Patents by Inventor Paul A. Littlewood
Paul A. Littlewood 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).
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Patent number: 11153229Abstract: System and methods for autonomous resource partitioning in a network include a resource controller configured to provision resources which are any of virtual resources and physical resources in one or more layers in the network and monitor availability of the resources in the network; a resource manager configured to determine the any of virtual resources and physical resources as required for Quality of Service (QoS) in the network; a resource broker configured to advertise and assign resource requests to corresponding resources; and a partition manager configured to track the utilization of the resources provided by the one or more layers and to adjust resource usage of the resources in negotiation with the resource broker to minimize a cost of implementation.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Petar Djukic, Todd Morris, Emil Janulewicz, David Jordan Krauss, Kaniz Mahdi, Paul Littlewood
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Patent number: 10715888Abstract: A method, a controller, and an optical network element are configured to perform steps of monitoring one or more optical links each formed by optical transceivers which are configured to provide variable capacity via a plurality of modulation formats; based on the monitoring, causing corresponding optical transceivers for the one or more optical links to operate at a first modulation format different from a second modulation format providing excess capacity; and mapping the excess capacity to bandwidth useable by one or more services managed by the one or more of the management system, the management plane, and the control plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Gerard L. Swinkels, James Harley, David W. Boertjes, David Miedema, Michel Belanger, Paul A. Littlewood, John P. Mateosky, Michael Y. Frankel, Kevin S. Meagher
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Patent number: 10623126Abstract: Systems and methods of network resource optimization based on time-varying traffic in an optical network with a filterless architecture include determining traffic variations based on the time-varying traffic in the optical network; and adjusting one or more of transceivers and wavelengths between nodes in the optical network based on the traffic variations and using the filterless architecture. The adjusting minimizes the number of the transceivers and the wavelengths based on the traffic variations and the time-varying traffic. The optical network can geographically span multiple time zones, contributing to the time-varying traffic.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Paul Littlewood, Michel P. Bélanger, Christine Tremblay, Md. Nooruzzaman, Nabih Alloune
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Publication number: 20190230046Abstract: System and methods for autonomous resource partitioning in a network include a resource controller configured to provision resources which are any of virtual resources and physical resources in one or more layers in the network and monitor availability of the resources in the network; a resource manager configured to determine the any of virtual resources and physical resources as required for Quality of Service (QoS) in the network; a resource broker configured to advertise and assign resource requests to corresponding resources; and a partition manager configured to track the utilization of the resources provided by the one or more layers and to adjust resource usage of the resources in negotiation with the resource broker to minimize a cost of implementation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Petar Djukic, Todd Morris, Emil Janulewicz, David Jordan Krauss, Kaniz Mahdi, Paul Littlewood
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Publication number: 20190215586Abstract: A method, a controller, and an optical network element are configured to perform steps of monitoring one or more optical links each formed by optical transceivers which are configured to provide variable capacity via a plurality of modulation formats; based on the monitoring, causing corresponding optical transceivers for the one or more optical links to operate at a first modulation format different from a second modulation format providing excess capacity; and mapping the excess capacity to bandwidth useable by one or more services managed by the one or more of the management system, the management plane, and the control plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Gerard L. Swinkels, James Harley, David W. Boertjes, David Miedema, Michel Belanger, Paul A. Littlewood, John P. Mateosky, Michael Y. Frankel, Kevin S. Meagher
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Patent number: 10257596Abstract: A method, a network element, and a network include determining excess margin relative to margin needed to ensure performance at a nominal guaranteed rate associated with a flexible optical modem configured to communicate over an optical link; causing the flexible optical modem to consume most or all of the excess margin, wherein the capacity increased above the nominally guaranteed rate includes excess capacity; and mapping the excess capacity to one or more logical interfaces for use by a management system, management plane, and/or control plane. The logical interfaces can advantageously be used by the management system, management plane, and/or control plane as one of restoration bandwidths or short-lived bandwidth-on-demand (BOD) connections, such as sub-network connections (SNCs) or label switched paths (LSPs).Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Gerard L. Swinkels, James Harley, David W. Boertjes, David Miedema, Michel Belanger, Paul A. Littlewood, John P. Mateosky, Michael Y. Frankel, Kevin S. Meagher
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Publication number: 20170180050Abstract: Systems and methods of network resource optimization based on time-varying traffic in an optical network with a filterless architecture include determining traffic variations based on the time-varying traffic in the optical network; and adjusting one or more of transceivers and wavelengths between nodes in the optical network based on the traffic variations and using the filterless architecture. The adjusting minimizes the number of the transceivers and the wavelengths based on the traffic variations and the time-varying traffic. The optical network can geographically span multiple time zones, contributing to the time-varying traffic.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Paul LITTLEWOOD, Michel P. BÉLANGER, Christine TREMBLAY, Md. NOORUZZAMAN, Nabih ALLOUNE
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Publication number: 20160050470Abstract: A method, a network element, and a network include determining excess margin relative to margin needed to ensure performance at a nominal guaranteed rate associated with a flexible optical modem configured to communicate over an optical link; causing the flexible optical modem to consume most or all of the excess margin, wherein the capacity increased above the nominally guaranteed rate includes excess capacity; and mapping the excess capacity to one or more logical interfaces for use by a management system, management plane, and/or control plane. The logical interfaces can advantageously be used by the management system, management plane, and/or control plane as one of restoration bandwidths or short-lived bandwidth-on-demand (BOD) connections, such as sub-network connections (SNCs) or label switched paths (LSPs).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Gerard L. Swinkels, James Harley, David W. Boertjes, David Miedema, Michel Belanger, Paul A. LITTLEWOOD, John P. MATEOSKY, Michael Y. FRANKEL, Kevin S. MEAGHER
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Patent number: 9258190Abstract: A method, a network element, and a network include determining excess margin relative to margin needed to insure performance at a nominal guaranteed rate associated with a flexible optical modem configured to communicate over an optical link; causing the flexible optical modem to consume most or all of the excess margin, wherein the capacity increased above the nominal guaranteed rate includes excess capacity; and mapping the excess capacity to one or more logical interfaces for use by a management system, management plane, and/or control plane. The logical interfaces can advantageously be used by the management system, management plane, and/or control plane as one of restoration bandwidth or short-lived bandwidth-on-demand (BOD) connections, such as sub-network connections (SNCs) or label switched paths (LSPs).Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Gerard L. Swinkels, James Harley, David W. Boertjes, David Miedema, Michel Belanger, Paul A. Littlewood
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Publication number: 20150229528Abstract: A method, a network element, and a network include determining excess margin relative to margin needed to insure performance at a nominal guaranteed rate associated with a flexible optical modem configured to communicate over an optical link; causing the flexible optical modem to consume most or all of the excess margin, wherein the capacity increased above the nominal guaranteed rate includes excess capacity; and mapping the excess capacity to one or more logical interfaces for use by a management system, management plane, and/or control plane. The logical interfaces can advantageously be used by the management system, management plane, and/or control plane as one of restoration bandwidth or short-lived bandwidth-on-demand (BOD) connections, such as sub-network connections (SNCs) or label switched paths (LSPs).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: CIENA CORPORATIONInventors: Gerard L. Swinkels, James Harley, David W. Boertjes, David Miedema, Michel Belanger, Paul A. Littlewood
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Patent number: 8295175Abstract: Described are a system and method for managing a service transported over a transport network between first and second service termination points. Packet traffic associated with the service is received at a service termination point connected to the transport network. Performance of the packet traffic is measured at the service termination point. The measured performance of the packet traffic and the service are correlated to produce a performance of service (PoS) service metric. Based on the PoS service metric, other service metrics associated with the service are correlated, including a rate of service (RoS) service metric and availability of service (AoS) service metric. These service metrics can be used to develop service level agreement (SLA) and service level metrics that define the operation of the service and operation of the network supporting those services.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Donald Ellis, Paul Littlewood, Marc Holness
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Patent number: 7792044Abstract: An optical network and method for managing a service across an optical network over a dedicated circuit between first and second service termination points include generating a service performance report message (PRM) at each service termination point. Each service PRM has service-specific information related to a performance of the service as determined by the service termination point generating that service PRM. Each service PRM identifies the service to which the service-specific information in that service PRM pertains. Each service termination point transmits the service PRM generated by that service termination point across the optical network over the dedicated circuit to the other service termination point through a service management channel of an optical transport facility.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Marc Holness, Donald Ellis, Paul Littlewood, Malcolm Betts
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Publication number: 20090202239Abstract: An optical network and method for managing a service across an optical network over a dedicated circuit between first and second service termination points include generating a service performance report message (PRM) at each service termination point. Each service PRM has service-specific information related to a performance of the service as determined by the service termination point generating that service PRM. Each service PRM identifies the service to which the service-specific information in that service PRM pertains. Each service termination point transmits the service PRM generated by that service termination point across the optical network over the dedicated circuit to the other service termination point through a service management channel of an optical transport facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2009Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITEDInventors: Marc Holness, Donald Russell Ellis, Paul Littlewood, Malcolm Betts
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Patent number: 7499407Abstract: Described are a system and method for managing a service across an optical network over a dedicated circuit between a first and second service termination points. Each service termination point generates a service performance report message. Each service performance report messages has information related to a performance of the service as determined by the service termination point generating the message. The service termination points exchange the service performance report messages over a service management channel to enable an assessment of the performance of the service based on the service performance report messages from both service termination points. Through access to and use of the service management channel, service providers can implement an edge management model or a core management model for measuring the performance of their services with respect to service level agreements governing those services.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2003Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Nortel Networks LimitedInventors: Marc Holness, Donald Russell Ellis, Paul Littlewood, Malcolm Betts
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Publication number: 20050068890Abstract: Described are a system and method for managing a service transported over a transport network between first and second service termination points. Packet traffic associated with the service is received at a service termination point connected to the transport network. Performance of the packet traffic is measured at the service termination point. The measured performance of the packet traffic and the service are correlated to produce a performance of service (PoS) service metric. Based on the PoS service metric, other service metrics associated with the service are correlated, including a rate of service (RoS) service metric and availability of service (AoS) service metric. These service metrics can be used to develop service level agreement (SLA) and service level metrics that define the operation of the service and operation of the network supporting those services.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Applicant: Nortel Networks LimitedInventors: Donald Ellis, Paul Littlewood, Marc Holness
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Publication number: 20050071453Abstract: Described are a system and method for managing a service transported over a transport network. Service traffic is transmitted from a first network element to a second network element over a transport network. If one of the network elements detects a condition occurring in the transport network, the network element determines each service affected by the condition. Service traffic performance is measured at each of the first and second network elements. Each network element correlates its measure service traffic performance and the service to produce a performance of service (PoS) service metric. Each network element transmits its measured PoS service metric to the other network element over a service management channel. This enables each network element to correlate both performance (SPC) and fault (SFC) for both near and far end service metrics and enables a complete end to end service definition in support of a service level agreement (SLA).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Applicant: Nortel Networks LimitedInventors: Donald Ellis, Marc Holness, Paul Littlewood
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Publication number: 20040114924Abstract: Described are a system and method for managing a service across an optical network over a dedicated circuit between a first and second service termination points. Each service termination point generates a service performance report message. Each service performance report messages has information related to a performance of the service as determined by the service termination point generating the message. The service termination points exchange the service performance report messages over a service management channel to enable an assessment of the performance of the service based on the service performance report messages from both service termination points. Through access to and use of the service management channel, service providers can implement an edge management model or a core management model for measuring the performance of their services with respect to service level agreements governing those services.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Marc Holness, Donald Russell Ellis, Paul Littlewood, Malcolm Betts
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Patent number: 5390333Abstract: In a multinode switch array, the maximum number of nodes that can be passing data from input to output lead can be no greater than the number of output leads in the array. Thus, the remaining nodes, while not performing a useful switch function, when implemented in CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), are consuming power due to changing logic levels in the circuitry and are causing the input data drivers to consume power due to the loading effect of the non-functional but actively connected nodes. The present invention overcomes these prior art disadvantages by ascertaining from the indirect address data stored in connect memory of each node, the times that the traffic memory needs to be activated and deactivates the memory and any associated driver at all other times in a manner such that it and the data driver are not consuming power incurred by data transfer operations.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1992Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: Alcatel Network Systems, Inc.Inventors: Harley P. Pritt, Michael A. Zeeff, Paul A. Littlewood
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Patent number: 4876682Abstract: Digital signals are multiplexed in tdm (time division multiplex) frames each consisting of an integral number of sub-frames each consisting of an integral number of sub-sub-frames, whereby the tdm frame, sub-frame, and sub-sub-frame periods are harmonically related. The signals are switched in a hierarchy of time switches which are operated sequentially and cyclically with frame periods corresponding to respective ones of these harmonically related periods, whereby the switches switch services at respective harmonically related bandwidths. The harmonic tdm frame structure and the hierarchical switch arrangement combine to facilitate the switching of many services with various bandwidths using relatively small switches.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1986Date of Patent: October 24, 1989Assignee: Northern Telecom LimitedInventors: Alan F. Graves, Paul A. Littlewood, Johannes S. Weiss
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Patent number: 4764921Abstract: A multiplexed bit stream consists of interleaved words all of the same number of bits, the words corresponding to respective channels one of which is a synchronizing channel. A predetermined one of the bits of the words is used to identify the synchronizing channel, and may be used in the other, information, channels to carry service-related overhead and signalling information. The bit rate of the multiplexed bit stream is a harmonic of the bit rate of the individual channels. Such but streams can be further multiplexed together in a word-interleaved harmonic manner, whereby a harmonic structure of signals at different levels of multiplexing is built up.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1985Date of Patent: August 16, 1988Assignee: Northern Telecom LimitedInventors: Alan F. Graves, Paul A. Littlewood, Johannes S. Weiss