Communication network method and apparatus

In a network communication system that includes an area network connecting a plurality N of processing units to a plurality K of clients, and a plurality N of memory units each associated with one said plurality N of processing units, a method comprising the steps of:

• partitioning each of said N memory units to N memory segments wherein each of said N memory segments corresponds to a processing unit of said N processing units;
• generating a record of state information associated with a service connection, wherein said service connection is between a first of said K clients and a first of said N processing units;
• storing, at a first of said N memory segments of one of said N memory units corresponding to said first processing unit, said record of state information, wherein said first of said N memory segments corresponds to said first of said N processing units;
• multicasting said record of state information over said area network to be received by at least one of a second through N of said N processing units;
• storing, at said first of said N memory segments of one of said N memory units corresponding to said least one of said second through N processing units, said record of state information.

In a network communication system that includes an area network connecting a plurality N of processing units to a plurality K of clients, a method comprising the steps of:

• generating a record of state information associated with a service connection, wherein said service connection is between a first of said K clients and a first of said N processing units;
• associating said record of state information to said first of said N processing units;
• multicasting said associated record of state information over said area network to be received by at least one of a second through N of said N processing units;
• comparing a characteristic related to capacity and function of at least one of said N processing units with said associated record of state information to select one of N processing units as an owner of said associated record of state information.

In a network communication system that includes an area network connecting a plurality N of processing units to a plurality K of clients, and a plurality N of memory units each associated with one said plurality N of processing units, an apparatus comprising:

• means for generating a record of state information associated with a service connection, wherein said service connection is between a first of said K clients and a first of said N processing units;
• means for associating said record of state information to said first of said N processing units;
• means for storing, at a first of said N memory units corresponding to said first processing unit, said associated record of state information;
• means for multicasting said associated record of state information over said area network to be received by at least one of a second through N of said N processing units;
• means for storing, at one of said N memory units corresponding to said least one of said second through N processing units, said associated record of state information.

In a network communication system that includes an area network connecting a plurality N of processing units to a plurality K of clients, an apparatus comprising:

• means for generating a record of state information associated with a service connection, wherein said service connection is between a first of said K clients and a first of said N processing units;
• means for associating said record of state information to said first of said N processing units;
• to means for multicasting said associated record of state information over said area network to be received by at least one of a second through N of said N processing units;
• means for comparing a characteristic related to capacity and function of at least one of said N processing units with said associated record of state information to select one of N processing units as an owner of said associated record of state information.