# US 12,113,663 B1 · Unjoining and rejoining clusters in computing networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,663 B1 - Document ID: US12113663B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/446,272 - Filed: 2023-08-08 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-08-08 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Frank Brockners; Trevor George Smith; Sándor Szilárd Magyari; Marco Trinelli; Tal Maoz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113663B1 ## CPC - H04L 41/0654: using network fault recovery (ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437) - H04L 43/0811: by checking connectivity - H04L 43/10: Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method for unjoining and rejoining clusters of computing nodes in edge site computing networks to reduce the impact of interruption to connectivity between computing nodes is presented. The method includes accessing a cluster of computing nodes executing on an edge site computing network. The cluster of computing nodes includes a plurality of follower computing nodes and a leader computing node. The method further includes detecting an interruption to connectivity established between the leader computing node and one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes. In response to detecting the interruption to connectivity, the method includes bifurcating the cluster of computing nodes into a first subcluster of computing nodes and a second subcluster of computing nodes. In response to detecting a restoration of connectivity, the method includes recombining the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, by one or more computing devices, comprising: accessing a cluster of computing nodes of one or more clusters of computing nodes executing on an edge site computing network, wherein the cluster of computing nodes comprises a plurality of follower computing nodes and at least one leader computing node; detecting an interruption to connectivity established between the at least one leader computing node and one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes; in response to detecting the interruption to connectivity established between the at least one leader computing node and one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes within a same cluster, and while connectivity is established between the one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes and one or more other computing nodes of the plurality of follower nodes within the same cluster, bifurcating the cluster of computing nodes into a first subcluster of computing nodes and a second subcluster of computing nodes; and in response to detecting a restoration of connectivity with respect to one or more computing nodes associated with the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes, recombining the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to detecting the interruption to connectivity, pinging one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes and the at least one leader computing node to determine whether a node-to-node connectivity exists therebetween. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes comprises at least one follower computing node and a leader computing node. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein each of the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes comprises an edge operator configured to control and manage the at least one follower computing node and the leader computing node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subsequent to bifurcating the cluster of computing nodes into the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes: receiving an intent from a control plane configured to manage each of the one or more clusters of computing nodes; instantiating the intent utilizing a first edge operator associated with the first subcluster of computing nodes; and instantiating the intent utilizing a second edge operator associated with the second subcluster of computing nodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein each of the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes is executing on the edge site computing network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising executing, based on the intent, an application utilizing the first subcluster of computing nodes or the second subcluster of computing nodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more clusters of computing nodes comprises a plurality of clusters of computing nodes, and wherein the cluster of computing nodes comprises a first cluster of computing nodes, the method further comprising: in response to detecting the interruption to connectivity, selecting a second cluster of computing nodes of the plurality of clusters of computing nodes, the second cluster of computing nodes having connectivity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein at least a subset of computing nodes of the second cluster of computing nodes is different from the first cluster of computing nodes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to recombining the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes: pinging the one or more computing nodes associated with the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes to determine whether a node-to-node connectivity exists therebetween; and detecting the restoration of connectivity based on the pinging. ### Claim 11 A system, comprising: one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions; and one or more processors coupled to the storage media, the one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to: access a cluster of computing nodes of one or more clusters of computing nodes executing on an edge site computing network, wherein the cluster of computing nodes comprises a plurality of follower computing nodes and at least one leader computing node; detect an interruption to connectivity established between the at least one leader computing node and one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes; in response to detecting the interruption to connectivity established between the at least one leader computing node and one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes within a same cluster, and while connectivity is established between the one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes and one or more other computing nodes of the plurality of follower nodes within the same cluster, bifurcate the cluster of computing nodes into a first subcluster of computing nodes and a second subcluster of computing nodes; and in response to detecting a restoration of connectivity with respect to one or more computing nodes associated with the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes, recombining the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to: prior to detecting the interruption to connectivity, ping one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes and the at least one leader computing node to determine whether a node-to-node connectivity exists therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein each of the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes comprises at least one follower computing node and a leader computing node. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein each of the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes comprises an edge operator configured to control and manage the at least one follower computing node and the leader computing node. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to: subsequent to bifurcating the cluster of computing nodes into the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes: receive an intent from a control plane configured to manage each of the one or more clusters of computing nodes; instantiate the intent utilizing a first edge operator associated with the first subcluster of computing nodes; and instantiate the intent utilizing a second edge operator associated with the second subcluster of computing nodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein each of the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes is executing on the edge site computing network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to execute, based on the intent, an application utilizing the first subcluster of computing nodes or the second subcluster of computing nodes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more clusters of computing nodes comprises a plurality of clusters of computing nodes, and wherein the cluster of computing nodes comprises a first cluster of computing nodes, the instructions further comprise instructions to: in response to detecting the interruption to connectivity, select a second cluster of computing nodes of the plurality of clusters of computing nodes, the second cluster of computing nodes having connectivity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to: prior to recombining the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes: ping the one or more computing nodes associated with the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes to determine whether a node-to-node connectivity exists therebetween; and detect the restoration of connectivity based on the pinging. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the one or more processors to: access a cluster of computing nodes of one or more clusters of computing nodes executing on an edge site computing network, wherein the cluster of computing nodes comprises a plurality of follower computing nodes and at least one leader computing node; detect an interruption to connectivity established between the at least one leader computing node and one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes; in response to detecting the interruption to connectivity established between the at least one leader computing node and one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes within a same cluster, and while connectivity is established between the one or more of the plurality of follower computing nodes and one or more other computing nodes of the plurality of follower nodes within the same cluster, bifurcate the cluster of computing nodes into a first subcluster of computing nodes and a second subcluster of computing nodes; and in response to detecting a restoration of connectivity with respect to one or more computing nodes associated with the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes, recombining the first subcluster of computing nodes and the second subcluster of computing nodes.