Patents Represented by Attorney Dougherty Clements
  • Patent number: 7110406
    Abstract: An improved inter-module communication facilitation mechanism (CFM) is disclosed, which provides improved scalability, improved efficiency, and enhanced functionality and performance. In one aspect, the CFM enables a subscriber to subscribe to multiple events using a single namespace specification and a single subscription request. In another aspect, the CFM enables publishers to broadcast, rather than unicast, events to multiple subscribers concurrently. In yet another aspect, the CFM enables message exchange between senders and recipients to be conducted reliably, while at the same time ensuring that a message will be delivered to a recipient at most once. These and other aspects give rise to the many benefits offered by the CFM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Damon John Ennis, Mark Allen Dowdy, Todd Hoff, Keith Erhart Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7110396
    Abstract: System for transporting a sub-rate data stream over a communication network using a selected network protocol. The sub-rate data stream has an associated sub-rate protocol. The system includes a rate adapter to receive the sub-rate data stream and adapt a rate characteristic asso=iated with the sub-rate protocol to a rate characteristic associated with the selected network protocol to generate a rate-adapted data stream. The system also includes a payload framer to receive the rate-adapted data stream and frame the rate-adapted data stream into a payload for transmission over the communication network using the selected network protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Angshuman Saha, Andre Archambault, Carlos Henriquez
  • Patent number: 7111053
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of managing telecommunications networks through an Operations Support Services (OSS) client and templates. Using an OSS client and various provisioning templates a network manager may interactively provision network services in one or more network devices, in one or more networks, through one or more network management systems. A network manager may interactively establish connections between an OSS client and an NMS server and network device, or the network manager may employ a control template to non-interactively establish these connections. The client/server architecture allows network managers to access multiple different network management servers through multiple OSS clients, and an OSS client may be downloaded from a web accessible server to provide “manage anywhere” flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl Black, Patricia A. Davis
  • Patent number: 7110638
    Abstract: An architecture is proposed for an optical node in a wavelength division multiplexed network. The optical node may be an optical add/drop node. Conventional add/drop nodes utilize a broadcast or blocking architecture. In a broadcast architecture, a copy of an optical signal is dropped to a drop path of a node while another copy continues on a through path. Thus, channels that occupy a specific portion of wavelengths (or spectrum) prior to the node are not available for use subsequent to the add/drop connectivity. In a blocking architecture, at least the through path (and often the drop path) is spectrally filtered. This permits wavelength reuse for add/drops in subsequent portions of the network. Disclosed is an optical node architecture that enables starting with a low cost approach, such as broadcast, but includes connections to permit ‘in-service’ upgrade to more capable architecture. Increasing spectral reuse is enabled through the architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Y. Frankel
  • Patent number: 7106979
    Abstract: Residual birefringence in optical fibers causes polarization mode dispersion (PMD). The invention compensates for this by using a polarization mode dispersion compensator and a polarimeter. The PMD compensator has a variable PMD that may be controlled. The output of the PMD compensator is monitored by a polarimeter. By dithering the wavelength of the optical signal, the polarimeter may provide an accurate measure of the PMD. A controller uses this measurement to control the PMD compensator. The PMD compensating scheme may also be incorporated in a wavelength division multiplexed system with each channel having its own PMD compensator. In addition, a control method may control any polarization mode dispersion compensator based on feedback from a polarimeter to reduce the PMD of the input signal. Instead of using a polarimeter, a Q detector may be used to monitor the output of the PMD compensator. The Q detector provides a measurement of the edge sharpness and, thereby, a measure of the PMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7106729
    Abstract: A switch element is configured to extend communications between data lines. The switch element includes a set of ingress devices, a set of center stage devices, and a set of egress devices. Each center stage device is connectable to each ingress device and to each egress device. Each ingress device connects to a corresponding egress device across one of the center stage devices. The center stage switch can be selectively actuated to accommodate a new ingress or egress device across the center stage switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gullicksen, Daniel E. Klausmeler, Richard W. Conklin
  • Patent number: 7101604
    Abstract: The invention is footwear having an outer sole(s) with an ergonomic gripping or traction surface. More particularly, the ergonomic gripping or traction surface is a gripping and traction pattern, formed as an integral part of a shoe sole, that is based on a natural footprint or hand print of a human. A footprint or hand print is not a flat surface, but a combination of various anatomical elements of differing size, shape, and contour. The present invention is molded as an integral part of an elastically deformable and compressible outer sole, and incorporates the elements and characteristics of the footprint or hand print, or combinations thereof. The sole has multiple projections which stand away from the base of the sole, thereby creating adjacent raised and recessed areas. The projections correspond to the actual anatomy of the human foot or hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Donald L. Minges
  • Patent number: 7100149
    Abstract: A method of interfacing with managed objects in a communication network, including: receiving an application independent request for service using generically represented data; mapping the request to a registry to determine the particular service application that can process the requested service; and executing the service application that can process the requested service. A network element in a communications network, includes: a managed object manager configured to map an application independent request for service and to forward the request to a service application that can process the requested service; and a registry coupled to the managed object manager and configured to provide mapped results that indicate the service application that can process the requested service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Rajasekar Venkatesan, Chetan Jain
  • Patent number: 7096408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing quickly and efficiently generating the error correction polynomial. In accordance with the present invention, multiple coefficients of the syndrome vector are processed in parallel by a Berlekamp algorithm logic block of the present invention. The Berlekamp algorithm's iterations can be performed in less than 60 clock cycles for a large order error correction polynomial, thereby enabling the polynomial to be generated very rapidly. In order to perform the Berlekamp algorithm at such a high rate of speed, Galois field multiplier logic is utilized in performing the algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Howard H. Ireland, Jeffery T. Nichols
  • Patent number: 7081986
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for controlling amplifier output power in an optical communications network having channel add/drop capability. A first transmission parameter and a second transmission parameter are determined at a first amplifier. In an exemplary embodiment, the first transmission parameter is a composite express signal-to-noise ratio and the second transmission parameter is a composite signal-to-noise ratio. The total output power of a downstream amplifier is adjusted in response to the first transmission parameter and second transmission parameter. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: James E. DeGrange, Jr., Sridhar Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7081628
    Abstract: Spatially patterned light-blocking layers for radiation imaging detectors are described. Embodiments comprise spatially patterned light-blocking layers for an amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector, wherein the spatially patterned light-blocking layer blocks light from a predetermined number of switching elements in the detector, wherein the predetermined number comprises less than all of the switching elements in the detector. These light-blocking layers may block light from each switching element in a predetermined arrangement of switching elements that are read out last, or in any other suitable pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Richard Granfors, Richard Aufrichtig, Douglas Albagli
  • Patent number: 7066805
    Abstract: A resilient rubber finger and a locking mechanism therefore for use in poultry processing plants for the plucking of feathers off if poultry is provided. The rubber-plucking finger is comprised of an oversized base without an annular recess, and a tapered furrowed shank. A plurality of fingers is inserted into a support base through apertures therein. The diameter of the shank proximate the base is substantially equal to the diameter of the support base aperture to ease insertion and removal. A backing plate is provided to abut the rear of the support plate preventing accidental displacement of the rubber finger from the support plate. The support plate is attached to the backing plate using an integrated centrifugal locking mechanism within the backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Rodney Allen Turner
  • Patent number: 7064262
    Abstract: In a method for transferring a music signal into a note-based description, a frequency-time representation of the music signal is first generated, the frequency-time representation comprising coordinate tuples, a coordinate tuple including a frequency value and a time value, the time value indicating the time of occurrence of the assigned frequency in the music signal. Thereupon, a fit function will be calculated as a function of the time, the course of which is determined by the coordinate tuples of the frequency-time representation. For time-segmenting the frequency-time representation, at least two adjacent extreme values of the fit function will be determined. On the basis of the determined extreme values, a segmenting will be carried out, a segment being limited by two adjacent extreme values of the fit function, the time length of the segments indicating a time length of a note for the segment. For pitch determination, a pitch for the segment using coordinate tuples in the segment will be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Karlheinz Brandenburg, Matthias Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 7062642
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for establishing a path for data transmissions in a system having a plurality of possible paths by creating a configuration database and establishing internal connection paths based upon a configuration policy and the configuration database. The configuration policy can be based on available system resources and needs at a given time. In one embodiment, one or more tables are initiated in the configuration database to provide connection information to the system. For example, a path table and a service endpoint table can be employed to establishing a partial record in the configuration database whenever a user connects to a particular port on a universal port card in the system. The method can further include periodically polling records in the path table and transmitting data from the partial records to a policy provisioning manager (PPM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas A Langrind, Jonathan D Madsen, Joseph D Kidder, Barbara A Fox, Daniel J Sullivan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7058876
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for quickly and efficiently processing an error correction polynomial to locate bit errors using a Chien search algorithm. In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that multiplying the ? coefficients of the error locator polynomial by a scaling vector prior to performing the Chien search algorithm matrix operations, it possible to use constant coefficients in the matrix multiply logic. This enables a relatively small amount of logic to be used to perform the matrix multiplication operations of the Chien search algorithm. The Chien search algorithm logic of the present invention is configured to perform many matrix multiply operations in parallel, which enables the Chien search algorithm to be executed very quickly to locate the bit errors in the error locator polynomial. Such a large number of matrix multiply operations would normally require a very large number of gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Howard H. Ireland, Jeffery T. Nichols
  • Patent number: 7058297
    Abstract: In an optical network having a plurality of nodes, administrative information for one node is persistently stored at another node in the network. The network includes a first node having persistent storage memory for storing administrative information from a second node. The nodes communicate the administrative information over an optical signaling channel that travels on a path including one or more optical transmission media between the nodes. Also described is an optical network having a plurality of nodes in which an administrative node processor module at a first node performs administrative control functions for a second node. Also described is a signaling channel module in each node that controls the communication or transfer of administrative information over the optical signaling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventor: Stewart K. Hester
  • Patent number: 7058012
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic end-to-end paths for SONET networks are disclosed. The method for path provisioning generally includes obtaining path parameters for each network element, performing discovery of paths including determining connection possibilities based upon the path parameters, and provisioning an end-to-end STS-n path based on the paths resulting from the discovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Hechun Chen, Perin N. Jathavedam
  • Patent number: D522390
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Harry W. Bowen
  • Patent number: D525456
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Joalpe International, Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel J. Alves
  • Patent number: D528222
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventors: Joel S. Meadows, Joseph S. Meadows