Patent ID: 11876730
Assignee: TENCENT AMERICA LLC
Field: Digital communication (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 8:
9. An apparatus connected to one or more additional network nodes via a local area network (LAN), the apparatus and the one or more additional network nodes forming a cloud, the apparatus comprising:
at least one memory configured to store computer program code; and
at least one processor configured to access the computer program code and operate as instructed by the computer program code, the computer program code including:
first setting code configured to cause the at least one processor to set a first timer to a first value;
transmitting, to each of the one or more additional network nodes, a multicast message for determining whether another network node from the one or more additional network nodes is an active controller in the cloud,
first starting code configured to cause the at least one processor to start the first timer after transmitting the multicast message,
first determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine, before the first timer expires, whether a first message in response to the multicast message that indicates that another network node from the one or more additional network nodes is the active controller is received,
restarting code configured to cause the at least one processor to restart the first timer based on determining the first message is received before the first timer expires, and
first assigning code configured to cause the at least one processor to assign, as the active controller in the cloud based on determining the first message is not received before the first timer expires, one or more tasks to at least one network node from the one or more additional network nodes.