Patent Publication Number: US-2016234157-A1

Title: System and method of message routing using name-based identifier in a distributed computing environment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to operations of a distributing computing environment. More particularly, in certain embodiments, the invention relates to message routing using a name-based identifier in a distributed computing environment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The business of building a connected world, also referred to as the Internet of Things, is rapidly growing. Some industry analysts have estimated that the number of connected devices and systems (in an industrial, consumer, government, and business setting) may rise from five billion devices to a trillion devices over the next ten years. 
     A given cluster of devices may include upwards of hundreds of thousands of devices or more. Persistence connectivity can be used to lower the CPU and memory usage for a given connection, which reduces the cost of such connectivity and is, particularly, beneficial when there are such a vast number of connected devices. Persistence connectivity generally refers to a single connection between devices, which once established is used to send and receive multiple requests/responses between the devices. 
     In one type of distributed computing architecture, one or more business logic servers (referred to as a “platform servers”) are employed to service data and information for hundreds of thousands or more computing devices. These servers may be designated, for example, based on a given geographic region. For example, a platform server may service a group of devices in North America or the East Coast. The number of devices connecting to these servers typically exceeds the resource capacity of such servers. To this end, intermediary servers may be employed to manage the connections between the computing devices and the platform servers. Because of the potential benefit in efficiency operation, persistent connectivity may reduce the number of intermediary servers or platform servers necessary to provide data service to a given number of computing devices. 
     When operating a load-balanced service, maintaining information that must or should be kept across the multiple requests in a user&#39;s session is useful. This information is typically referred to as a session state. A common example of an application that uses session state is a Web browser that uses cookies. However, a typical persistence connections between two network nodes use each other&#39;s network configuration. To this end, multiplexing persistence connection may cause the state information to be lost. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general overview, an intermediary party provides a software library and computing architecture for building a federation of distributed computing systems to service data for a vast number of computing devices. To achieve connectivity to a large number of devices, the federation generally includes multiple server nodes to share the workload. The server nodes can be logical/virtual or physical. 
     In some implementations, a platform server communicates to a given computing device across one or more intermediary servers over persistent connections. The platform routes data to and from data storage servers and various back-end servers that provide services to the computing devices. To this end, the intermediary servers multiplex messages sent from an persistent connections established with the edge servers to an persistent connection established with the platform server. 
     To maintain these persistent connections, formed among the devices within the federation while allowing a given computing device to freely move within the system, the edge and intermediary servers preferably operate using one or more non-network addressable identifiers associated to a given computing device. 
     In some implementations, messages sent across the persistent connections include a name identifier associated only with a given computing system. This feature beneficially allows the computing device to be serviced by the federation while being connected to any edge server within the federation. To this end, the computing device does not need to have any knowledge of the device&#39;s own location or any networking or routing details about nodes within the federation. The computing devices merely has to register, by providing its name and a corresponding security key (in some implementations), to a given edge server, to which the device is automatically bound to a path within the federation. 
     In some implementations, the intermediary servers may maintain and enforce authentication state for a given computing device within the federation. The intermediary servers may maintain the authentication state for a given session with a computing device once the credentials of the computing device is verified. In doing so, the platform server distributes the management of the authentication session to the intermediary server while allowing the platform to still perform the authentication. 
     In some implementations, the intermediary servers are stateless connection managers in that the intermediary server does not maintain state information of messages that it sends or receives. To this end, data and information may be pipelined to independently operating intermediary servers, which may, thus, share connectivity work load with various intermediary servers. 
     Applications for the systems and methods described herein are not limited to the aforementioned examples, but may be deployed in any number of contexts, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Contents of the background are not to be considered as an admission of the contents as prior art. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a method of message routing using a name-based identifier in a distributed computing environment. The method may include providing a platform server, a set of intermediary servers, and a set of edge servers, collectively defining a network where an end-point device communicates to an edge server of the set of edge servers, the set of edge servers communicates to the set of intermediary servers, and the set of intermediary servers communicates to a platform server. 
     In some implementations, the method may include binding, at a platform server, at a first instance, the end-point device to the platform server wherein the platform server binds, at the first instance, the end-point device using a non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device. The binding, at the first instance, associates a first path across the network where the first path is defined between the end-point device and the platform server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers. 
     In some implementations, the method may include communicating, at the platform server, a first message to the end-point device along the first path. 
     In some implementations, the method may include rebinding, at the platform server, at a second instance, the end-point device to the platform server where the platform server binds, at the second instance the end-point device, using the non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device. The non-addressable name value may include a character string. The rebinding, at the second instance, associates a second path across the network where the second path is defined between the end-point device and the platform server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers, including a second intermediary server. 
     In some implementations, the method may include communicating, at the platform server, a second message to the end-point device along the second path. Each of the first path and the second path may include a connection handle to an established persistent connection. The established persistent connection may include a WebSocket connection. At least one of the first path and the second path may include at least two intermediary servers. 
     In some implementations, the method may include receiving, at the platform server, at a given instance between the first and second instances, a request to unbind the end-point device from the platform server where the platform server unbinds the end-point device based on the unbind request and where the unbinding dissociates the first path defined between the end-point device and the platform server. 
     In some implementations, the method may include binding, at the platform server, at the first instance, a second end-point device to the platform server where the platform server binds, at the first instance, the second end-point device based on a second non-addressable name value associated to the second end-point device. The binding of the first end-point device and the binding of the second end-point device may be the result of a single bind request. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a system including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to bind, at a first instance, the end-point device using a non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device. The binding, at the first instance, associates a first path across the network where the first path is defined between the end-point device and the bound server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to communicate a first message to the end-point device along the first path. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to rebind at a second instance using the non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device. The non-addressable name value may include a character string. The rebinding, at the second instance, associates a second path across the network where the second path is defined between the end-point device and the bound server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to communicate a second message to the end-point device along the second path. Each of the first path and the second path may include a connection handle to an established persistent connection. The established persistent connection may include a WebSocket connection. At least one of the first path and the second path may include at least two intermediary servers. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to receive a request to unbind the end-point device from the bound server based on the unbind request where the unbinding dissociates the first path defined between the end-point device and the bound server. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, where the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to bind, at a first instance, the end-point device using a non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device. The binding, at the first instance, associates a first path across the network where the first path is defined between the end-point device and the bound server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to communicate a first message to the end-point device along the first path. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to rebind at a second instance using the non-addressable name value associated to the end-point device. The non-addressable name value may include a character string. The rebinding, at the second instance, associates a second path across the network where the second path is defined between the end-point device and the bound server across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to communicate a second message to the end-point device along the second path. Each of the first path and the second path may include a connection handle to an established persistent connection. The established persistent connection may include a WebSocket connection. At least one of the first path and the second path may include at least two intermediary servers. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to receive a request to unbind the end-point device from the bound server based on the unbind request where the unbinding dissociates the first path defined between the end-point device and the bound server. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a method of routing messages in a distributed computing environment between a platform server and an end-point device. The method may include providing a platform server and one or more intermediate servers where each of the intermediate servers connects and maintains a persistent connection to the platform server and where the intermediate servers communicate and maintain a number of persistent connections with a number of edge servers. The intermediate server may not maintain state information associated with message content embedded within the given message. 
     In some implementations, the method may include receiving, by a port at a given intermediate server, a service request from a given edge server of the edge servers over a first persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the method may include inserting, by the processor at the intermediate server, a given state identifier to the service request where the given state identifier is associated to a connection identity of the first persistent connection and where the association is stored in memory at the intermediate server. 
     In some implementations, the method may include transmitting, at the intermediate server, the service request to the platform server over a second persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the method may include receiving, at the intermediate server, a response message over the second persistent connection, the response message having been generated by the platform server in response to the service request where the response message includes the given state identifier. 
     In some implementations, the method may include retrieving, at the intermediate server, the connection identity of the first persistent connection using the given state identifier where the given state identifier is the same state identifier transmitted within the service request. The given state identifier may be inserted into a header portion of the service request. 
     In some implementations, the method may include routing, at the intermediate server, the response message to a selected connection of the persistent connections with the edge servers where the selected connection is based on the retrieved connection identity. The persistent connections may be Web-Socket connections. 
     In some implementations, the intermediate server may maintain, in the memory, a second state identifier associated with an authentication exchange having been conducted between the computing device connected to the given edge server and the platform server. The second state identifier may be associated with a name value associated with that of the computing device. In such implementation, the method may include comparing, using the processor at the intermediate server, a device identifier located within the service request to the name value. If there is a match, the intermediate server may inject the second state identifier into the service request where the device identifier is associated with an identity of a given computing device operatively communicating with the given edge server. If the comparison is not a match, the intermediate server may send an unbind request to the given edge server where the unbind request causes the device identifier to be removed from a binding list of one or more device identifiers stored at the edge server. The second state identifier may be associated to the connection identity of the first persistent connection and where the association is stored in memory at the intermediate server. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a system, namely an intermediate server, including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive, by a port, a service request from a given edge server over a first persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to insert a given state identifier to the service request where the given state identifier is associated to a connection identity of the first persistent connection and where the association is stored in memory at the intermediate server. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to transmit the service request to the platform server over a second persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to receive a response message over the second persistent connection, the response message having been generated by the platform server in response to the service request where the response message includes the given state identifier. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to retrieve, at the intermediate server, the connection identity of the first persistent connection using the given state identifier where the given state identifier is the same state identifier transmitted within the service request. The given state identifier may be inserted into a header portion of the service request. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to route the response message to a selected connection of the persistent connections with the edge servers where the selected connection is based on the retrieved connection identity. The persistent connections may be Web-Socket connections. 
     In some implementations, the intermediate server may maintain, in the memory, a second state identifier associated with an authentication exchange having been conducted between the computing device connected to the given edge server and the platform server. The second state identifier may be associated with a name value associated with that of the computing device. In such implementation, the intermediate server may compare, by the processor, a device identifier located within the service request to the name value. If there is a match, the intermediate server may inject the second state identifier into the service request where the device identifier is associated with an identity of a given computing device operatively communicating with the given edge server. If the comparison is not a match, the intermediate server may send an unbind request to the given edge server where the unbind request causes the device identifier to be removed from a binding list of one or more device identifiers stored at the edge server. The second state identifier may be associated to the connection identity of the first persistent connection and where the association is stored in memory at the intermediate server. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, where the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive, by a port, a service request from a given edge server over a first persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to insert a given state identifier to the service request where the given state identifier is associated to a connection identity of the first persistent connection and where the association is stored in memory at the intermediate server. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to transmit the service request to the platform server over a second persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to receive a response message over the second persistent connection, the response message having been generated by the platform server in response to the service request where the response message includes the given state identifier. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to retrieve, at the intermediate server, the connection identity of the first persistent connection using the given state identifier where the given state identifier is the same state identifier transmitted within the service request. The given state identifier may be inserted into a header portion of the service request. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to route the response message to a selected connection of the persistent connections with the edge servers where the selected connection is based on the retrieved connection identity. The persistent connections may be Web-Socket connections. 
     In some implementations, the intermediate server may maintain, in the memory, a second state identifier associated with an authentication exchange having been conducted between the computing device connected to the given edge server and the platform server. The second state identifier may be associated with a name value associated with that of the computing device. In such implementation, the intermediate server may compare, by the processor, a device identifier located within the service request to the name value. If there is a match, the intermediate server may inject the second state identifier into the service request where the device identifier is associated with an identity of a given computing device operatively communicating with the given edge server. If the comparison is not a match, the intermediate server may send an unbind request to the given edge server where the unbind request causes the device identifier to be removed from a binding list of one or more device identifiers stored at the edge server. The second state identifier may be associated to the connection identity of the first persistent connection and where the association is stored in memory at the intermediate server. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a method of routing message between a platform server and a plurality of end-point device via a connection server in a distributed computing environment. The method may include providing a platform server, a set of intermediary servers, and a set of edge servers, collectively defining a network where an end-point device communicates to an edge server of the set of edge servers, the set of edge servers communicates to the set of intermediary servers, and the set of intermediary servers communicates to a platform server. 
     In some implementations, the method may include receiving, by a port at the platform server, a first data message from a first end-point device over a first persistent connection where the first data message has been routed through a first intermediate server over a second persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the method may include receiving, by the port at the platform server, a second data message from a second end-point device over a third persistent connection, wherein the second data message has been routed through a second intermediate server over a fourth persistent connection. The persistent connections may include WebSocket. 
     In some implementations, the method may include servicing, by a processor at the platform server, the first data message and the second data message where each of the first intermediate server and second intermediate server manages connectivity between the end-point devices and the platform servers. Each of the first intermediate server and second intermediate server may manage authentication sessions between the end-point devices and the platform servers. The platform server may service the first data message and the second data message by routing the messages to an back-office server selected from a group consisting of a persistence server, a database server, a customer relationship management (CRM) server, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) server, an operation support system (OSS) server, a business support system (BSS) server, and a data warehouse. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a system including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive, by a port, a first data message from a first end-point device over a first persistent connection where the first data message has been routed through a first intermediate server over a second persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to receive, by the port, a second data message from a second end-point device over a third persistent connection, wherein the second data message has been routed through a second intermediate server over a fourth persistent connection. The persistent connections may include WebSocket. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to service the first data message and the second data message where each of the first intermediate server and second intermediate server manages connectivity between the end-point devices and the platform servers. Each of the first intermediate server and second intermediate server may manage authentication sessions between the end-point devices and the platform servers. The platform server may service the first data message and the second data message by routing the messages to an back-office server selected from a group consisting of a persistence server, a database server, a customer relationship management (CRM) server, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) server, an operation support system (OSS) server, a business support system (BSS) server, and a data warehouse. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, where the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive, by a port, a first data message from a first end-point device over a first persistent connection where the first data message has been routed through a first intermediate server over a second persistent connection. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to receive, by the port, a second data message from a second end-point device over a third persistent connection, wherein the second data message has been routed through a second intermediate server over a fourth persistent connection. The persistent connections may include WebSocket. 
     In some implementations, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to service the first data message and the second data message where each of the first intermediate server and second intermediate server manages connectivity between the end-point devices and the platform servers. Each of the first intermediate server and second intermediate server may manage authentication sessions between the end-point devices and the platform servers. The platform server may service the first data message and the second data message by routing the messages to an back-office server selected from a group consisting of a persistence server, a database server, a customer relationship management (CRM) server, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) server, an operation support system (OSS) server, a business support system (BSS) server, and a data warehouse. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system for enabling communication between a platform server and a plurality of computing devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example persistent-communication channels established between a given platform server and a given computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an example of a messaging structure of the communication API protocol in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates example messaging code employed by the communication API protocol in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a swim-lane diagram of an example method of injecting state and routing information into a communication exchange between a platform server and an end-point device over a stateless persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a swim-lane diagram of the method of injecting state and routing information into a data-request communication-exchange between a platform server and an end-point device over a stateless persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart for an example method of controlling a connection server in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a method of rebinding a persistent connection path for a computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an example system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an example method of injecting state and routing information into a communication exchange between a platform server and an end-point device over a stateless persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an example method of communication between two network nodes and an intermediary node over a persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart of an example method  1202  of communication between the platform server and a plurality of an end-point device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a computing device and a mobile computing device. 
     
    
    
     The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system  100  for enabling communication between a platform server  102  and a plurality of computing devices  104  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Each of the computing devices  104  connects to an edge server  106  that services and maintains communication with a group of computing devices  108 . A computing device  104 , in some examples, is an electronic device that can communicate properties-, services-, and events-data and information relating to physical assets/devices, computer applications and systems, people, data objects, and platform services. 
     In some implementations, the computing device  104  is a sensor or a machinery at an industrial complex; a computer or an office equipment at a business or government office; a point-of-sale machine at a market place or a vending machine; a construction equipment or a vehicle; a power generation or distribution equipment; a power substation or transmission equipment; a building meter; a server; a networking or routing equipment; a smart appliance; an exercise machine; a medical device or a prosthesis device; a medical diagnostic device or a hospital equipment; a commercial vehicle or a transport container; a motor vehicle or an electric bicycle; a cellphone, a laptop, a tablet, an electronic reader; or a clothing electronic-tag. 
     An edge server, in some implementations, is an electronic device that has communication ports to interface to the endpoint device. The edge server may be, for example, but not limited to, a gateway device, a network server, a single board computer, a supervisory control and data acquisition system (“SCADA”), or a programmable logic controller (“PLC”) The edge server may communicate to the endpoint device by industrial, commercial, computing, and military physical connection standards. These standards may include, for example, but not limited to, Modbus, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, Serial-ATA, SCSI, FireWire (IEEE 1394), Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus, SONET (“Synchronous Optical Networking”), MIL-STD-1553, I 2 C (“Inter-Integrated Circuit”), CAN-bus (“controller area network”), ARINC 739 (“Avionics Digital Video Bus”), BACnet, LonWorks. The standards may also include health/medical communication standards, such as CEN ISO/IEEE 11073. The examples are merely for illustrative purposes. To this end, other types of standards may also be employed. 
     To serve data and information for sets of computing devices  104 , one or more edge servers  106  may communicate to an intermediary server, referred to as a connection server  110  or an “API server  110 ”, over a first persistent connection  103 . The connection server  110 , in turn, communicates to the platform server  102  over a second persistent connection  105 . In essence, the connection server  110  form a persistent path between the platform server  102  and a given edge server  106  across the first persistent connection  103  and the second persistent connection  105 . 
     Collectively, the platform servers  102 , the connection servers  110 , and the edge servers  106  form a federation of distributed computing systems. In some implementations, the platform servers  102  are business logic servers that maintain connectivity to a given computing device  104 . In such instances, the platform server  102  may communicate to various back-office servers that provide service functions, such as searching, storing, and managing, among others, for the data and information of the computing device  104 . To this end, the platform server  102  may merely serve to route data to and from various applications and systems with the computing devices  104 . 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  may manage the authentication process of the computing devices  104 . 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  routes data to and from the various back-office applications and systems. For example, when data is received from a specific computing device  104 , the platform server  102  may route the data to another database server. In other embodiments, a third party application may request the data to be sent by the platform server. 
     Back-office servers may include, for example, third-party products for CRM/ERP (“customer relationship management” and/or “enterprise resource planning”), data analytics, Big Data Store (such as Hadoop, Data Warehouses, and various distributed file systems), identity management, billing, provisioning, and providing Web service. Examples of such back-office systems may include SAP® Enterprise Resource Planning “ERP”, Salesforce® Customer Relationship Management “CRM”, Operations Support System “OSS”, and Business Support Systems “BSS” Components. 
     Various data storage and applications may communicate with the platform server  102 . In some implementations, this communication may be by way of Web Services, Java Database Connectivity (JDBC), or native APIs. 
     In some implementations, the communication exchange between the connection servers  110  and the edge servers  106  occurs across a network infrastructure  112 , such as the Internet  112   a , a Wide-area network  112   b , or a third-party network  112   c . In turn, one or more connection servers  110  communicate to the platform server  102 . The platform server  102 , the connection servers  110 , and the edge servers  106 , collectively, forms a distributed computing system. In some implementations, a given connection server  110  communicates to a set of edge servers  106  through a set of network security equipment  114 . The security equipment secures the connection server  110  and platform server  102  from the open network infrastructure  112 . It also secures the groups of edge servers  106  and computing devices  104  from the same. The network security equipment  114  may include, for example, a firewall or Network Address Translation (NAT) protocol. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example persistent communication channel  200  established between a given platform server  102  and a given computing device  104  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     The platform server  102  runs a server-client application using an API protocol library  204   a  that manages the communication over the channel  200 . The edge server  106  runs a server-client application  204   c  that runs the same communication API protocol library  204 . To this end, messages being communicated inbound and outbound between the platform server  102  and the edge servers  106  are, for the most part, symmetrical in that these messages share the same message structure. 
     In some implementations, the API protocol library  204  is a binary Dynamic REST API. Examples of methods of communicating using the binary Dynamic REST APIs are described in co-pending and concurrently filed U.S. patent application, titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING BINARY DYNAMIC REST MESSAGES”, filed Mar. 21, 2014, naming inventors Rick Bullotta, John Canosa, Bob DeRemer, and Mike Mahoney, and having attorney docket no. 2009132-0035. This application is incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     This symmetry is intended to reduce the complexity of operation of the connection server  110  as the connection server  110  can generally service each communicated message in the same manner without much regard to the source or target. 
     In some implementations, the communication API protocol generates each message with metadata relating to the connection. The connection server  110  may use the connection metadata to preserve state information at both the edge server  106  and the platform server  102 . To this end, the state information for a given edge server  106  and a given platform server  102  is communicated within each message allowing the servers to be stateless. In some implementations, the connection metadata merely may include a message identifier, authentication state information, and routing information associated with a given persistent connection. 
       FIG. 3  is an example message structure  300  of the communication API protocol  204  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The message structure  300  may include both a header  302  that provides the connection metadata and a body  304  that provides the message content. 
     In some implementations, the header  302  may include a session identification number  308 , referred to as a “SessionId  308 .” The session identification number is preferably associated to both a given name identifier of an end-point device and a connection handle of a persistent connection. The association may be used by the connection server  110  to determine a binding path of a given computing device  104 . The connection server  110  may use the session identification number to manage authentication session state on behalf of the platform server  102 . 
     In some implementations, the connection server  204  may generate the session identification number  308  during an authentication process associated with a given computing device  104 . During the process, the connection  204  stores the session identification number  308  and the communication handle from which the message was received. In some implementations, the session identification number  308  is preferably a 32-digit long binary number with the most-significant digit (MSB) first, though it can be of various data length and endian. 
     In some implementations, the header  302  may include an endpoint identification number  310 , referred to as an “EndPointId  310 ”, that is associated to a given persistent connection  202 . The connection server can subsequently retrieve the connection handle using the endpoint identification number  310 . The endpoint identification number  310  is preferably a 32-digit long binary number with the most-significant digit (MSB) first. The connection server  110  may use the endpoint identification number to preserve routing state information lost due to the multiplexing of the persistent connection. 
     The header  302  may include other information fields to improve the operational efficiency of the messaging protocol. In some implementations, the header  302  may include a request identification number  306 , referred to as a “RequestId  306 ,” that is associated to a given message. The request identification number  306  may be randomly generated or incrementally generated to be unique for a given persistent communication channel  200 . The request identification number  306  may be employed to determine whether a service request has been fulfilled. In some implementations, the request identification number  306  is preferably a 24-digit long binary number with the most-significant digit (MSB) first, though it can be of various data length and endian. 
     In some implementations, the header  302  may include a message type field  312 , referred to as a “Method code  312 .” The message field may include codes to allow for the quick identification of the type of message being received. For simple messages, such as an acknowledgement or error message, the message type field  312  may constitute the message. For request messages, the message type field  312  may include a code corresponding to a type of request. In some implementations, the request type message may be based on an HTTP framework. 
     In some implementations, the header  302  may include a multi-part message field  314 , referred to as “Multipart  314 .” This field may be used to identify whether the message is a part of a group of message having the same request identification number  306 . The header identification number  316  is preferably a 8-bit number. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates example message codes employed by the communication API protocol in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The codes include HTTP-based request messages  318 , HTTP-based success codes  320 , HTTP-based server-error codes  322 , and HTTP-based client-error codes  324 . 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the connection server  110  injects routing state information to an inbound message being sent to the platform server  102 . The inventors have found that injecting state information over a stateless connection improves performance of the connection over typical stateful connections. 
     In having the routing state information embedded within each message, the connection server can complete a roundtrip message transfer, in some implementations, using merely a lookup of the connection handle associated with the routing state identifier. 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the connection server  110  injects the authentication state information to an inbound message being sent to the platform server  102 . In having the session state embedded within the message, the connection server  110  takes over the managing of the authentication session, thus freeing resources for the platform server, preferably to manage more devices. 
       FIG. 5  is a swim-lane diagram of an example method  500  of injecting state and routing information into a communication exchange between a platform server  102  and an end-point device  104  over a multiplexed stateless persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     The method  500 , in some implementations, begins with a computing device  104  (referred to as endpoint device “D 1 ”) registering with an edge server  106  (referred to as edge server “E 1 ”) (step  501   a ). In some implementations, the registration may be a handshake or some automated process of negotiation to establish communication between the endpoint device “D 1 ” and the edge server “E 1 ”. The edge server “E 1 ” is an electronic device that has communication ports to interface to the endpoint device D 1 . 
     The edge server “E 1 ”, which is executing a client-side application using the API protocol library  204 , prepares (step  502   a ) an authentication request message  502   b  in accordance, for example, with the request message structure as described in relation to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The request message  502   b  may include a “RequestId R 1 ” (shown as “R 1 ”) corresponding to the request identification number  306 , as described in relation to  FIG. 3 . The edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) then sends (step  502   c ) the authentication request message  502   b  to the connection server  110  over a first persistent connection established between the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) and the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ). 
     The body of the message, in some implementations may include an authentication message (shown as “&lt;Auth&gt;”). The authentication message may include an authentication name and a corresponding authentication password. In some implementations, the authentication name may be the name identifier of the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ). The name identifier may be random or descriptive. The name identifier may have some reference to the owner and type of device. For example, an electrocardiogram device no. 123 owned by the John Doe Medical Institute may have a descriptive name identifier of “JohnDMedInt_EKG_Dev_123.” 
     In some implementations, the authentication name and the corresponding security code may be in an UTF8 data-type string (“Unicode Standard—8 bits”). The string may be of any length and may be preceded, in the message, by a length value corresponding to the string length in the UTF8 format. The corresponding security code may, for example, be a password, such as “GoodPassWord123”. Of course, various values and length may be employed. In other implementations, the authentication message may be a security key, which can be an encrypted data string generated using a token associated with a name identifier of the edge server “E 1 ”. Various conventional authentication techniques may be employed. 
     In some implementations, the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) may require a second set of authentication credentials in addition to the authentication name and corresponding authentication password used in the authentication message. The second set of authentication credentials may be specific to the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) to prevent a non-authenticated computing devices from binding with it and may be employed. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , upon receiving the authentication request message  502   b , in some implementations, the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) injects (step  502   d ) “SessionId S 1 ” (shown in  FIG. 5  as “s 1 ”) and “EndpointId e 1 ” (shown as “e 1 ”) into the received message  502   b  to produce message  502   e . The connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) then sends (step  502   f ) the message  502   e  to the platform server  102 , referred to as the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ), over a second persistent connection established between the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) and the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ). The “EndpointId e 1 ” may correspond to the endpoint identification number  310 , as described in relation to  FIG. 3 , that is associated to the first persistent connection. The “SessionId s 1 ” may correspond to the session identification number, as also described in relation to  FIG. 3 , that is associated to a given persistent connection and the name identifier belonging to the endpoint device D 1  ( 104 ). 
     In some implementations, the received message  502   b  has a NULL or EMPTY value in the header fields  306  and  308 . To this end, the “SessionId s 1 ” and the “EndpointId e 1 ” can merely replace the values there. In other implementations, the received message  502   b  is concatenated with the “SessionId s 1 ” and the “EndpointId e 1 ”. Of course, various methods of injecting data into a data stream may be employed. 
     Upon receiving the message  502   e , the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) processes (step  504   a ) the authentication request message. In some implementations, the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) authenticates the credentials of the endpoint device D 1  ( 104 ) using an authentication registry that it maintains. In some implementations, the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) may route the message to a back-office authentication-server (not shown) to perform the authentication. 
     The platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) then prepares a return message  506   b  (step  506   a ). The return message  506   b  may be related to the authentication process (for example, pass or not passed), or it may be merely be an acknowledgement of receipt of the message (for example, success receipt or receipt error). To this end, the return message  506   b  may be a status code, as described in relation to  FIG. 4 . 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  prepares the return message  506   b  to include the “RequestId R 1 ”, the “SessionId s 1 ”, and the “EndpointId e 1 ” as received in the request message  502   e . In essence, the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) merely employs the metadata information of the received message to produce a return message, which may be an indicia of acknowledgement or success. The platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) then sends the message  506   b  (step  506   c ) to the connection server  110  over the second persistent connection. 
     Upon receiving the message  506   b , in some implementations, the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) may use the “EndPointId e 1 ” to identify the connection to forward the message  506   b  (step  506   d ) to the Edge Server “E 1 ” ( 106 ). To this end, no additional processing may be necessary to be performed at the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ). In some implementations, the “EndPointId e 1 ” may be indexed to the connection handle associated with the persistent connection. The index may have been stored at the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) within a hash table. 
     To this end, preserving state information for a roundtrip routing through a multiplexed persistent connection paradigm may collectively employ a single hash-table lookup of an identifier associated with a given persistent connection, a single write function to inject in the identifier into a message header, and a single read of the message header to retrieve the communication handle to the same persistent connection. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 5 , in some implementations, subsequent to an authentication exchange, the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) initiates a binding process. The binding process binds a path between the end-point device “D 1 ” ( 104 ) and the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ). At each node along the path, the binding process associates a connection handle of a persistent connection that points to the end-point device. 
     The binding process is synergistic with the usage of routing metadata. Routing metadata may allow for messages from the platform server to be quickly and efficiently returned to the end-point device. 
     In some implementations, the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) prepares a binding message  508   a  and sends the message  508   b  (step  508   c ) to the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) across the first persistent connection. The edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) generates a “requestId R 2 ”. In some implementations, the request message  508   b  may include a “BIND” request code, as described in relation to  FIG. 4  and as shown as “B” in message  508   b . The payload of the request message  508   b  may include the name identifier of the endpoint device “D 1 ” ( 104 ). 
     Upon receiving the bind request message  508   b , in some implementations, the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) injects (step  508   d ) “SessionId S 1 ” (shown in  FIG. 5  as “s 1 ”) and “EndpointId e 1 ” (shown as “e 1 ”) into the received message  508   b  to produce message  508   e.    
     Additionally, the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) determines that the received message is a bind request. To this end, it adds the name identifier located within the payload  304  to its binding registry. In the registry, the name identifier may be associated with a connection handle of the first persistent connection. For example, the name identifier is used as an index value in a hash table having the connection handle. 
     The connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) then sends (step  508   f ) the bind request message  508   e  to the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ), over a second persistent connection. 
     Upon receiving the message  508   e , in some implementations, the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) processes the bind request (step  510   a ). For example, it may add the name identifier to its binding registry. 
     In some implementations, the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) prepares a success message  512   b  (step  512   a ). The platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) sends the success message  512   b  (step  512   c ) to the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) over the second persistent connection. Upon receiving the message  512   b , the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) may use the “EndPointId e 1 ” to identify the connection. The connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) forwards the message  512   e  (step  512   d ) to the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ). 
     In some implementations, the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) may send a message to the endpoint device “D 1 ” ( 104 ) to acknowledge a successful registration process. 
       FIG. 6  is a swim-lane diagram of the method  600  of communicating from the platform server  102  over a stateless persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     The method  600 , in some implementations, begins with the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) preparing a request message  606   b  (step  606   a ) for the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ). 
     The platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) sends the request message  606   b  to the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) over the second persistent connection using a connection handle determined from its binding registry. 
     Upon receiving the message  606   b , in some implementations, the connection server “D 1 ” ( 110 ) determines that the message is an outbound message from the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ). This determination may be based on the connection handle of the second persistent connection, or it may be based on the presence of a session identification number  308  within the message  606   b . The connection server “D 1 ” ( 110 ) may inject an “EndpointId e 2 ” associated with the received connection handle for the second persistent connection (step  606   d ). The connection server “D 1 ” ( 110 ) may identify the appropriate persistent connection for the message  606   b  using the name identifier in the message  606   b  and a corresponding connection handle stored in its binding registry. The connection server “D 1 ” ( 110 ) then forwards the message  606   e  to the appropriate edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) using the identified handle. 
     Upon receiving the message  606   e , in some implementations, the edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) sends back a success/acknowledge message  610   a  (step  610   a ) to the connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) over the same persistent connection, namely the first persistent connection. The edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) uses the requested data in the message&#39;s payload  304  (step  608   a ) and removes the data service request from its queue. The edge server “E 1 ” ( 106 ) may generate a success message (step  608   a ) and sends to the connection server “A 1 ” across the first persistent connection. 
     The connection server “A 1 ” ( 110 ) receives the message  610   a  and relays the message to the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) over the second persistent connection using the “endPointId e 2 ”. Upon receiving the acknowledgment message  610   a , in some implementations, the platform server “P 1 ” ( 102 ) removes the request message from its queue. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart for an example method  700  of controlling a connection server  110  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some implementations, the controls are based on policies that are executed from a client-side application operating at the connection servers  110 . A policy may include, for example, rule-base methodology, a state machine, a model-based control, and/or a sequential logic. 
     Upon receiving a message (step  702 ), the connection server  110  determines whether an endpoint identification number  310  is present in the message (step  704 ), as described in relation to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In some implementations, the endpoint identification number  310  is located in a fixed field within the message header  302 . In other implementations, the connection server  110  may parse the message for the information. If an endpointId  310  is in the message, then the connection server  102  may route the message using the endpointId  310 , as described in relation to  FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 . 
     If the endpointId  310  is NULL or empty, the connection server  110  may inject an identification number associated with a connection handle associated to the channel that the id was received. 
     The connection server  110  may then check the message method code  312  to determine the message type (step  710 ,  718 ,  724 ). 
     If the message type is an authentication message (step  710 ), the connection server  110  may inject the session identification number  308  into the message (step  712 ), as described in relation to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The connection server  110  may bind the endpointId  310 , the sessionId  308  and the connection (step  714 ), as described in relation to  FIG. 5 , and forward the message to the platform server  102  (step  716 ). 
     If the message type is a bind or unbind message (step  718 ), the connection server  110  may bind the name identifier located in the message to its binding registry (or remove the name identifier in the message from its binding registry) (step  720 ) and forward the message to the platform server  102  (step  722 ). 
     If the message type is a request message (step  724 ), the connection server  110  may merely forward the request message to the platform server  102  (step  726 ). 
     The connection server  110  may then check the request message to determine whether the sessionId is present (step  728 ). If present, the message may be routed to the respective edge server  106  using its binding registry to determine the appropriate connection handle. If not present, the connection server  110  may retrieve the SessionId using the nameId in the message (step  732 ), inject the SessionId into the message (step  734 ), and forward the message to the platform server (step  736 ). 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a method of binding and rebinding in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The binding allows a given computing device  104  to be serviced by the federation while being connected to any end-point device within the federation without any knowledge of the device&#39;s own location or any networking or routing details about nodes within the federation. To this end, the federation allows messages from the computing device to freely route to the platform server regardless of the intermediate servers over this persistent-connection architecture. 
     The method initiates with a given computing device  104 , namely the end-point device  104   a , being registered, as described in relation to  FIG. 5 , with edge server  106   a . The edge server  106  sends a bind request to a connection server  110   a  over persistent connection  103   a . The bind request may include a name identifier of the end-point device  104  in the binding list. The connection server  110   a  forwards the bind request to the platform server  802  over persistent connection  105   a . The connection server  110   a  also associates the end-point device  104   a  with the persistent connection  103   a  and stores the association in its binding registry. The association may be based on the connection handle of the persistent connection. The binding registry may be a data table or a hash table. The platform server  102   a  associates the end-point device  104   a  with persistent connection  105   a  and stores the association in its binding registry. To this end, when sending a request message to end-point device  104   a , the platform server  102  retrieves the persistent connection  105  associated to the end-point device  104   a.    
     Subsequent to binding, if the end-point device  106   a  moves to another edge server, namely edge server  106   c , the end-point device  106   a  would de-register with the edge server  106   a . The edge server  106   a  would send an unbind request to the primary server  102   a  through the bounded path ( 103   a ,  105   a ). The unbind request would remove the end-point device  106   a  from the binding registry of the connection server  110   a  and the platform server  102 . The end-point device  106   a  would then register with the edge-server  106   c  and repeat the same binding process. 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of a network  900  using the system  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The network  900  may include back-end office components, as described in  FIG. 2 . 
     In some implementations, the network  900  may include one or more persistent servers  902 . The persistence servers can share the load from data being sent to the platform server  102 , shown as routing servers  102 . The persistence servers  902  may employ specific types of persistence objects, such as Streams and DataTable. Examples of Streams and DataTable are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/678,885, titled “METHODS FOR DYNAMICALLY GENERATING APPLICATION INTERFACE FOR MODELED ENTITY AND DEVICES THEREOF,” filed Nov. 16, 2012. The application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     In some implementations, the network  900  may include one or more back-office servers  904 , such as CRM/ERP, including various servers as described in relation to  FIG. 2 . In some implementations, the network  900  may include one or more Big Data and Data Store  906 . Such servers  906  may communicate to the platform server  102  using Web protocols, such as Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) or native APIs. In some implementations, the platform server  102  may process an event to route the data to the appropriate database when data is received from a given computing device  104 . Alternatively, a third party application may initiate an event. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an example method  1000  of injecting the state and routing information into a communication exchange between a platform server  102  and an end-point device  104  over a stateless persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. An example of a stateless persistent connection is a Web-Socket connection. The end-point device may be the edge server  106  or the computing device  104 . The method  1000  may include providing one or more platform servers  102  connected to one or more intermediate servers  110 . Each of the intermediate servers  110  may connect and maintain a persistent connection  200   a  to the platform server  102 . The intermediate servers  102  may also communicate and maintain a number of unique persistent connections  200   b  with a plurality of edge servers. 
     In some implementations, a port at a given intermediate server  110  receives a service request from a given edge server  106  over a first persistent connection  200   b  (step  1002 ). The processor, at the intermediate server  110 , inserts a session identifier to the service request (step  1004 ). The session identifier is associated to a connection identity of the first persistent connection. The association is stored in memory at the intermediate server. The intermediate server  110  is preferably “stateless” in that it does not retain state information associated with a given request message. In such implementations, the intermediate server  110  preferably does not maintain knowledge of whether a similar request message has been previously sent and which of a sequence of message action this message belongs thereto. Put another way, it forgets a given message after having received and forwarded it along. 
     Such stateless paradigm may reduce the workload of the intermediate server  110  as it can, thus, be configured to operate with a fewer set of instructions and with lower memory usage requirements. To this end, with less resource being required for a given connection, a given intermediate server  110  can service more numbers of computing devices  104  as compared to a comparable hardware system that operates the additional overhead work of maintaining such message state information. In some implementations, the given session identifier is injected into a header portion, such as the header  402 , of each request message. 
     The intermediate server may maintain, in the memory, a second state identifier associated with an authentication session of a computing device  104 . The second state identifier may be associated with a name value associated with the computing device  104 . The second state identifier may also be associated to the connection identity of the first persistent connection. The association may be stored in the local memory of the intermediate server  110 . In some implementations, the intermediate server  110  may maintain the association in a hash table. The table may use name value to index the second state identifier and a network handle created when the persistent connection was established. 
     In some implementations, the name value is preferably a non-network-based addressable identifier. Rather than a network addressable identifiers, which can be for example a uniform resource identifier (URI) or an Internet Protocol (IP) address, the name value can be a number sequence or a character string. 
     In some implementations, the intermediate server  110  transmits the service request to the platform server  102  over a second persistent connection (step  1006 ). 
     In some implementations, the intermediate server  110  receives a response message over the second persistent connection  200   a . The response message may have been generated by the platform server in response to the service request and may include the session identifier (step  1008 ). 
     In some implementations, the intermediate server  110  retrieves the connection identity of the first persistent connection using the session identifier (step  1010 ). The session identifier is the same session identifier transmitted within the service request. 
     In some implementations, the intermediate server  110  routes the response message to a selected connection among the numbers of persistent connections established with the edge servers (step  1012 ). The selected connection may be based on the retrieved connection identity. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an example method  1100  of communication between two network nodes and an intermediary node over a persistent connection in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some implementations, the method  1100  begins at an initialized state at step  1102  where the two network nodes may include the platform server  102  and an end-point device, namely the computing device  104 . The method  1100  may include providing one or more platform servers  102  connected to one or more intermediate servers  110 . Each of the intermediate servers  110  may connect and maintain a persistent connection  200   a  to the platform server  102 . The intermediate servers  102  may communicate and may maintain a number of unique persistent connections  200   b  with a plurality of edge servers  104 . 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  binds, at a first time instance, the end-point device  104  to the platform server  102  (step  1104 ). The binding, at the first instance, may associate with a first path across the network. The first path may be defined between the end-point device  104  and the platform server  102  across one or more intermediary servers and one or more edge servers. 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  communicates a first message to the end-point device  104  along the first path (step  1106 ). 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  rebinds, at a second instance, the end-point device  104  to the platform server  102  (step  1108 ). This may occur after the end-point device  104  has moved to an edge server different from the first path. 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  communicates a second message to the end-point device along the second path (step  1110 ). To this end, the end-point device can move among different geographic locations without regard to its own knowledge of its location. Rather, the network may discover a path for message to flow to and from the platform server without any knowledge on the part of the end-point device  104 . 
       FIG. 12  is a flow chart of an example method  1200  of communication between the platform server and a plurality of an end-point device  104  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some implementations, the method  1200  begins at an initialized state (step  1202 ). In some implementations, the platform server  102  receives a first data message from a first end-point device  104   a  over a first persistent connection  105   a  (step  1204 ). The first data message has been routed through a first intermediate server  110   a  over a second persistent connection  103   a.    
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  receives a second data message from a second end-point device  104   b  over a third persistent connection  105   b  (step  1206 ). The second data message has been routed through a second intermediate server  110   b  over a fourth persistent connection  103   b.    
     Each of the first intermediate server  110   a  and second intermediate server  110   b  may manage both the authentication sessions and the connectivity between the end-point devices  104  and the platform servers  102 . 
     In some implementations, the platform server  102  services the first data message and the second data message (step  1208 ). The platform server  102  may service the first data message and the second data message by routing the messages to a back-office server. As described in relation to  FIG. 2 , the back-office server may include, for example, a persistence server, a database server, a customer relationship management (CRM) server, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) server, an operation support system (OSS) server, a business support system (BSS) server, or a data warehouse. 
       FIG. 13  shows an example of a computing device  1300  and a mobile computing device  1350  that can be used to implement the techniques described in this disclosure. The computing device  1300  is intended to represent various forms of digital computers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriate computers. The mobile computing device  1350  is intended to represent various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, smart-phones, and other similar computing devices. The components shown here, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be examples only, and are not meant to be limiting. 
     The computing device  1300  may include a processor  1302 , a memory  1304 , a storage device  1306 , a high-speed interface  1308  connecting to the memory  1304  and multiple high-speed expansion ports  1310 , and a low-speed interface  1312  connecting to a low-speed expansion port  1314  and the storage device  1306 . Each of the processor  1302 , the memory  1304 , the storage device  1306 , the high-speed interface  1308 , the high-speed expansion ports  1310 , and the low-speed interface  1312 , are interconnected using various busses, and may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as appropriate. The processor  1302  can process instructions for execution within the computing device  1300 , including instructions stored in the memory  1304  or on the storage device  1306  to display graphical information for a GUI on an external input/output device, such as a display  1316  coupled to the high-speed interface  1308 . In other implementations, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and types of memory. Also, multiple computing devices may be connected, with each device providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). 
     The memory  1304  stores information within the computing device  1300 . In some implementations, the memory  1304  is a volatile memory unit or units. In some implementations, the memory  1304  is a non-volatile memory unit or units. The memory  1304  may also be another form of computer-readable medium, such as a magnetic or optical disk. 
     The storage device  1306  is capable of providing mass storage for the computing device  1300 . In some implementations, the storage device  1306  may be or contain a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device, a flash memory or various solid state memory device, or an array of devices, including devices in a storage area network or various configurations. Instructions can be stored in an information carrier. The instructions, when executed by one or more processing devices (for example, processor  1302 ), perform one or more methods, such as those described above. The instructions can also be stored by one or more storage devices such as computer- or machine-readable mediums (for example, the memory  1304 , the storage device  1306 , or memory on the processor  1302 ). 
     The high-speed interface  1308  manages bandwidth-intensive operations for the computing device  1300 , while the low-speed interface  1312  manages lower bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of functions is an example only. In some implementations, the high-speed interface  1308  is coupled to the memory  1304 , the display  1316  (e.g., through a graphics processor or accelerator), and to the high-speed expansion ports  1310 , which may accept various expansion cards (not shown). In the implementations, the low-speed interface  1312  is coupled to the storage device  1306  and the low-speed expansion port  1314 . The low-speed expansion port  1314 , which may include various communication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, wireless Ethernet) may be coupled to one or more input/output devices, such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a scanner, or a networking device such as a switch or router, e.g., through a network adapter. 
     The computing device  1300  may be implemented in a number of different forms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as a standard server  1320 , or multiple times in a group of such servers. In addition, it may be implemented in a personal computer such as a laptop computer  1322 . It may also be implemented as part of a rack server system  1324 . Alternatively, components from the computing device  1300  may be combined with other components in a mobile device (not shown), such as a mobile computing device  1350 . Each of such devices may contain one or more of the computing device  1300  and the mobile computing device  1350 , and an entire system may be made up of multiple computing devices communicating with each other. 
     The mobile computing device  1350  may include a processor  1352 , a memory  1364 , an input/output device such as a display  1354 , a communication interface  1366 , and a transceiver  1368 , among other components. The mobile computing device  1350  may also be provided with a storage device, such as a micro-drive or other device, to provide additional storage. Each of the processor  1352 , the memory  1364 , the display  1354 , the communication interface  1366 , and the transceiver  1368 , are interconnected using various buses, and several of the components may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as appropriate. 
     The processor  1352  can execute instructions within the mobile computing device  1350 , including instructions stored in the memory  1364 . The processor  1352  may be implemented as a chipset of chips that include separate and multiple analog and digital processors. The processor  1352  may provide, for example, for coordination of the other components of the mobile computing device  1350 , such as control of user interfaces, applications run by the mobile computing device  1350 , and wireless communication by the mobile computing device  1350 . 
     The processor  1352  may communicate with a user through a control interface  1358  and a display interface  1356  coupled to the display  1354 . The display  1354  may be, for example, a TFT (Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) display or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, or other appropriate display technology. The display interface  1356  may comprise appropriate circuitry for driving the display  1354  to present graphical and other information to a user. The control interface  1358  may receive commands from a user and convert them for submission to the processor  1352 . In addition, an external interface  1362  may provide communication with the processor  1352 , so as to enable near area communication of the mobile computing device  1350  with other devices. The external interface  1362  may provide, for example, for wired communication in some implementations, or for wireless communication in other implementations, and multiple interfaces may also be used. 
     The memory  1364  stores information within the mobile computing device  1350 . The memory  1364  can be implemented as one or more of a computer-readable medium or media, a volatile memory unit or units, or a non-volatile memory unit or units. An expansion memory  1374  may also be provided and connected to the mobile computing device  1350  through an expansion interface  1372 , which may include, for example, a SIMM (Single In Line Memory Module) card interface. The expansion memory  1374  may provide extra storage space for the mobile computing device  1350 , or may also store applications or other information for the mobile computing device  1350 . Specifically, the expansion memory  1374  may include instructions to carry out or supplement the processes described above, and may include secure information also. Thus, for example, the expansion memory  1374  may be provide as a security module for the mobile computing device  1350 , and may be programmed with instructions that permit secure use of the mobile computing device  1350 . In addition, secure applications may be provided via the SIMM cards, along with additional information, such as placing identifying information on the SIMM card in a non-hackable manner. 
     The memory may include, for example, flash memory and/or NVRAM memory (non-volatile random access memory), as discussed below. In some implementations, instructions are stored in an information carrier. that the instructions, when executed by one or more processing devices (for example, processor  1352 ), perform one or more methods, such as those described above. The instructions can also be stored by one or more storage devices, such as one or more computer- or machine-readable mediums (for example, the memory  1364 , the expansion memory  1374 , or memory on the processor  1352 ). In some implementations, the instructions can be received in a propagated signal, for example, over the transceiver  1368  or the external interface  1362 . 
     The mobile computing device  1350  may communicate wirelessly through the communication interface  1366 , which may include digital signal processing circuitry where necessary. The communication interface  1366  may provide for communications under various modes or protocols, such as GSM voice calls (Global System for Mobile communications), SMS (Short Message Service), EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service), or MMS messaging (Multimedia Messaging Service), CDMA (code division multiple access), TDMA (time division multiple access), PDC (Personal Digital Cellular), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), CDMA2000, or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), among others. Such communication may occur, for example, through the transceiver  1368  using a radio-frequency. In addition, short-range communication may occur, such as using a Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi™, or other such transceiver (not shown). In addition, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver module  1370  may provide additional navigation- and location-related wireless data to the mobile computing device  1350 , which may be used as appropriate by applications running on the mobile computing device  1350 . 
     The mobile computing device  1350  may also communicate audibly using an audio codec  1360 , which may receive spoken information from a user and convert it to usable digital information. The audio codec  1360  may likewise generate audible sound for a user, such as through a speaker, e.g., in a handset of the mobile computing device  1350 . Such sound may include sound from voice telephone calls, may include recorded sound (e.g., voice messages, music files, etc.) and may also include sound generated by applications operating on the mobile computing device  1350 . 
     The mobile computing device  1350  may be implemented in a number of different forms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as a cellular telephone 1380. It may also be implemented as part of a smart-phone 1382, personal digital assistant, or other similar mobile device. 
     Various implementations of the systems and techniques described here can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These various implementations can include implementations in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. 
     These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications or code) include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms machine-readable medium and computer-readable medium refer to any computer program product, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term machine-readable signal refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor. 
     To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniques described here can be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor) for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. 
     The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in a computing system that may include a back end component (e.g., as a data server), or that may include a middleware component (e.g., an application server), or that may include a front end component (e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementations of the systems and techniques described here), or any combination of such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and the Internet. 
     The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. 
     In view of the structure, functions and apparatus of the systems and methods described here, in some implementations, a system and method for injecting state and routing information into a communication exchange between a platform server and an end-point device over a stateless persistent connection are provided. Having described certain implementations of methods and apparatus for supporting injection of the state and routing information into the communication exchange, it will now become apparent to one of skill in the art that other implementations incorporating the concepts of the disclosure may be used. 
     Moreover, in view of the structure, functions and apparatus of the systems and methods described here, in some implementations, a system and method for communication over a set of persistent connections between two network nodes and an intermediary node are provided. Having described certain implementations of methods and apparatus for supporting communication over the persistent connection, it will now become apparent to one of skill in the art that other implementations incorporating the concepts of the disclosure may be used. 
     Moreover, in view of the structure, functions and apparatus of the systems and methods described here, in some implementations, a system and method for communication over a set of persistent connections between two network nodes and an intermediary node are provided. Having described certain implementations of methods and apparatus for supporting communication over the persistent connection, it will now become apparent to one of skill in the art that other implementations incorporating the concepts of the disclosure may be used. 
     Therefore, the disclosure should not be limited to certain implementations, but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.