Patents by Inventor Marc Holness

Marc Holness 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: 9893937
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to configuring an internetworking of a first network and a second network. Data representing one or more network events is received at a network element, data representing one or more actions to be performed by the second network in response to detection of the one or more events on the first network is received at the network element, and a mapping of the one or more network events to the one or more actions is stored by the network element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Wei-Chiuan Chen, Asheesh Jadav
  • Publication number: 20170359249
    Abstract: Systems and methods for L2 Ethernet resilient hand-off include an access network configured between a first end point and a second end point, a first communication path and a second communication path for data flow between the first end point and the second end point, wherein the first communication path is active and the second communication path is inactive, and if a fault is detected in the first communication path, logic configured to activate the second communication path and perform a resilient hand-off of the data flow from the first communication path to the second communication path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Marc HOLNESS, Wei-Chiuan CHEN, Asheesh JADAV
  • Publication number: 20170339028
    Abstract: A method of protection switching in a packet network based on signal/service degrade includes monitoring a packet network connection; detecting the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade including a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but experiencing errors below a threshold; and responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade one or more of notifying nodes in the packet network and performing a protection switch based on the signal/service degrade. The signal/service degrade is detected through one or more of i) determining a Frame Error Rate imputed from one or more of Bit Error Rate, frame events, and frame losses; ii) frame delay measurements; and iii) a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Marc HOLNESS, Ashesh MISHRA, Eric S. DAVISON
  • Patent number: 9781048
    Abstract: A method, a network, and a network element use dynamic packet traffic performance adjustment techniques. In an exemplary embodiment, the dynamic resizing techniques utilize different packet connections providing connectivity to same sites between which bandwidth resizing is needed. Each of the packet connections has a separate and independent bandwidth profile that governs an amount of traffic that is dispatched over each packet connection. A network element sourcing traffic into the packet connections uses bridge functionality that dispatches client traffic onto all of the packet connections or an individual packet connection. This effectively means that the transport network bandwidth utilization is only consumed by a single packet connection, i.e., the packet connection-A (even through there are multiple configured). The network element sinking the traffic selects from a single active packet connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, David Wright Martin
  • Patent number: 9769058
    Abstract: Systems and methods for L2 Ethernet resilient hand-off include an access network configured between a first end point and a second end point, a first communication path and a second communication path for data flow between the first end point and the second end point, wherein the first communication path is active and the second communication path is inactive, and if a fault is detected in the first communication path, logic configured to activate the second communication path and perform a resilient hand-off of the data flow from the first communication path to the second communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Wei-Chiuan Chen, Asheesh Jadav
  • Publication number: 20170111251
    Abstract: A method for measuring frame loss on a connection between a near-device (NED) and a far-end device (FED). The method includes: placing, on the connection, multiple test frames having a plurality of sequence numbers; obtaining, from the connection, a first reflected test frame having a first sequence number, a first FED receiving counter value from the FED, and an initial FED received count from the FED; obtaining, from the connection, a second reflected test frame having a second sequence number, a second FED receiving counter value from the FED, and the initial FED received count from the FED; and calculating a one-way frame loss value on the connection based on the second sequence number and the initial FED received count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: CIENA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Cory Gordon
  • Publication number: 20160352570
    Abstract: A method for connecting a plurality of networks. The method may include establishing a first network link between a first network element and a second network element. The first network link may implement an interconnection between a first network and a second network. The method may include establishing a second network link between the first network element and a third network element. The first network element, the second network element, and the third network element may be located on a virtual network. The method may include detecting, over the virtual network, a first network event regarding the first network link. The method may include, in response to detecting the first network event, adjusting the interconnection between the first network and the second network. The method may include disregarding a second network event regarding the second network link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: CIENA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Marc Holness
  • Publication number: 20160308753
    Abstract: A packet network linear protection method, a network, and a node in a dual or multi-home configuration include designating each of a plurality of home nodes in the dual or multi-home configuration as a working home or a protect home; designating each link between each of the plurality of home nodes and an end node in the dual or multi-home configuration as active or standby; operating a protection switch state machine based on an associated linear protection protocol at each of the plurality of home nodes and the end node; communicating protection messages to each of the plurality of home nodes from the end node; and communicating protection states in an associated protection switch state machine by each of the plurality of home nodes to other home nodes and to the end node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Jie Hu, Marc Holness, Asheesh Jadav, Somen Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 9407535
    Abstract: A packet network linear protection method, a network, and a node in a dual or multi-home configuration include designating each of a plurality of home nodes in the dual or multi-home configuration as a working home or a protect home; designating each link between each of the plurality of home nodes and an end node in the dual or multi-home configuration as active or standby; operating a protection switch state machine based on an associated linear protection protocol at each of the plurality of home nodes and the end node; communicating protection messages to each of the plurality of home nodes from the end node; and communicating protection states in an associated protection switch state machine by each of the plurality of home nodes to other home nodes and to the end node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Jie Hu, Marc Holness, Asheesh Jadav, Somen Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 9401817
    Abstract: A method of routing traffic through a packet network having a mesh physical topology. At least two types of network primitive are defined, each type of network primitive providing a respective model of traffic forwarding through at least two neighbor nodes of the network. A network model encompassing at least a portion of the network is constructed using a set of two or more interconnected network primitives. The network model has nodes and links corresponding to respective nodes and lines of the network. Respective forwarding information is computed for each node of the network model. For each node of the network model, the respective computed forwarding information is installed in a forwarding database of the corresponding node of the network, such that traffic is forwarded by each node of the network in accordance with the respective computed forwarding information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Bashar Abdullah
  • Publication number: 20160156540
    Abstract: Systems and methods with dynamic Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) and Continuity Check Messages (CCMs) that enable dynamic configurations to avoid limitations associated with static reconfigurations. Variously, a network, a method, and a network element are configured to implement a dynamic CFM method for dynamic notifications and actions taken based thereon between Maintenance End Points (MEPs). The systems and methods may also include a CCM attribute adjustment method between two MEPs, a CCM suspension and/or resumption method between two MEPs, and a MEP auto-discovery and leaving method. Advantageously, the systems and methods may be utilized in a variety of contexts including controlled maintenance, in-service software upgrades, network congestion, discovery of new remote MEPs, and the like to enable dynamic configurations between MEPs. The systems and methods may also apply to Carrier Ethernet, Multiprotocol Label Switching-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Jie HU, Marc HOLNESS, Cory GORDON, Mradula NEGINHAL, Madhavi R. JOSHI, Asheesh JADAV
  • Patent number: 9344323
    Abstract: A method, network element, and network provide detecting a failure on both ports of a major ring at a network element that has an interconnecting sub-ring terminating thereon; causing a block at an associated sub-ring termination port of the interconnecting sub-ring responsive to the failure on both the ports of the major ring; and monitoring the failure and clearing the block responsive to a recovery of one or both ports from the failure. The method, network, and network element include G.8032 multiple concurrent or simultaneous fault recovery mechanisms that traffic being transported between an interconnected major ring and a sub-ring to be successfully delivered in the event of dual concurrent faults on the major ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Geraldine Ruth Civil, Marc Holness
  • Publication number: 20160134361
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ring protection switching in a network based on selectively blocking and unblocking a port include forwarding traffic via the port over a data channel that utilizes a first service identifier, wherein the data channel is routed in the network along a closed loop; and selectively blocking and unblocking traffic on the port to provide the ring protection switching over the closed loop, wherein the selectively blocking and unblocking is performed based on a management channel that utilizes a second service identifier that is a different type from the first service identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc HOLNESS, Stephen Daniel SHEW, David GILSON
  • Patent number: 9319268
    Abstract: A resilient virtual Ethernet ring has nodes interconnected by working and protection paths. Each node has a set of VLAN IDs (VIDs) for tagging traffic entering the ring by identifying the ingress node and whether the traffic is on the working or protection path. MAC addresses are learned in one direction around the ring. A port aliasing module records in a forwarding table a port direction opposite to a learned port direction. Each node can also cross-connect working and protection paths. If a span fails, the two nodes immediately on either side of the failure are cross-connected to fold the ring. Working-path traffic is cross-connected onto the protection path at the first of the two nodes and is then cross-connected back onto the working path at the second of the two nodes so that traffic always ingresses and egresses the ring from the working path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
    Inventors: David Allan, Nigel Bragg, Marc Holness
  • Patent number: 9264328
    Abstract: Systems and methods with dynamic Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) and Continuity Check Messages (CCMs) that enable dynamic configurations to avoid limitations associated with static reconfigurations. Variously, a network, a method, and a network element are configured to implement a dynamic CFM method for dynamic notifications and actions taken based thereon between Maintenance End Points (MEPs). The systems and methods may also include a CCM attribute adjustment method between two MEPs, a CCM suspension and/or resumption method between two MEPs, and a MEP auto-discovery and leaving method. Advantageously, the systems and methods may be utilized in a variety of contexts including controlled maintenance, in-service software upgrades, network congestion, discovery of new remote MEPs, and the like to enable dynamic configurations between MEPs. The systems and methods may also apply to Carrier Ethernet, Multiprotocol Label Switching-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Jie Hu, Marc Holness, Cory Gordon, Mradula Neginhal, Madhavi R. Joshi, Asheesh Jadav
  • Patent number: 9264254
    Abstract: A node includes a first port configured to be selectively blocked and unblocked; a second port configured to be selectively blocked and unblocked; a forwarder between the first port and the second port; a management channel between the first port and the second port, wherein the selective blocking and unblocking of the first port and the second port is based on the management channel; and a data channel between the first port and the second port, wherein the data channel utilizes an arbitrary service identifier. A method can include operating a ring with Ring Protection Switching comprising a forwarding mechanism and a blocking mechanism that are independent and decoupled entities therebetween, wherein the ring includes a management channel and a data channel that each utilize an arbitrary service identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Stephen Daniel Shew, David Gilson
  • Publication number: 20160036714
    Abstract: A method, a network, and a network element use dynamic packet traffic performance adjustment techniques. In an exemplary embodiment, the dynamic resizing techniques utilize different packet connections providing connectivity to same sites between which bandwidth resizing is needed. Each of the packet connections has a separate and independent bandwidth profile that governs an amount of traffic that is dispatched over each packet connection. A network element sourcing traffic into the packet connections uses bridge functionality that dispatches client traffic onto all of the packet connections or an individual packet connection. This effectively means that the transport network bandwidth utilization is only consumed by a single packet connection, i.e., the packet connection-A (even through there are multiple configured). The network element sinking the traffic selects from a single active packet connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: CIENA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc HOLNESS, David Wright MARTIN
  • Patent number: 9203644
    Abstract: A unique RVID is used for each spoke node to identify traffic flowing from that spoke node to the hub and from the hub to the spoke. Spoke nodes perform MAC learning on any frame containing their assigned unique RVID and only bridge traffic received on the ring to a client port if the traffic contains their assigned RVID. Thus, MAC learning at the spoke is localized to client routes, or to routes of interest that pass through the hub. The hub node learns C-VID/RVID-ringport bindings for traffic on the ring. When a frame is received on the ring, the hub will use the C-VID and RVID to determine the I-SID and forward the traffic onto the external network. When a frame is received from the external network, the hub node will use the I-SID & C-VID to determine the RVID of the spoke node, and then use the C-VID & RVID to determine, from its forwarding database, which ringport should be used to output the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Abdullah Bashar, Marc-Andre Rochon
  • Patent number: 9203549
    Abstract: A Carrier Ethernet method includes receiving a request to initiate an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) session at a local device, setting up the OAM session at the local device responsive to the request, transmitting a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from the local device to a remote device with information related to the OAM session and the request contained therein, and receiving the PDU at the remote device and setting up the OAM session at the remote device based on the information in the PDU. The OAM session can include Ethernet Frame Loss Measurement and can be initiated only at the local device without requiring operator involvement at the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Kelly D. Fromm, Cory D. Gordon
  • Patent number: 9197493
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides protection systems and methods that provide a mechanism to identify/determine when an interconnection node has been isolated (i.e. when there is no connectivity between a pair of interconnection nodes), from a data path perspective. If/when this condition exists, actions are triggered on the subtending sub-ring that essentially perform a protection switch (which causes the subtending sub-ring nodes to cleanse their forwarding tables), and, more importantly, that remove any channel blocks on the subtending sub-ring. Extensions to the ITU-T G.8032 state machine are also provided that include support for operator command interactions (e.g. DNR, force switch, manual switch, etc.). The protection systems and methods of the present disclosure enable the reliable application of ITU-T G.8032 and the like to more complex (i.e. meshed) deployment environments, among other significant advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Holness, Gerald Smallegange, Brett Caldwell