; and wherein the backup entity is configured such that, upon the backup entity making a determination of the active entity taking control of the at least one resource after the first time period and within the second time period such that the active entity is determined to be overseeing or managing the at least one resource after the first time period and within the second time period, the backup entity observes the at least one resource to monitor a status of service associated with the at least one resource for at least a third period of time.