Patents by Inventor Dropps

Dropps 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: 9590924
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a network device are provided. The network device includes a stage one arbiter for a base-port having a plurality of sub-ports for determining if there are any pending requests; blocking any other requests from a same receive queue destined for a same sub-port, same transmit queue when there are any pending requests; selecting a group of requests with a highest priority and available resources; selecting highest priority requests; selecting an oldest one of the highest priority requests; sending the selected requests to a stage two arbiter for selecting a request with a highest priority and when there are requests that have a same priority, selecting an oldest request for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Gary M. Papenfuss, Leo J. Slechta, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9444713
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a network device. The network device includes a temporary memory storage device having a plurality of storage locations that are used to store packets received by a plurality of sub-ports. The network device includes a cut-through estimation circuit that estimates a cut-through threshold value based on which a certain portion of a packet has to be received and stored at one of the plurality of storage locations before the packet can be processed by one of the sub-ports that received the frame. The cut-through threshold value varies based on an operating speed of a network link the packet is received on, an operating speed of a network link the packet is transmitted on, and a protocol used for receiving and transmitting the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Craig M. Verba
  • Patent number: 9438426
    Abstract: A key-value storage device and method of using the same. In some embodiments, keys are stored in a key store in a first non-volatile memory and corresponding values associated with the keys are stored in a value store of a second non-volatile memory. An input command is received from a host device, the input command having a key associated with a value. Different first and second hash values are generated by applying a hash function to the key. The input command is executed responsive to the first and second hash values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Peng Li, Frank R. Dropps
  • Publication number: 20160247080
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a mass storage unit and a plurality of circuit modules including a machine learning module, a programmable state machine module, and input/output interfaces. Switching circuitry is configured to selectively couple the circuit modules. Configuration circuitry is configured to access configuration data from the mass storage unit and to operate the switching circuitry to connect the circuit modules according to the configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Jon Trantham, Kevin Arthur Gomez, Frank Dropps, Antoine Khoueir, Scott Younger
  • Patent number: 9426063
    Abstract: A network device and associated methods are provided. The network device includes a routing module having a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) module maintained for storing a plurality of entries for routing frames that are received for a plurality of sub-ports complying with a plurality of protocols; a steering action memory that stores a plurality of steering action codes associated with the plurality of TCAM entries for tossing frames, rejecting frames and providing them to a processor for the network device, indicating that a destination is valid, and indicating to use another routing mechanism; and a steering mechanism that is used when a received frame information does not match with the TCAM entries and the received frame is of a certain protocol type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Craig M. Verba, William J. Andersen
  • Patent number: 9411400
    Abstract: Machine-implemented method for a network device is provided. A temperature (T) of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for the network device is compared with a first threshold value. A receive buffer for the network device is placed in an active state, when T is below the first threshold value, and then increasing available credit to store information at the receive buffer. T is also compared with a second threshold value and when T has reached or exceeded the second threshold value, one or more receive buffers are placed in a reduced power state when one or more receive buffers are not currently storing any information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventor: Frank R. Dropps
  • Patent number: 9350276
    Abstract: Certain configurations of the present disclosure present a PTC starter. The PTC starter includes a housing, a first conductive terminal (6), a second conductive terminal (7), a control PTC thermistor (3), a start PTC thermistor (4) and a TRIAC (5), wherein the control PTC thermistor (3), the start PTC thermistor (4) and the TRIAC (5) being accommodated in the housing, the start PTC thermistor (4) being connected in series with the TRIAC (5), wherein one electrode of the control PTC thermistor (3) is connected with the gate (G) of the TRIAC (5), the control PTC thermistor (3) is connected in series with the start PTC thermistor (4), the volume of the control PTC thermistor (3) is less than 30 mm3, and the distance between the control PTC thermistor (3) and the start PTC thermistor (4) is less than 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Dropps, Leo Zhong, Changyin Wang, Jian Chen
  • Publication number: 20160098646
    Abstract: A connection between a user device and a network server is established. Via the connection, a deep learning network is formed for a processing task. A first portion of the deep learning network operates on the user device and a second portion of the deep learning network operates on the network server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Arthur Gomez, Frank Dropps, Ryan James Goss, Jon Trantham, Antoine Khoueir
  • Publication number: 20160099810
    Abstract: A key-value storage device and method of using the same. In some embodiments, keys are stored in a key store in a first non-volatile memory and corresponding values associated with the keys are stored in a value store of a second non-volatile memory. An input command is received from a host device, the input command having a key associated with a value. Different first and second hash values are generated by applying a hash function to the key. The input command is executed responsive to the first and second hash values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Peng Li, Frank R. Dropps
  • Patent number: 9305901
    Abstract: A computing component may consist of a die package that has at least a board, first computing layer, and second computing layer. Dielectric layers can separate each of the board, first computing layer, and second computing layer. The first computing layer may be disposed between the board and second computing layer. One or more interconnects can continuously extend from the second computing layer to the board with a non-circular cross-section shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Frank Dropps
  • Patent number: 9282000
    Abstract: Method and system for configuring a port of a network device are provided. One method for a port of a network device communicating with another network device port includes reading manufacturing, license and user provided port configuration data by a processor of the network device; obtaining capabilities information for the port by the processor of the network device from an external pluggable media device; setting port configuration data based on the capabilities information obtained from the external pluggable media; executing auto-negotiation on the port, when enabled and obtaining configuration data from the other port; determining that enough data is available to set port configuration; attempting to configure the port by using a highest permissible bandwidth configuration when enough data is available to set the port configuration; and setting port configuration based on the attempt to configure the port to operate when a link connected to the port is operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Craig M. Verba, Leo J. Slechta, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9281953
    Abstract: Method and system for a network device are provided. The device includes a port for receiving a multicast packet and a multicast data structure for maintaining information regarding a multicast group to which the multicast packet is to be sent. When the port is a part of a link aggregation group (LAG), then any port that is a member of the LAG is removed from the multicast group such that the multicast packet is not sent to any member of the LAG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventor: Frank R. Dropps
  • Patent number: 9282046
    Abstract: Network device and associated methods are provided. The network device includes a plurality of base-ports, each base-port coupled to a plurality of network links and each base-port includes a plurality of sub-ports configured to operate as independent ports for sending and receiving information. Each network link is coupled to a smoothing first in-first out (FIFO) memory module that is used to temporarily store information at a first clock rate and information is read from the smoothing FIFO at a second clock. A sub-port can include one network link or more than one network link for receiving information from another device. A controller module monitors the smoothing FIFO for each network link to insert or delete characters from each of the smoothing FIFO based on a sub-port configuration for maintaining an order in which information is received for the sub-port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Ernest G. Kohlwey
  • Publication number: 20160054940
    Abstract: First and second data representation are stored in first and second blocks of a non-volatile, solid-state memory. The first and second blocks share series-connected bit lines. The first and second blocks are selected and other blocks of the non-volatile, solid-state memory that share the bit lines are deselected. The bit lines are read to determine a combination of the first and second data representations. The combination may include a union or an intersection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Antoine Khoueir, Ryan James Goss, Jon Trantham, Kevin Gomez, Frank Dropps
  • Patent number: 9264383
    Abstract: Method and system for a network device having a plurality of ports for sending and receiving information is provided. The device includes a global quality of service (QOS) module for receiving QOS information from a plurality of QOS modules regarding bandwidth used by the plurality of ports for sending information. For selecting a request from among a plurality of pending requests from the plurality of ports to transmit information, the global QOS module adds bandwidth consumed by the plurality of ports when the ports belong to a non-local link aggregation group (LAG). The global QOS module uses local QOS information from a same QOS bin assigned to the plurality of ports, when the plurality of ports belong to a local LAG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventor: Frank R. Dropps
  • Patent number: 9256491
    Abstract: A device having a storage location for receiving an original data and a corresponding original error correction code (ECC) is provided. The device includes ECC modification pattern generator logic for comparing modified data and the original data for generating a pattern for modifying the original ECC and ECC modification logic for modifying the original ECC based on the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventor: Frank R. Dropps
  • Patent number: 9253120
    Abstract: Network device for sending and receiving information is provided. The network device includes a port having a receive segment for receiving information and a transmit segment for transmitting information. The port can be configured to operate as an independent port using a single link operating at 25 gigabits per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Bruce A. Klemin, Edward C. McGlaughlin
  • Publication number: 20160020192
    Abstract: A computing component may consist of a die package that has at least a board, first computing layer, and second computing layer. Dielectric layers can separate each of the board, first computing layer, and second computing layer. The first computing layer may be disposed between the board and second computing layer. One or more interconnects can continuously extend from the second computing layer to the board with a non-circular cross-section shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Dropps
  • Patent number: 9225808
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a network device are provided. The network device includes a receive segment for receiving frames for a plurality of sub-ports complying with the plurality of protocols. A frame complying with a first protocol is received at a first clock rate for a first sub-port and a frame complying with a second protocol is received at a second clock rate for a second sub-port. To process frames regardless of protocol type, the receive segment adds an internal header for the frame complying with the first protocol and for the frame complying with the second protocol. The internal header indicates a frame protocol type and identifies the first sub-port and the second sub-port such that the same logic can be used to process the frame complying with the first protocol and the frame complying with the second protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventor: Frank R. Dropps
  • Patent number: 9225672
    Abstract: Methods and systems for packet grouping in a network are provided. A packet is received at a receive segment of a port of a first network device for transmission to a destination port of a second network device. The port determines if the packet is a start packet of a packet sequence. When the packet is not the start packet of the packet sequence, the port determines whether the packet has a destination that is the same as a destination of a last prior packet. When the packet is for the same destination, a grouping count is increased and the packet priority is elevated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Craig M. Verba