Patents by Inventor Benjamin Mack

Benjamin Mack has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9829367
    Abstract: A fill-level measuring device having an oscillatory system, which has at least one external, tubular, oscillatory element and an inner oscillatory element. The outer oscillatory element at least sectionally coaxially surrounds the inner oscillatory element. In an inner space of the inner oscillatory element, a compensation apparatus shiftable in the axial direction and having at least a first locking element, a second locking element and a coupling element is arranged. The locking elements and the coupling element are composed of piezoelectric material, wherein the coupling element, the first locking element and the second locking element are connected with one another, and wherein the first locking element and the second locking element in a resting state are each connected by force interlocking, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Benjamin Mack
  • Publication number: 20170222926
    Abstract: Data packets are received at a communication device that is coupled to a network node in a communication network, to a gateway router that is coupled to other network nodes in the communication network, and to a further communication network. For each received data packet, a determination is made as to whether the received data packet is to be routed toward a destination by the communication device instead of by the gateway router. The received data packet is routed toward the destination by the communication device based on determining that the received data packet is to be routed toward the destination by the communication device instead of by the gateway router. Otherwise, the received data packet is switched from the communication device to the gateway router to be routed by the gateway router toward the destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Benjamin MACK-CRANE, Stacey SHELDON
  • Patent number: 9674315
    Abstract: Header field identifiers can be dynamically bound to header fields in software defined networks via signaling between software defined network (SDN) controllers and switches. Dynamically establishing header binding definitions may allow new header fields to be recognized and manipulated (e.g., matched, modified, etc.) by SDN switches without having to update the corresponding standard. To achieve this, an SDN controller sends a binding request to an SDN switch to propose that a header field identifier be dynamically associated with a header field type. If the SDN switch acknowledges the binding request, then the header field identifier is used to identify the header field type in messages (e.g., control messages, etc.) transmitted to the SDN switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Benjamin Mack-Crane
  • Patent number: 9647876
    Abstract: A method for providing a link identifier (LID), wherein the method comprises obtaining a first identifier block (IDB) that identifies an external interface within a first domain using a first identifying scheme, obtaining a second IDB that identifies a second external interface within a second domain using a second identifying scheme, creating the LID that comprises the first IDB and the second IDB, and advertising the LID to one or more external entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Benjamin Mack-Crane, Susan Kay Hares, Charles E. Perkins
  • Patent number: 9473070
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, comprising: an oscillatable unit, which has a membrane and at least one oscillatable element, wherein the oscillatable element is secured to the membrane at least in a first securement region and in a second securement region. At least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and which produces a received signal dependent on the oscillations of the oscillatable unit; and a control/evaluation unit, which evaluates the received signal with reference to the process variable. The apparatus is distinguished by features including that the driving/receiving unit is embodied in such a manner and arranged on a rear face of the membrane facing away from the oscillatable element that the oscillatable element executes torsional oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Benjamin Mack
  • Patent number: 9331908
    Abstract: A method implemented by a network component is provided. The method includes receiving a Virtual Station Interface (VSI) Discovery Protocol (VDP) request from an Edge Virtual Bridging (EVB) station and transmitting, to the EVB station, a VDP Response in response to the request. The VDP Response includes a VDP Type-Length-Value (TLV) having a Filter Information field. The Filter Information field is configured to specify a Priority Code Point (PCP) value associated with one or more Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Identifier (VID) values carried by the VDP Response. The PCP value is carried in a PCP field and adopted by the EVB station as a default PCP value associated with the VSI and at least one VID. The Filter Information field further contains a PCP Significant (PS) field associated with each PCP field, and wherein the PS field indicates whether the PCP field carries the PCP value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Sultan, Yingjie Gu, Yizhou Li, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane
  • Publication number: 20160089840
    Abstract: A method for manufacture of at least one component of a field device for determining or monitoring a process variable, wherein the field device is applied in automation technology and is manufactured from at least one material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Joachim Albert, Detlev Wittmer, Marc Baret, Thomas Uehlin, Dietmar Spanke, Benjamin Mack
  • Patent number: 9294395
    Abstract: A network comprising a switch configured to learn a source address (SA) for a source node with a source port that receives a frame comprising the SA if the SA is not previously learned on another port and to subsequently forward any frame comprising a destination address (DA) for a destination node that matches the learned SA on the source port associated with the SA. A network comprising a switch configured to flood a frame received on a receiving port if the frame comprises a DA that is not previously learned on a source port and to distinguish the flooded frame from other forwarded frames by labeling the flooded frame, wherein the frame is flooded on a plurality of ports. A method comprising disabling a plurality of filtering database (FDB) entries that correspond to a plurality of addresses that are associated with a port, and sending the addresses in a control frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: T. Benjamin Mack-Crane
  • Publication number: 20160036620
    Abstract: A network component including a receiver configured to receive a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for a plurality of hosts in a plurality of external Layer 2 networks located at a plurality of physical locations and interconnected via a service, a logic circuit configured to map the IP addresses of the hosts in the external Layer 2 networks to a plurality of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of a plurality of corresponding gateways in the same external Layer 2 networks, and a transmitter configured to send to the external Layer 2 networks a plurality of a plurality of IP addresses for a plurality of local hosts in a local Layer 2 network coupled to the external Layer 2 networks via the service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Linda Dunbar, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane, Susan Hares, Robert Sultan, Peter Ashwood-Smith, Guoli Yin
  • Patent number: 9160609
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a service network and a plurality of Layer 2 networks at a plurality of different physical locations coupled to the service network via a plurality of edge nodes at the Layer 2 networks, wherein the edge nodes are configured to maintain a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of a plurality of hosts across the Layer 2 networks, and wherein the IP addresses of the hosts in each of the Layer 2 networks are mapped by the other Layer 2 networks to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of each of the edge nodes in the same Layer 2 networks of the hosts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Dunbar, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane, Susan Hares, Robert Sultan, Peter Ashwood-Smith, Guoli Yin
  • Publication number: 20150256465
    Abstract: A method implemented by a network controller in a software-defined network (SDN), the method comprising obtaining a first control macro (CM) that defines at least one first flow pattern, wherein the first CM comprises at least one command and at least one parameter associated with the command, identifying a first network function associated with the first flow pattern and a first network node, determining a parameter value for the parameter according to the first network function, and sending a first CM invocation message to the first network node to request execution of the first CM to establish the first network function, wherein the first CM invocation message comprises the parameter value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Benjamin Mack-Crane, Young Lee, Maarten Vissers
  • Patent number: 9130875
    Abstract: Each node of a telecommunications network determines a connection type attributes available for each signal type supported by the node. Each signal type represents a different connection routing layer within the telecommunications network. Adaptation costs involved in traversing from one connection routing layer to another connection routing layer in the node are calculated. The connection type attributes and adaptation costs are included in a link state advertisement broadcasted by each node in the telecommunications network. A route calculation is performed for a desired signal to determine a route through the telecommunications network for the signal. The route calculation takes into account the various connection type attributes, availability, and adaptation costs in determining the shortest route for the signal through the telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Benjamin Mack-Crane, Jonathan B. Sadler, Susan W. Teller
  • Publication number: 20150249572
    Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE), comprising receiving a flow configuration message identifying a flow context in a software-defined network (SDN) and a network control associated with the flow context, wherein the flow configuration message comprises a function object (FO) reference that identifies the network control, generating an FO based on the FO reference, wherein the FO comprises a plurality of network behaviors associated with the network control, and performing the network control for the flow context based on the FO generated by the NE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Benjamin Mack-Crane, Maarten Vissers, Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20150222534
    Abstract: An apparatus including a service network and a plurality of Layer 2 sites connected by the service network via a plurality of gateways is provided. The gateways are configured to map a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of a plurality of hosts under a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs) in a plurality of Layer 2 sites to a plurality of addresses (e.g., MAC or others) of the corresponding other gateways, inform the other gateways in other Layer 2 sites of the IP addresses mapped under each of the VLANs in the local Layer 2 sites, and forward data frames originated from the hosts in the local Layer 2 sites to the other gateways in the other Layer 2 sites when destinations of the data frames are residing in the other Layer 2 sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Linda Dunbar, Susan Hares, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane, Robert Sultan, Peter Ashwood-Smith, Guoli Yin
  • Publication number: 20150109964
    Abstract: A method implemented by a network component is provided. The method includes receiving a Virtual Station Interface (VSI) Discovery Protocol (VDP) request from an Edge Virtual Bridging (EVB) station and transmitting, to the EVB station, a VDP Response in response to the request. The VDP Response includes a VDP Type-Length-Value (TLV) having a Filter Information field. The Filter Information field is configured to specify a Priority Code Point (PCP) value associated with one or more Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Identifier (VID) values carried by the VDP Response. The PCP value is carried in a PCP field and adopted by the EVB station as a default PCP value associated with the VSI and at least one VID. The Filter Information field further contains a PCP Significant (PS) field associated with each PCP field, and wherein the PS field indicates whether the PCP field carries the PCP value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Sultan, Yingjie Gu, Yizhou Li, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane
  • Patent number: 9014054
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a service network, and a plurality of Layer 2 sites connected by the service network via a plurality of gateways, wherein the gateways are configured to map a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of a plurality of hosts under a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs) in a plurality of Layer 2 sites to a plurality of addresses (e.g. MAC or others) of the corresponding gateways inform the other gateways in the other Layer 2 sites of the mapped IP addresses under each of the VLANs in the local Layer 2 sites, and forward data frames originated from the hosts in the local Layer 2 sites to the other gateways in the other Layer 2 sites when the data frames' destinations are residing in the other Layer 2 sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Dunbar, Susan Hares, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane, Robert Sultan, Peter Ashwood-Smith, Guoli Yin
  • Publication number: 20150068300
    Abstract: fill-level measuring device having an oscillatory system, which has at least one external, tubular, oscillatory element and an inner oscillatory element. The outer oscillatory element at least sectionally coaxially surrounds the inner oscillatory element. In an inner space of the inner oscillatory element, a compensation apparatus shiftable in the axial direction and having at least a first locking element, a second locking element and a coupling element is arranged. The locking elements and the coupling element are composed of piezoelectric material, wherein the coupling element, the first locking element and the second locking element are connected with one another, and wherein the first locking element and the second locking element in a resting state are each connected by force interlocking, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Helmut Pfeiffer, Benjamin Mack
  • Patent number: 8953621
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an Edge Virtual Bridging (EVB) bridge coupled with an EVB station wherein the EVB bridge is configured to communicate to the EVB station a Filter Information (Info) field of a virtual station interface (VSI) discovery and configuration protocol (VDP) Associate Response message, and wherein the Filter Info field specifies a default Priority Code Point (PCP) value associated with at least one or all of a plurality of VID values carried by that VDP TLV Response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Sultan, Yingjie Gu, Yizhou Li, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane
  • Publication number: 20140352427
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container and comprises an oscillatable unit for introduction into the container, a housing, wherein the oscillatable unit is connected with the housing in such a manner that the oscillatable unit closes the housing terminally, and wherein present in the oscillatable unit is at least one hollow space, which is accessible from an inner space formed by the housing, a driving/receiving unit for exciting the oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and for receiving the mechanical oscillations and for transducing them into an electrical, received signal. The invention is distinguished by features including that the driving/receiving unit is present in such a manner in the hollow space and the hollow space is filled with a potting material in such a manner that the driving/receiving unit is connected via the potting material for force coupling with a wall of the hollow space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Volker Dreyer, Sergej Lopatin, Benjamin Mack, Alexander Mueller, Helmut Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20140334492
    Abstract: Header field identifiers can be dynamically bound to header fields in software defined networks via signaling between software defined network (SDN) controllers and switches. Dynamically establishing header binding definitions may allow new header fields to be recognized and manipulated (e.g., matched, modified, etc.) by SDN switches without having to update the corresponding standard. To achieve this, an SDN controller sends a binding request to an SDN switch to propose that a header field identifier be dynamically associated with a header field type. If the SDN switch acknowledges the binding request, then the header field identifier is used to identify the header field type in messages (e.g., control messages, etc.) transmitted to the SDN switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Benjamin Mack-Crane