Abstract: A method and system for managing broadband IP servers in a layer two broadcast network includes an intermediate system, an end system, and a control system. The service information is advertised by each end system (server) on the layer two network. The same service is provided by multiple end systems. The intermediate system forwards a service request packet to one of the available end systems, and the intermediate system learns the service advertisements from the end system. If the available end system decides to instruct an intermediate system to forward certain traffic from a certain source to the end system, the end system can advertise the flow information to intermediate systems. This flow could be an established TCP connection or any packets that are specified by pattern matching rules. The intermediate system always forwards the packet based on the flow that is advertised by the end system.

Abstract: A network system manages hierarchical service and content distribution via a directory enabled network to improve performance of the content delivery network with a hierarchical service network infrastructure design. The network system allows a user to obtain various Internet services, especially the content delivery service, in a scalable and fault tolerant way. In particular the network system is divided into 4 layers, each layer being represented and managed by a service manager with back up mirrored managers. The layer 4 service manager is responsible for management of multiple content delivery networks (CDNs). The layer 3 service manager is responsible for management of one CDN network that has multiple data centers. The layer 2 service manager is responsible for management of one data center that has multiple server farms or service engine farms. The layer 1 service manager is responsible for all servers in a server farm.

Abstract: A network system is provided for management of hierarchical service and content distribution via a directory enabled network to improve performance of the content delivery network with a hierarchical service network infrastructure design. In accordance with the network system, a method and protocols are provided as to how to design the network of multiple data centers running existing Internet protocol and user's proprietary protocols, allowing a user to obtain various Internet services, especially the content delivery service, in a scalable and fault tolerant way. The network system is constructed into 4 layers, each layer is represented and managed by a service manager with back up mirrored managers. The layer 4 service manager is responsible for management of multiple CDN (content delivery network). The layer 3 service manager is responsible for management of one CDN network that has multiple data centers.

Abstract: A method and protocol for managing broadband IP services in a layer two broadcast network. The service information will be advertised by each end system (server) on the layer two broadcast network. There will have multiple end systems that provide the same service. The intermediate system will forward service request packet to one of the available end system that the intermediate system learned from the service advertisements by the end systems. If the end system determines to instruct intermediate system to forward certain traffic from certain source to it, it can advertise the flow information to intermediate systems. This flow could be a TCP connection or any packets that are specified by the flow pattern matching rules. The intermediate system will always forward the packet based on the flow that is advertised by the end system.