Multi-ring reliable messaging system

Abstract

A multi-ring reliable messaging system is formed by interconnecting a plurality of token rings via a pair of gateways that includes an active gateway that is configured to communicate with the token rings and a standby gateway that also is configured to communicate with the token rings. The active gateway receives an original message via a first token ring, generates an associated message for a second token ring based on the original message, and propagates the associated message toward the second token ring. The active gateway supports total order delivery of messages within the token rings and causal-order delivery of messages between the token rings. The standby gateway monitors for original and associated messages received via the token rings in a manner for preventing loss of messages when the active gateway fails.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to support communication via a set of token rings including a first token ring and a second token ring, the first token ring comprising a first set of nodes of a first node type and the second token ring comprising a second set of nodes of a second node type, the processor configured to:
 receive an original message via the first token ring; 
 determine, based on the first node type and the second node type, that the original message is to be provided to the second token ring; 
 generate an associated message for the second token ring based on the original message; and 
 propagate the associated message toward the second token ring. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the first token ring using a first token ring protocol, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the second token ring using the first token ring protocol or a second token ring protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that the original message is to be provided to the second token ring based on a message type of the original message. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to support total-order delivery of the original message within the first token ring. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to support causal-order delivery of the associated message between the first token ring and the second token ring. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the original message comprises a set of information for distribution within the first token ring, wherein the associated message comprises the set of information of the original message. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the original message comprises header information, wherein, to generate the associated message, the processor is configured to:
 copy the original message without modifying the header information.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the original message comprises header information, wherein, to generate the associated message, the processor is configured to:
 copy the original message and modify at least a portion of the header information.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to support communication via the token rings using at least one of network communications, one or more communication Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), or one or more physical interfaces to one or more of the token rings. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the original message comprises a state change notification (SCN) message related to management of a radio access network (RAN). 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 controlling, by a processor, communication via a set of token rings including a first token ring and a second token ring, the first token ring comprising a first set of nodes of a first node type and the second token ring comprising a second set of nodes of a second node type, wherein controlling communication comprises:
 receiving an original message via the first token ring; 
 determining, based on the first node type and the second node type, that the original message is to be provided to the second token ring; 
 generating an associated message for the second token ring based on the original message; and 
 propagating the associated message toward the second token ring. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein communication with the first token ring uses a first token ring protocol, wherein communication with the second token ring uses the first token ring protocol or a second token ring protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining that the original message is to be provided to the second token ring is further based on a message type of the original message. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling communication comprises supporting total-order delivery of the original message within the first token ring. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling communication comprises supporting causal-order delivery of the associated message between the first token ring and the second token ring. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the original message comprises a set of information for distribution within the first token ring, wherein the associated message comprises the set of information of the original message. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the original message comprises header information, wherein generating the associated message comprises:
 copying the original message without modifying the header information.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the original message comprises header information, wherein generating the associated message comprises:
 copying the original message and modifying at least a portion of the header information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein communication via the token rings is supported using at least one of network communications, one or more communication Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), or one or more physical interfaces to one or more of the token rings. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the original message comprises a state change notification (SCN) message related to management of a radio access network (RAN). 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
 receive, at a first node via a first token ring, an original message; 
 monitor, at the first node, a second token ring for receipt of an associated message that is associated with the original message; 
 detect, at the first node, a failure of a second node; 
 determine, at the first node based on detection of the failure of the second node, whether the associated message has been received by the first node via the second token ring; and 
 provide, by the first node based on a determination that the associated message has not been received by the first node via the second token ring, the original message to the second token ring.