Patents by Inventor Oliver James Bull

Oliver James Bull 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: 11284462
    Abstract: Techniques are described for integrating cellular access within an enterprise fabric. In one example, a method includes obtaining, by a cellular termination function via a cellular access point, a request from a client for data plane connectivity via a network, wherein the cellular access point is registered within the network and is in communication with a first switch of the network; obtaining, by the cellular termination function, cellular policy information and enterprise policy information for the client; obtaining, by the cellular termination function, an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the client; and establishing data plane connectivity for the client with the network via the cellular access point, the first switch of the network, and a second switch of the network based, at least in part, on the IP address for the client, wherein the second switch connects the network with one or more data networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Louis Gwyn Samuel, Srinath Gundavelli, Oliver James Bull, Mark Grayson, Sangram Kishore Lakkaraju, Shree N. Murthy
  • Patent number: 11234182
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for downlink packet replication to support handovers. In one example, downlink packet replication occurs on a fabric node in an S1AP handover scenario. In another example, downlink packet replication occurs on a source Access Point (AP) using a target AP as a secondary AP in an S1AP handover scenario. In yet another example, downlink packet replication occurs on a source AP using packet encapsulation in an S1AP handover scenario. In still another example, downlink packet replication occurs on a source AP in an X2 handover scenario. Similar techniques are provided for any suitable telecommunications/cellular technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Srinath Gundavelli, Sangram Kishore Lakkaraju, Mark Grayson, Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel
  • Publication number: 20220022124
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for downlink packet replication to support handovers. In one example, downlink packet replication occurs on a fabric node in an S1AP handover scenario. In another example, downlink packet replication occurs on a source Access Point (AP) using a target AP as a secondary AP in an S1AP handover scenario. In yet another example, downlink packet replication occurs on a source AP using packet encapsulation in an S1AP handover scenario. In still another example, downlink packet replication occurs on a source AP in an X2 handover scenario. Similar techniques are provided for any suitable telecommunications/cellular technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Srinath Gundavelli, Sangram Kishore Lakkaraju, Mark Grayson, Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel
  • Patent number: 11178067
    Abstract: Techniques are described to provide to provide service allocation across multi-managed heterogeneous networks. In one example, a method includes determining, by an application network policy controller, service information for an application, wherein the application communicates with an application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Stammers, Richard Alan Galatioto, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Oliver James Bull, Azita Ebrahimi Kia
  • Publication number: 20210306853
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques to facilitate fast roaming between a mobile network operator-public (MNO-public) wireless wide area (WWA) access network and an enterprise private WWA access network. In one example, a method is provided that may include generating, by an authentication node, authentication material for a user equipment (UE) based on the UE being connected to a public WWA access network, wherein the public WWA access network is associated with a mobile network operator, and the authentication node and the UE are associated with an enterprise entity; obtaining, by the authentication node, an indication that the UE is attempting to access a private WWA access network associated with the enterprise entity; and providing, by the authentication node, the authentication material for the UE, wherein the authentication material facilitates connection establishment between the UE and the private WWA access network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Srinath Gundavelli, Indermeet Singh Gandhi, Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Mark Grayson
  • Publication number: 20210288877
    Abstract: An enterprise controller of an enterprise network sends to a service gateway of a service provider network a request for network slice information about network slices provisioned on a data plane of the service provider network. Responsive to the sending, the enterprise controller receives from the service gateway the network slice information including identifiers of and properties associated with the network slices. Responsive to receiving a request for the network slice information from a network device at a border of a forwarding plane of the enterprise network, the enterprise controller sends the network slice information to the network device to cause the network device to perform configuring network traffic in the forwarding plane with identifiers of ones of the network slices that match the network traffic, and to perform forwarding the network traffic configured with the identifiers to the data plane of the service provider network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver James Bull, Rex Emmanuel Fernando, Anand Oswal, Kausik Majumdar, Darren Russell Dukes, Sanjay Kumar Hooda
  • Patent number: 11070422
    Abstract: An enterprise controller of an enterprise network sends to a service gateway of a service provider network a request for network slice information about network slices provisioned on a data plane of the service provider network. Responsive to the sending, the enterprise controller receives from the service gateway the network slice information including identifiers of and properties associated with the network slices. Responsive to receiving a request for the network slice information from a network device at a border of a forwarding plane of the enterprise network, the enterprise controller sends the network slice information to the network device to cause the network device to perform configuring network traffic in the forwarding plane with identifiers of ones of the network slices that match the network traffic, and to perform forwarding the network traffic configured with the identifiers to the data plane of the service provider network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver James Bull, Rex Emmanuel Fernando, Anand Oswal, Kausik Majumdar, Darren Russell Dukes, Sanjay Kumar Hooda
  • Publication number: 20210185752
    Abstract: Techniques are described for integrating cellular access within an enterprise fabric. In one example, a method includes obtaining, by a cellular termination function via a cellular access point, a request from a client for data plane connectivity via a network, wherein the cellular access point is registered within the network and is in communication with a first switch of the network; obtaining, by the cellular termination function, cellular policy information and enterprise policy information for the client; obtaining, by the cellular termination function, an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the client; and establishing data plane connectivity for the client with the network via the cellular access point, the first switch of the network, and a second switch of the network based, at least in part, on the IP address for the client, wherein the second switch connects the network with one or more data networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Louis Gwyn Samuel, Srinath Gundavelli, Oliver James Bull, Mark Grayson, Sangram Kishore Lakkaraju, Shree N. Murthy
  • Publication number: 20210152513
    Abstract: Techniques are described to provide multipath mobility via Domain Name System-as-an-Authoritative Source (DNS-AS) techniques. In one example, a method includes obtaining, by a multipath policy decision element, a plurality of multipath policy recommendations for an application, wherein the plurality of multipath policy recommendations are obtained from one or more multipath policy recommendation elements; combining the plurality of multipath policy recommendations to generate a policy enforcement decision, wherein the policy enforcement decision identifies, at least in part, one or more network paths that are to be utilized for one or more packet flows associated with the application, wherein each of the one or more network paths is associated with an access type; and enforcing the policy enforcement decision for one or more packet flows associated with the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Grayson, Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Srinath Gundavelli
  • Publication number: 20210136871
    Abstract: In one illustrative example, an interface between a user plane function (UPF) instance of a mobile network and a tunnel router endpoint of an enterprise software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) fabric is provided. The UPF instance may be part of a network slice that is (uniquely) associated with an enterprise of the enterprise SD-WAN. A plurality of mappings between policies associated with different QoS flows via the UPF instance and SD-WAN policies associated with different virtual private networks (VPNs) of the SD-WAN fabric may be maintained. Each VPN of the SD-WAN fabric may be associated with a different underlying transport mechanism that satisfies characteristics of a specific SD-WAN policy. Communications for user equipment (UE) in the mobile network may be facilitated across the SD-WAN fabric based on the policy mappings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel
  • Publication number: 20210105225
    Abstract: Techniques are described to provide to provide service allocation across multi-managed heterogeneous networks. In one example, a method includes determining, by an application network policy controller, service information for an application, wherein the application communicates with an application server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Stammers, Richard Alan Galatioto, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Oliver James Bull, Azita Ebrahimi Kia
  • Publication number: 20210083933
    Abstract: An enterprise controller of an enterprise network sends to a service gateway of a service provider network a request for network slice information about network slices provisioned on a data plane of the service provider network. Responsive to the sending, the enterprise controller receives from the service gateway the network slice information including identifiers of and properties associated with the network slices. Responsive to receiving a request for the network slice information from a network device at a border of a forwarding plane of the enterprise network, the enterprise controller sends the network slice information to the network device to cause the network device to perform configuring network traffic in the forwarding plane with identifiers of ones of the network slices that match the network traffic, and to perform forwarding the network traffic configured with the identifiers to the data plane of the service provider network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver James Bull, Rex Emmanuel Fernando, Anand Oswal, Kausik Majumdar, Darren Russell Dukes, Sanjay Kumar Hooda
  • Patent number: 10932322
    Abstract: In one illustrative example, an interface between a user plane function (UPF) instance of a mobile network and a tunnel router endpoint of an enterprise software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) fabric is provided. The UPF instance may be part of a network slice that is (uniquely) associated with an enterprise of the enterprise SD-WAN. A plurality of mappings between policies associated with different QoS flows via the UPF instance and SD-WAN policies associated with different virtual private networks (VPNs) of the SD-WAN fabric may be maintained. Each VPN of the SD-WAN fabric may be associated with a different underlying transport mechanism that satisfies characteristics of a specific SD-WAN policy. Communications for user equipment (UE) in the mobile network may be facilitated across the SD-WAN fabric based on the policy mappings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel
  • Patent number: 10917317
    Abstract: Techniques that provide enterprise slice management are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing an enterprise service template to an enterprise, the enterprise service template comprising parameter input fields for indicating enterprise devices associated with the enterprise, services to be provided to the enterprise devices using a mobile network, and service options associated with the services; determining one or more mobile network services to be provided to a plurality of enterprise devices and one or more service options associated with the one or more mobile network services; identifying, based on the one or more mobile network services, an enterprise slice to provide the one or more mobile network services; and provisioning the enterprise slice based on the one or more mobile network services, the plurality of enterprise devices, and the one or more service options associated with the one or more mobile network services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Stammers, Aeneas Sean Dodd-Noble, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Oliver James Bull
  • Patent number: 10820202
    Abstract: In one example, an authentication server generates a Chargeable User Identity (CUI) for a User Equipment (UE) based on a first indication of an identifier obtained from the UE based on communications of the UE over a first network interface of a system. The authentication server obtains a second indication of the identifier based on communications of the UE over a second network interface of the system. In response to obtaining the second indication of the identifier, the authentication server determines that the UE is attempting to communicate over the second network interface. In response to determining that the UE is attempting to communicate over the second network interface, the authentication server uses the CUI for further communications of the UE over the second network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Srinath Gundavelli, Indermeet Singh Gandhi, Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Pradeep Kumar Kathail
  • Publication number: 20200313983
    Abstract: Techniques that provide enterprise slice management are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing an enterprise service template to an enterprise, the enterprise service template comprising parameter input fields for indicating enterprise devices associated with the enterprise, services to be provided to the enterprise devices using a mobile network, and service options associated with the services; determining one or more mobile network services to be provided to a plurality of enterprise devices and one or more service options associated with the one or more mobile network services; identifying, based on the one or more mobile network services, an enterprise slice to provide the one or more mobile network services; and provisioning the enterprise slice based on the one or more mobile network services, the plurality of enterprise devices, and the one or more service options associated with the one or more mobile network services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Stammers, Aeneas Sean Dodd-Noble, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Oliver James Bull
  • Patent number: 10498659
    Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include configuring a slice identity for each of a plurality of virtual radio access network (vRAN) slices, wherein each vRAN slice comprises functionality to perform, at least in part, one or more radio protocol operations on subscriber traffic; configuring an allotment of radio resources that can be utilized by each vRAN slice of the plurality of vRAN slices; receiving, by a slice manager, a subscriber profile identity (SPID) for a subscriber; and mapping the SPID for the subscriber to a particular vRAN slice of the plurality of vRAN slices. The method can further include communicating the mapping for the subscriber to the particular vRAN slice to which the SPID is mapped. The method can further include communicating the allotment of radio resources that can be utilized by the particular vRAN slice to the particular vRAN slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: CISCO Technology, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver James Bull, Mark Grayson
  • Patent number: 10420134
    Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a scheduling command for a subframe at a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), wherein the scheduling command provides a subframe configuration for the subframe; determining whether the subframe configuration comprises at least one resource block gap for the subframe; and if the subframe configuration comprises a resource block gap, utilizing the at least one resource block gap to accommodate one or more previously allocated resource blocks for one or more user equipment served by the RRU for which at least one of a previous downlink transmission has failed or a previous uplink grant has been delayed. In some instances, the subframe configuration can be associated with downlink transmissions and uplink transmissions for one or more user equipment served by the RRU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Neville Bendle, Oliver James Bull
  • Publication number: 20190268973
    Abstract: In one illustrative example, an interface between a user plane function (UPF) instance of a mobile network and a tunnel router endpoint of an enterprise software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) fabric is provided. The UPF instance may be part of a network slice that is (uniquely) associated with an enterprise of the enterprise SD-WAN. A plurality of mappings between policies associated with different QoS flows via the UPF instance and SD-WAN policies associated with different virtual private networks (VPNs) of the SD-WAN fabric may be maintained. Each VPN of the SD-WAN fabric may be associated with a different underlying transport mechanism that satisfies characteristics of a specific SD-WAN policy. Communications for user equipment (UE) in the mobile network may be facilitated across the SD-WAN fabric based on the policy mappings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Oliver James Bull, Louis Gwyn Samuel
  • Patent number: 10015289
    Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and can include obtaining, within a radio access network, a channel state for a data channel associated with a mobile terminal; including the channel state in a differentiated services (diffserv) marking within an Internet Protocol (IP) header of at least one IP packet associated with the mobile terminal; and transmitting the at least one IP packet including the IP header having the diffserv marking toward a packet data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrikus G. P. Bosch, Louis Gwyn Samuel, Alessandro Duminuco, Kevin D. Shatzkamer, Oliver James Bull, Ziv Nuss