Hierarchical computing network and methods thereof

1. A first computing device in a hierarchical network, the hierarchical network comprising one or more first computing devices and a plurality of functional units each performing a service function, anyone of the functional units comprising at least a second computing device serving as a control node, wherein the first computing device comprises one or more processors, a memory for storing programming instructions, and a communication module, wherein the programming instructions when executed cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

receiving an enrollment request from a candidate computing device via the communication module, the enrollment request indicating the candidate computing device's prospective role as a control node or a process node;

grading the candidate computing device for its service capabilities, assigning the candidate computing device a role of a control node or a process node in the hierarchical network based on the grading;

sending an enrollment response containing information on the assigned functional unit to the candidate computing device via the communication module, if the enrollment request indicates the candidate computing device's prospective role as control node or a process node; and

receiving a service request from a user via the communication module, to select a control node matched with the service request, wherein the user's preference on (1) location of the control node, (2) reliability ranking level of the control node, and (3) redundancy rate (i.e. how many nodes in a data redundancy unit (DRU)) are considered;

wherein, in response to a service request, sending a service command to the control node corresponding with the service request.

2. The first computing device according to claim 1 , wherein, an enrollment response indicating disqualification as control node is sent to the candidate computing device via the communication module, if the grading of the candidate computing device is below a first grade level threshold.

3. The first computing device according to claim 1 , wherein, the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further look up access information of a control node matched with the candidate computing device, and to send the access information to the candidate computing device via the communication module, if the enrollment request indicates the candidate computing device's prospective role as process node; and the candidate computing device becomes a third computing device if the enrollment process is successful.

4. The first computing device according to claim 1 , wherein, at least one of the functional units further comprises one or more third computing devices of claim 3 as process node.

5. The first computing device according to claim 1 , wherein, the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further redirect the enrollment request or other request(s) to another first computing device, if the candidate computing device is not in the same geographic region as the first computing device is in.

6. The first computing device according to claim 1 , wherein network data is stored in the first computing device, the network data comprising at least the following data: a node type, a node ID, IP address of the first computing device, a list of subordinate control nodes, a list of its peer root nodes, information on functional units, a location index map which maps resources to nodes on which the resources are stored.

7. The first computing device according to claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further perform data synchronization with its peers.

8. The first computing device according to claim 1 , wherein, the reliability ranking of the control node is determined based on at least one of the control node's total attendance time and its rate of failure-to-response.

9. The first computing device according to claim 8 , wherein the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further receive a first complaint message from a second computing device containing information on a peer control node, and to update the reliability ranking of the peer control node based on the first complaint message.

10. The first computing device according to claim 9 , wherein the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further receive a second complaint message from a third computing device containing information on its parent control node, and to update the reliability ranking of the parent control node based on the second complaint message.

11. The second computing device of claim 1 in the hierarchical network of claim 1 , wherein the second computing device comprising one or more processors, a memory for storing programming instructions, and a communication module, wherein the programming instructions when executed cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

receiving a first enrollment request from a candidate computing device via the communication module, the enrollment request indicating the candidate computing device's prospective role as a process node;

grading the candidate computing device for its service capabilities;

sending a first enrollment response to the candidate computing device based on the grading, the first enrollment response indicating acceptance or disqualification as process node; and

reporting to the first computing device about the status of said second computing device;

wherein, the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further receive a service command for a user device from the first computing device, to select an enrolled third computing device as process node for processing the service command, and to send a processing command to the selected process node corresponding with the service command;

wherein, in selecting a process node for processing the service command, a process node with a reliability ranking above a certain ranking level is selected;

wherein a node can resign, or be discharged from, the hierarchical network.

12. The second computing device according to claim 11 , wherein, the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further,

send a second enrollment request to a first computing device via the communication module, the second enrollment request indicating a prospective role as control node in a hierarchical network; and

receive a second enrollment response containing information on an assigned functional unit performing a service function via the communication module.

13. The second computing device according to claim 11 , wherein network data and application data are stored in the second computing device; and the application data comprises index data and data being indexed to.

14. The second computing device according to claim 11 , wherein, the reliability ranking of the process node is determined based on at least one of the process node's total attendance time and its rate of failure-to-response.

15. The second computing device according to claim 11 , wherein the network data comprises at least the following data: a node type, a node ID, owner ID, IP address of the second computing device, a list of subordinate process nodes, a list of its peer nodes, information on functional unit(s), a location index map which maps resources to nodes on which the resources are stored.

16. The second computing device according to claim 11 , wherein, the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to perform data synchronization with the selected peers.

17. A hierarchical network comprising one or more first computing devices as claimed in claim 1 and a plurality of functional units each performing a service function, any one of the functional units comprising at least a second computing device as claimed in claim 11 serving as control node.

18. The hierarchical network according to claim 17 , wherein at least one of the functional units comprises one or more third computing device as a process node;

wherein the third computing device comprises one or more processors, a memory for storing programming instructions, and a communication module, wherein the programming instructions when executed cause the one or more processors to perform one or more of the following operations:

sending a report to its parent control node;

receiving a processing command from its parent control node;

sending a complaint message to its parent control node against a process node;

sending a complaint message to its superior root node against its parent control node; and

performing application specific functions.

19. The hierarchical network according to claim 18 , wherein, the programming instructions cause the one or more processors to further synchronize application data comprising index data and data being indexed to with its peers, and wherein a node can resign, or be discharged from, the hierarchical network.

20. The hierarchical network according to claim 18 , wherein, network data and application data are store in the third computing device and the networking data comprising at least the following data: a node type, a node ID, owner ID, IP address of the third computing device, a list of peer nodes.