Cloud service control and management architecture expanded to interface the network stratum

1. An apparatus implemented as a cloud service control gateway (CSCG), comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a query message to a network control gateway (NCG) operating in a network stratum, wherein the query message comprises a network resource requirement;

a receiver configured to receive a reply to the query message from the NCG, wherein the reply comprises a status of resources in the network stratum; and

a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver and configured to select a destination server for an application request based on the status of resources in the network stratum and the network resource requirement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a destination address when a network resource value of a network path between a source address and the destination address meets the network resource requirement.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a destination address and a network resource value of a network path between a source address and the destination address.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a network resource value of each link in a network path between a source address and a destination address.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the CSCG is configured to communicate with the NCG using an Application Layer Traffic Optimization (ALTO) protocol.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is located in a first Data Center (DC) and at least one of the destination servers in a destination address received in the reply to the query message is located in a second DC that is geographically remote from the first DC.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the destination servers in the destination address is located in the first DC.

8. A computer program product implemented in a cloud service control gateway (CSCG), the computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause the CSCG to:

transmit a query message to a network control gateway (NCG) operating in a network stratum, wherein the query message comprises a network resource requirement;

receive a reply to the query message from the NCG, wherein the reply comprises a status of resources in the network stratum; and

select a destination server for an application request based on the status of resources in the network stratum and the network resource requirement.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a destination address when a network resource value of a network path between a source address and the destination address meets the network resource requirement.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a destination address and a network resource value of a network path between a source address and the destination address.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a network resource value of each link in a network path between a source address and a destination address.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the CSCG is configured to communicate with the NCG using an Application Layer Traffic Optimization (ALTO) protocol.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the processor is located in a first Data Center (DC) and at least one of the destination servers in a destination address received in the reply to the query message is located in a second DC that is geographically remote from the first DC.

14. A method implemented by a cloud service control gateway (CSCG), comprising:

transmitting, by a transmitter, a query message to a network control gateway (NCG) operating in a network stratum, wherein the query message comprises a network resource requirement;

receiving, by a receiver, a reply to the query message from the NCG, wherein the reply comprises a status of resources in the network stratum; and

selecting, by a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, a destination server for an application request based on the status of resources in the network stratum and the network resource requirement.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a destination address when a network resource value of a network path between a source address and the destination address meets the network resource requirement.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a destination address and a network resource value of a network path between a source address and the destination address.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reply to the query message further comprises a network resource value of each link in a network path between a source address and a destination address.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the CSCG is configured to communicate with the NCG using an Application Layer Traffic Optimization (ALTO) protocol.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the processor is located in a first Data Center (DC) and at least one of the destination servers in a destination address received in the reply to the query message is located in a second DC that is geographically remote from the first DC.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the destination servers in the destination address is located in the first DC.