Hierarchical delegation and reservation of lookup keys

摘要

A method of reserving lookup keys in a computer communication system including a hierarchy of key manager nodes includes receiving a first reservation request at a first key manager node at a first level of the hierarchy of key manager nodes. The first reservation request requests reservation of a lookup key. The methods include determining whether or not the first key manager node has authority to grant the reservation request, and, in response to determining that the first key manager node does not have authority to grant the reservation request, sending a second reservation request requesting reservation of the lookup key to a second key manager node that is at a second level of the hierarchy of key manager nodes.