Patents by Inventor Malcolm M. Smith

Malcolm M. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20230328717
    Abstract: A method includes determining whether a first access point of a plurality of access points and a second access point of the plurality of access points should communicate simultaneously over a shared channel in a first network and in response to determining that one of the plurality of access points won contention of a transmission opportunity for the shared channel, dividing the transmission opportunity into a plurality of time slots. The method also includes scheduling transmissions of the first and second access points into the plurality of time slots according to the determination whether the first and second access points should communicate simultaneously over the shared channel and communicating, to the second access point and over a wired network or a second network different from the first network, an indication of whether the second access point should communicate during a first time slot of the plurality of time slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Brian D. HART, Malcolm M. SMITH, Sanjay K. KATABATHUNI, Pooya MONAJEMI, Venkataprasad CHIRREDDY
  • Publication number: 20230300680
    Abstract: Techniques for dynamically negotiating a service legal agreement (SLA) between a roaming device and a visited network (VN) in an identity federation. An identity profile provided to a user device by an identity provider (IDP) is accessed by the user device. The identity profile includes a first SLA criteria. An advertisement from the VN indicating one or more SLAs supported by the VN is received at the user device. The advertisement is received before the user device has associated with the VN. The IDP and the VN are part of a same identity federation. It is determined that the SLA supported by the VN satisfies the first SLA criteria. Upon that determination, an acceptance is transmitted by the user device to the VN, and the user device is associated with the VN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Malcolm M. SMITH, Jerome HENRY, Mark GRAYSON, Robert E. BARTON, Bart A. BRINCKMAN
  • Patent number: 11743160
    Abstract: Automating and extending path tracing through wireless links is provided by receiving request to perform a network trace over a wireless link provided by an Access Point (AP) configured as a transparent forwarder between a trace source and a trace target; monitoring a trace packet from a first time of arrival at the AP, a first time of departure from the AP, a second time of arrival at the AP, and a second time of departure from the AP; monitoring a buffer status of the AP at the first time of arrival and the second time of arrival; and in response to identifying a network anomaly based on the trace packet and the buffer status, adjusting a network setting at the AP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Szigeti, Jerome Henry, Robert E. Barton, Malcolm M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11729762
    Abstract: A method includes determining whether a first access point of a plurality of access points and a second access point of the plurality of access points should communicate simultaneously over a shared channel in a first network and in response to determining that one of the plurality of access points won contention of a transmission opportunity for the shared channel, dividing the transmission opportunity into a plurality of time slots. The method also includes scheduling transmissions of the first and second access points into the plurality of time slots according to the determination whether the first and second access points should communicate simultaneously over the shared channel and communicating, to the second access point and over a wired network or a second network different from the first network, an indication of whether the second access point should communicate during a first time slot of the plurality of time slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Hart, Malcolm M. Smith, Sanjay K. Katabathuni, Pooya Monajemi, Venkataprasad Chirreddy
  • Publication number: 20230189064
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for optimizing performance of a multi-link device (MLD). In one embodiment, a controller receives information about a filter response for a first multi-link device (MLD, determines, based on the information about the filter response, a filtering transitional region of the first MLD indicating a range of frequencies where there is energy leakage due to the first MLD device operating in a simultaneous transmission and reception (STR) mode, determines cost metrics for a plurality of channels by identifying a STR and non-STR (NSTR) ratio for each of the plurality of channels, and assigns, based on the filtering transitional region and the cost metrics, a first radio of an access point (AP) to one of the plurality of channels to enable the first MLD to operate in the STR mode when communicating with the first radio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Pooya MONAJEMI, Vishal S. DESAI, Malcolm M. SMITH, Santosh B. KULKARNI, Young Il CHOI
  • Patent number: 11627498
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for dynamically negotiating an SLA between a roaming device and a VN in an identity federation. Instead of an IDP having to individually negotiate with a VN to decide on an SLA before a user device roams to the VN, the parties can dynamically negotiate the SLA after the user device has detected the VN (but before the device is permitted to connect or associate with the VN). In one embodiment, when a roaming user device comes within wireless range of a VN, the roaming device receives an advertisement from the VN that indicates the current SLA (or SLAs) offered by the VN. The roaming device can compare this offered SLA to a stored SLA in an identity profile the device received from the IDP to determine whether to accept the offer. In another embodiment, the SLA is instead negotiated between VN and the IDP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm M. Smith, Jerome Henry, Mark Grayson, Robert E. Barton, Bart A. Brinckman
  • Patent number: 11611974
    Abstract: Techniques for uplink scheduling in a wireless network are disclosed. A wireless access point (AP) receives, from a wireless station (STA), a buffer status report (BSR) reflecting data accumulated at the STA for uplink to the AP. The AP identifies, based on the BSR, a scheduling mode under which the data was accumulated at the STA. The AP schedules an uplink parameter for the STA, based on the identified scheduling mode. The uplink parameter relates to at least one of: (i) an uplink transmission for the STA or (ii) a buffer status poll for the STA. The AP transmits, to the STA, an allocation relating to the scheduled uplink parameter for the STA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm M. Smith, Guru Prasanna Gopalakrishnan, Sanjay K. Katabathuni, Venkataprasad Chirreddy
  • Patent number: 11589353
    Abstract: Techniques for dynamic bandwidth expansion are provided. A first set of channel quality metrics is collected, by an access point (AP) communicating using a first bandwidth, for an expanded bandwidth beyond the first bandwidth. A second set of channel quality metrics for the expanded bandwidth is received from one or more stations. An available portion of the expanded bandwidth is then determined based on the first and second sets of channel quality metrics. Communication with the one or more stations is initiated using the available portion of the expanded bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm M. Smith, Venkataprasad Chirreddy, Guru Prasanna Gopalakrishnan, James F. Florwick
  • Publication number: 20230027444
    Abstract: A method includes determining whether a first access point of a plurality of access points and a second access point of the plurality of access points should communicate simultaneously over a shared channel in a first network and in response to determining that one of the plurality of access points won contention of a transmission opportunity for the shared channel, dividing the transmission opportunity into a plurality of time slots. The method also includes scheduling transmissions of the first and second access points into the plurality of time slots according to the determination whether the first and second access points should communicate simultaneously over the shared channel and communicating, to the second access point and over a wired network or a second network different from the first network, an indication of whether the second access point should communicate during a first time slot of the plurality of time slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Brian D. HART, Malcolm M. SMITH, Sanjay K. KATABATHUNI, Pooya MONAJEMI, Venkataprasad CHIRREDDY
  • Publication number: 20230007050
    Abstract: Differentiated service in a federation-based access network is provided by receiving, with a request for access to a wireless network offering at least a two different service levels based on user identities, a set of user credentials from a User Equipment (UE); forwarding, for authentication, the set of user credentials to an identity provider in an identity federation with the wireless network, wherein the identity provider is independent from the wireless network; in response to determining that the set of user credentials indicate a realm known to be associated with a given service level, providing network access to the UE according to the given service level; and in response to determining that the given service level is not a highest service level in the wireless network, transmitting a list of preferred realms to the UE that are associated with higher service levels than the given service level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Jerome HENRY, Robert E. BARTON, Carlos M. PIGNATARO, Nagendra Kumar NAINAR, Malcolm M. SMITH, Mark GRAYSON, Bart A. BRINCKMAN
  • Publication number: 20220377002
    Abstract: Automating and extending path tracing through wireless links is provided by receiving request to perform a network trace over a wireless link provided by an Access Point (AP) configured as a transparent forwarder between a trace source and a trace target; monitoring a trace packet from a first time of arrival at the AP, a first time of departure from the AP, a second time of arrival at the AP, and a second time of departure from the AP; monitoring a buffer status of the AP at the first time of arrival and the second time of arrival; and in response to identifying a network anomaly based on the trace packet and the buffer status, adjusting a network setting at the AP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas SZIGETI, Jerome HENRY, Robert E. BARTON, Malcolm M. SMITH
  • Patent number: 11470629
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at an access point, a buffer status report from a device wirelessly connected to the access point. The buffer status report indicates a queue depth of the device and a head of line delay for the device. The method further includes scheduling uplink resources at the access point for the device based on the queue depth and the head of line delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm M. Smith, Sanjay K. Katabathuni, Venkataprasad Chirreddy, Guru Prasanna Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20220311803
    Abstract: A device includes a memory and a hardware processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The hardware processor determines that a computing device communicatively coupled to an access point performed an action with respect to the access point and in response to determining that the action causes a deviation from a multi-user uplink policy of the access point, transmits a disciplinary message to the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Malcolm M. SMITH, Jerome HENRY, Pooya MONAJEMI, Brian D. HART, David S. KLOPER
  • Publication number: 20220294840
    Abstract: Embodiments for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) scenes updates at VR/AR devices in a network are described. Network traffic for the scene updates is divided into traffic layers such as coarse grain (CG) layer traffic and a fine grain (FG) layer traffic for a give VR/AR scene update. The CG layer traffic is scheduled first in resource units (RUs) of a plurality a transmission opportunity (TXOP) for a VR device and FG layer traffic is scheduled in remaining RUs during the TXOP to provide synchronous viewing experiences to users of the VR/AR devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Sergio MENA, Lorenzo GRANAI, Malcolm M. SMITH, Jerome HENRY
  • Patent number: 11444860
    Abstract: Automating and extending path tracing through wireless links is provided by receiving a request to perform a network trace over a wireless link provided by an Access Point (AP) configured as a transparent forwarder between a trace source and a trace target; monitoring a trace packet from a first time of arrival at the AP, a first time of departure from the AP, a second time of arrival at the AP, and a second time of departure from the AP; monitoring a buffer status of the AP at the first time of arrival and the second time of arrival; and in response to identifying a network anomaly based on the trace packet and the buffer status, adjusting a network setting at the AP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Szigeti, Jerome Henry, Robert E. Barton, Malcolm M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220201720
    Abstract: Techniques for uplink scheduling in a wireless network are disclosed. A wireless access point (AP) receives, from a wireless station (STA), a buffer status report (BSR) reflecting data accumulated at the STA for uplink to the AP. The AP identifies, based on the BSR, a scheduling mode under which the data was accumulated at the STA. The AP schedules an uplink parameter for the STA, based on the identified scheduling mode. The uplink parameter relates to at least one of: (i) an uplink transmission for the STA or (ii) a buffer status poll for the STA. The AP transmits, to the STA, an allocation relating to the scheduled uplink parameter for the STA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Malcolm M. SMITH, Guru Prasanna GOPALAKRISHNAN, Sanjay K. KATABATHUNI, Venkataprasad CHIRREDDY
  • Publication number: 20220141714
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for dynamically negotiating an SLA between a roaming device and a VN in an identity federation. Instead of an IDP having to individually negotiate with a VN to decide on an SLA before a user device roams to the VN, the parties can dynamically negotiate the SLA after the user device has detected the VN (but before the device is permitted to connect or associate with the VN). In one embodiment, when a roaming user device comes within wireless range of a VN, the roaming device receives an advertisement from the VN that indicates the current SLA (or SLAs) offered by the VN. The roaming device can compare this offered SLA to a stored SLA in an identity profile the device received from the IDP to determine whether to accept the offer. In another embodiment, the SLA is instead negotiated between VN and the IDP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Malcolm M. SMITH, Jerome HENRY, Mark GRAYSON, Robert E. BARTON, Bart A. BRINCKMAN
  • Publication number: 20220094617
    Abstract: Automating and extending path tracing through wireless links is provided by receiving a request to perform a network trace over a wireless link provided by an Access Point (AP) configured as a transparent forwarder between a trace source and a trace target; monitoring a trace packet from a first time of arrival at the AP, a first time of departure from the AP, a second time of arrival at the AP, and a second time of departure from the AP; monitoring a buffer status of the AP at the first time of arrival and the second time of arrival; and in response to identifying a network anomaly based on the trace packet and the buffer status, adjusting a network setting at the AP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas SZIGETI, Jerome HENRY, Robert E. BARTON, Malcolm M. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20220070861
    Abstract: Techniques for dynamic bandwidth expansion are provided. A first set of channel quality metrics is collected, by an access point (AP) communicating using a first bandwidth, for an expanded bandwidth beyond the first bandwidth. A second set of channel quality metrics for the expanded bandwidth is received from one or more stations. An available portion of the expanded bandwidth is then determined based on the first and second sets of channel quality metrics. Communication with the one or more stations is initiated using the available portion of the expanded bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Malcolm M. SMITH, Venkataprasad CHIRREDDY, Guru Prasanna GOPALAKRISHNAN, James F. FLORWICK
  • Patent number: 11265842
    Abstract: Techniques for determining a range between a wireless station (STA) and a wireless access point (AP) using channel state information are described. An AP determines channel state information corresponding to an STA. The AP determines, based on the channel state information, one or more fine timing measurement (FTM) parameters. A plurality of FTM messages are transmitted between the AP and the STA, based on the one or more FTM parameters. The STA is configured to determine an estimated range to the AP based on the plurality of FTM messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm M. Smith, Xiaoqing Zhu, Jerome Henry