Patents by Inventor Philip R. Hillier, III
Philip R. Hillier, III 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: 8948000Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards, switch modules and a management controller. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards and the switch modules may be operatively connected to the midplane. The switch modules may be configured to switch network traffic for the one or more server cards. The management controller may be configured to manage the switch modules via the fabric interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, James A. O'Connor, Pravin S. Patel, Steven M. Tri
-
Patent number: 8897301Abstract: The distributed switch may include a plurality of chips (i.e., sub-switches) on a switch module. These sub-switches may receive from a computing device connected to a Tx/Rx port a multicast data frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame) that designates a plurality of different destinations. Instead of simply using one egress connection interface to forward the copies of the data frame to each of the destinations sequentially, the sub-switch may use a plurality of a connection interfaces to transfer copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously. The port that receives the multicast data frame can borrow the connection interfaces (and associated hardware such as buffers) assigned to these other ports to transmit copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Claude Basso, Todd A. Greenfield, Philip R. Hillier, III, Mark L. Rudquist, Kenneth M. Valk, Brian T. Vanderpool, Bruce M. Walk
-
Patent number: 8880938Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Hollan, James E. Hughes, Bradley D. McCredie, James A. O'Connor, Steven M. Tri
-
Patent number: 8879553Abstract: The distributed switch may include a plurality of chips (i.e., sub-switches) on a switch module. These sub-switches may receive from a computing device connected to a Tx/Rx port a multicast data frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame) that designates a plurality of different destinations. Instead of simply using one egress connection interface to forward the copies of the data frame to each of the destinations sequentially, the sub-switch may use a plurality of a connection interfaces to transfer copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously. The port that receives the multicast data frame can borrow the connection interfaces (and associated hardware such as buffers) assigned to these other ports to transmit copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Claude Basso, Todd A. Greenfield, Philip R. Hillier, III, Mark L. Rudquist, Kenneth M. Walk, Brian T. Vanderpool, Bruce M. Walk
-
Patent number: 8880937Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, Bradley D. McCredie, James A. O'Connor, Steven M. Tri
-
Patent number: 8874955Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards and one or more switch cards. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards may be coupled with the midplane, where each server card is hot-swappable from the midplane. The one or more switch cards may also be coupled with the midplane, where each switch card is also hot-swappable from the midplane. Each switch card includes one or more switch modules, and each switch module is configured to switch network traffic for at least one server card.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, James A. O'Connor, Steven M. Tri
-
Patent number: 8745437Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure and/or a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card. The server system may further include an interconnect between the first interposer card and a second interposer card.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, James A. O'Connor, Steven M. Tri
-
Patent number: 8745438Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards and one or more switch cards. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards may be coupled with the midplane, where each server card is hot-swappable from the midplane. The one or more switch cards may also be coupled with the midplane, where each switch card is also hot-swappable from the midplane. Each switch card includes one or more switch modules, and each switch module is configured to switch network traffic for at least one server card.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, James A. O'Connoor, Steven M. Tri
-
Patent number: 8677175Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure and/or a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card. The server system may further include an interconnect between the first interposer card and a second interposer card.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, James A. O'Connor, Steven M. Tri
-
Patent number: 8547825Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards, switch modules and a management controller. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards and the switch modules may be operatively connected to the midplane. The switch modules may be configured to switch network traffic for the one or more server cards. The management controller may be configured to manage the switch modules via the fabric interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, James A. O'Connor, Pravin S. Patel, Steven M. Tri
-
Publication number: 20130242993Abstract: The distributed switch may include a plurality of chips (i.e., sub-switches) on a switch module. These sub-switches may receive from a computing device connected to a Tx/Rx port a multicast data frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame) that designates a plurality of different destinations. Instead of simply using one egress connection interface to forward the copies of the data frame to each of the destinations sequentially, the sub-switch may use a plurality of a connection interfaces to transfer copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously. The port that receives the multicast data frame can borrow the connection interfaces (and associated hardware such as buffers) assigned to these other ports to transmit copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Claude Basso, Todd A. Greenfield, Philip R. Hillier, III, Mark L. Rudquist, Kenneth M. Walk, Brian T. Vanderpool, Bruce M. Walk
-
Publication number: 20130242985Abstract: The distributed switch may include a plurality of chips (i.e., sub-switches) on a switch module. These sub-switches may receive from a computing device connected to a Tx/Rx port a multicast data frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame) that designates a plurality of different destinations. Instead of simply using one egress connection interface to forward the copies of the data frame to each of the destinations sequentially, the sub-switch may use a plurality of a connection interfaces to transfer copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously. The port that receives the multicast data frame can borrow the connection interfaces (and associated hardware such as buffers) assigned to these other ports to transmit copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Claude Basso, Todd A. Greenfield, Philip R. Hillier, III, Mark L. Rudquist, Kenneth M. Valk, Brian T. Vanderpool, Bruce M. Walk
-
Publication number: 20130010639Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards, switch modules and a management controller. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards and the switch modules may be operatively connected to the midplane. The switch modules may be configured to switch network traffic for the one or more server cards. The management controller may be configured to manage the switch modules via the fabric interconnect.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: WILLIAM J. ARMSTRONG, JOHN M. BORKENHAGEN, MARTIN J. CRIPPEN, DHRUV M. DESAI, DAVID R. ENGEBRETSEN, PHILIP R. HILLIER, III, WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, JAMES E. HUGHES, JAMES A. O'CONNOR, PRAVIN S. PATEL, STEVEN M. TRI
-
Publication number: 20130010419Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure and/or a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card. The server system may further include an interconnect between the first interposer card and a second interposer card.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: WILLIAM J. ARMSTRONG, JOHN M. BORKENHAGEN, MARTIN J. CRIPPEN, DHRUV M. DESAI, DAVID R. ENGEBRETSEN, PHILIP R. HILLIER, III, WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, JAMES E. HUGHES, JAMES A. O'CONNOR, STEVEN M. TRI
-
Publication number: 20130013956Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: WILLIAM J. ARMSTRONG, JOHN M. BORKENHAGEN, MARTIN J. CRIPPEN, DHRUV M. DESAI, DAVID R. ENGEBRETSEN, PHILIP R. HILLIER, III, WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, JAMES A. HUGHES, BRADLEY D. MCCREDIE, JAMES A. O'CONNOR, STEVEN M. TRI
-
Publication number: 20130013957Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards and one or more switch cards. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards may be coupled with the midplane, where each server card is hot-swappable from the midplane. The one or more switch cards may also be coupled with the midplane, where each switch card is also hot-swappable from the midplane. Each switch card includes one or more switch modules, and each switch module is configured to switch network traffic for at least one server card.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: WILLIAM J. ARMSTRONG, JOHN M. BORKENHAGEN, MARTIN J. CRIPPEN, DHRUV M. DESAI, DAVID R. ENGEBRETSEN, PHILIP R. HILLIER, III, WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, JAMES E. HUGHES, JAMES A. O'CONNOR, STEVEN M. TRI
-
Patent number: 7899940Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided for servicing commands. The first method includes the steps of (1) receiving a first command for servicing in a memory controller including a plurality of memory ports, wherein the first command is of a first priority; (2) receiving a second command for servicing in the memory controller, wherein the second command is of a second priority that is higher than the first priority; (3) determining whether the first and second commands will be serviced through the same memory port; and (4) if the first and second commands will not be serviced through the same memory port, servicing the first and second commands during the same time period. Numerous other aspects are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Philip R. Hillier, III, Joseph A. Kirscht
-
Publication number: 20090125666Abstract: A computer program product for implementing a method within a data processing system and a PCI Express protocol for enabling high performance IO data transfers for multiple, different IO configurations, which include variable packet sizes and/or variable/different numbers of transactions on the IO link. PCI Express protocol is enhanced to support utilization of counters and dynamically variable queue sizes. In addition to the standard queue entries, several (or a selected number of) dynamically changeable queue entries are provided/reserved and a dynamic queue modification (DQM) utility is provided within the enhanced PCI Express protocol to monitor ongoing, current data transfer and manage when the size(s) of the queue entries are modified (increased or decreased) based on current data traffic transmitting on the PCI Express IO link.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ronald E. Freking, Philip R. Hillier, III, Curtis C. Wollbrink
-
Patent number: 7496707Abstract: A method, data processing system, and PCI Express protocol for enabling high performance IO data transfers for multiple, different IO configurations, which include variable packet sizes and/or variable/different numbers of transactions on the IO link. PCI Express protocol is enhanced to support utilization of counters and dynamically variable queue sizes. In addition to the standard queue entries, several (or a selected number of) dynamically changeable queue entries are provided/reserved and a dynamic queue modification (DQM) utility is provided within the enhanced PCI Express protocol to monitor ongoing, current data transfer and manage when the size(s) of the queue entries are modified (increased or decreased) based on current data traffic transmitting on the PCI Express IO link. The enhanced PCI Express protocol provides an equilibrium point at which many large data packets are transferred efficiently, while imposing a limit on the number of each size of packets outstanding.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ronald E. Freking, Philip R. Hillier, III, Curtis C. Wollbrink
-
Publication number: 20080307146Abstract: A method, computer system, and PCI Express device/protocol for a design structure that enables high performance IO data transfers for multiple, different IO configurations, which include variable packet sizes and/or variable/different numbers of transactions on the IO link. PCI Express protocol is enhanced to support utilization of counters and dynamically variable queue sizes. In addition to the standard queue entries, several (or a selected number of) dynamically changeable queue entries are provided/reserved and a dynamic queue modification (DQM) utility is provided within the enhanced PCI Express protocol to monitor ongoing, current data transfer and manage when the size(s) of the queue entries are modified (increased or decreased) based on current data traffic transmitting on the PCI Express IO link. The enhanced PCI Express protocol provides an equilibrium point at which many large data packets are transferred efficiently, while imposing a limit on the number of each size of packets outstanding.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: RONALD E. FREKING, Philip R. Hillier, III, Curtis C. Wollbrink