Method and apparatus for using nonstop controller with local area network (LAN) for local cloud

An apparatus connected to one or more additional network nodes via a local area network (LAN), the apparatus and the one or more additional network nodes forming a local cloud within the LAN, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store computer program code;
• and
• at least one processor configured to access the computer program code and operate as instructed by the computer program code, the computer program code including:
• first setting code configured to cause the at least one processor to set, as an available controller, a first timer to a first value, the first timer being associated with determining whether one of the one or more additional network nodes is an active controller in the local cloud that assigns a set of tasks to the one or more additional network nodes,
• first starting code configured to cause the at least one processor to start, as the available controller, the first timer,
• first broadcasting code configured to cause the at least one processor to, broadcast, as the available controller, a first message to each of the one or more additional network nodes in the LAN, the first message requesting each of the one or more additional network nodes to indicate whether each of the one or more additional network nodes is the active controller,
• determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine, as the available controller before the first timer expires, whether a second message that indicates the one of the one or more additional network nodes is the active controller is received in response to the first message,
• synchronizing code,
• restarting code, and
• assigning code,
• wherein based on determining the second message is received before the first timer expires,
• the synchronizing code is configured to cause the at least one processor to synchronize, as the available controller, with the one of the one or more additional network nodes that is the active controller, and
• the restarting code is configured to cause the at least one processor to restart, as the available controller, the first timer, and
• wherein the assigning code is configured to cause the at least one processor to, based on the first timer expiring without the second message being received, assign, by the network node as the active controller in the local cloud, one or more tasks of the set of tasks to at least one network node from the one or more additional network nodes.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor in a network node that is connected to one or more additional network nodes via a local area network (LAN), the network node and the one or more additional network nodes forming a local cloud within the LAN, causes the network node to execute a method comprising:

• setting, by the network node as an available controller, a first timer to a first value, the first timer being associated with determining whether one of the one or more additional network nodes is an active controller in the local cloud that assigns a set of tasks to the one or more additional network nodes;
• starting, by the network node as the available controller, the first timer;
• broadcasting, by the network node as the available controller, a first message to each of the one or more additional network nodes in the LAN, the first message requesting each of the one or more additional network nodes to indicate whether each of the one or more additional network nodes is the active controller;
• determining, by the network node as the available controller before the first timer expires, whether a second message that indicates the one of the one or more additional network nodes is the active controller is received in response to the first message;
• based on determining the second message is received before the first timer expires,
• synchronizing, by the network node as the available controller, with the one of the one or more additional network nodes that is the active controller, and
• restarting, by the network node as the available controller, the first timer;
• and
• based on the first timer expiring without the second message being received, assigning, by the network node as the active controller in the local cloud, one or more tasks of the set of tasks to at least one network node from the one or more additional network nodes.