Patents by Inventor Thomas Kniplitsch

Thomas Kniplitsch 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: 11698974
    Abstract: A programmable integrated circuit device includes a programmable core, a boot device configured to boot up the programmable core, and a one-time programmable memory module controlling life cycle states of the programmable integrated circuit device, including (i) an operational state during which programming resources of the programmable device are locked, and (ii) an inspection state in which the programming resources of the programmable device are accessible. The one-time programmable memory module is configured to allow unidirectional advance from the operational state to the inspection state, when authorized by a lock control circuit responsive to control signals from the boot device to authorize the unidirectional advance from the operational state to the inspection state. Authorization of the unidirectional advance may be limited to a time interval during a boot cycle of the programmable device. The unidirectional advance may be based on receipt of an authenticated request from a requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minda Zhang, Tolga Nihat Aytek, Thomas Kniplitsch, Axel Dielmann
  • Patent number: 11250135
    Abstract: A programmable integrated circuit device includes a programmable core, a boot device configured to boot up the programmable core, and a one-time programmable memory module controlling life cycle states of the programmable integrated circuit device, including (i) an operational state during which programming resources of the programmable device are locked, and (ii) an inspection state in which the programming resources of the programmable device are accessible. The one-time programmable memory module is configured to allow unidirectional advance from the operational state to the inspection state, when authorized by a lock control circuit responsive to control signals from the boot device to authorize the unidirectional advance from the operational state to the inspection state. Authorization of the unidirectional advance may be limited to a time interval during a boot cycle of the programmable device. The unidirectional advance may be based on receipt of an authenticated request from a requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minda Zhang, Tolga Nihat Aytek, Thomas Kniplitsch, Axel Dielmann
  • Patent number: 11012333
    Abstract: A network device including access and test ports, an interface, and first and second controllers. The interface receives an Ethernet frame transmitted over an Ethernet network to the network device. The Ethernet frame includes bits for testing or debugging the memory-mapped device and is received at the interface based on an output of a host device. The first controller converts the Ethernet frame to a first access frame. The test port receives a diagnostic signal transmitted from the host device to the network device. The second controller converts the diagnostic signal to a second access frame and controls passage of the access frames to the memory-mapped device via the access port. The first controller tests or debugs the memory-mapped device based on data received from a register of the memory-mapped device. The data is written in the register based on the first and second access frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte, Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Patent number: 10673994
    Abstract: A media content converter, for converting media content into network packets, includes logic circuitry, a header generator and a multiplexer. The logic circuitry is configured to partition the media content into payloads for the network packets. The header generator configured to generate packet headers for the network packets, by populating with data a plurality of header fields according to a predefined header format. The multiplexer is configured to stream a sequence of the network packets for transmission over a communication network, by combining the generated packet headers from the header generator with the corresponding payloads from the logic circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Lukas Reinbold, Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Publication number: 20200169489
    Abstract: A network device including access and test ports, an interface, and first and second controllers. The interface receives an Ethernet frame transmitted over an Ethernet network to the network device. The Ethernet frame includes bits for testing or debugging the memory-mapped device and is received at the interface based on an output of a host device. The first controller converts the Ethernet frame to a first access frame. The test port receives a diagnostic signal transmitted from the host device to the network device. The second controller converts the diagnostic signal to a second access frame and controls passage of the access frames to the memory-mapped device via the access port. The first controller tests or debugs the memory-mapped device based on data received from a register of the memory-mapped device. The data is written in the register based on the first and second access frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas KNIPLITSCH
  • Patent number: 10623290
    Abstract: A network device is provided and operative to secure remote access to an internal component including a processor and/or a register. The network device includes an Ethernet interface, an access port, and a controller. The Ethernet interface receives, from a host device, frames transmitted over an Ethernet network. The access port is physically connected to the internal component and physically inaccessible to the host device. The controller is physically connected to the access port. The controller: accesses the internal component via the access port; based on the frames, determines whether the host device is authorized; if the host device is not authorized, prevent the host device from accessing the processor or the register; and if the host device is authorized, permit the host device, via the Ethernet interface and the access port, to control operation of the processor or change the contents of the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Patent number: 10560357
    Abstract: A packet generator includes a checksum calculator configured to distinguish, in a communication packet belonging to a sequence of packets, between (i) one or more constant values of a header of the packet, the one or more constant values remaining unchanged across the packets in the sequence, (ii) a payload of the packet, and (iii) one or more variable values of the header, the one or more variable values changing among the packets in the sequence, to determine a constant-values partial checksum calculated over the constant values of the header, to calculate a payload partial checksum over the payload, to calculate a final checksum value for the packet based on (i) the constant-values partial checksum, (ii) the payload partial checksum and (iii) the variable values of the header, and to insert the final checksum value into the packet. An egress interface transmits the packet over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Lukas Reinbold, Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Patent number: 10469633
    Abstract: A conversion pipeline includes a media input stage, a packetizer, a MAC engine and a PHY interface. The media input stage is configured to receive from a media source a sequence of media frames carrying media content. The packetizer is configured to convert the media frames into a sequence of Ethernet packets by generating headers and appending portions of media frames to corresponding generated headers, including appending a first portion of a first media frame to a first generated header before the first media frame is fully received. The MAC engine is configured to commence outputting a first Ethernet packet as an uninterrupted unit, the first Ethernet packet including the first header and payload bits corresponding to the first portion of the first media frame, before the first media frame is fully received. The PHY interface is configured to transmit the Ethernet packets over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Kniplitsch, Manfred Kunz, Lukas Reinbold
  • Publication number: 20190306288
    Abstract: A media content converter, for converting media content into network packets, includes logic circuitry, a header generator and a multiplexer. The logic circuitry is configured to partition the media content into payloads for the network packets. The header generator configured to generate packet headers for the network packets, by populating with data a plurality of header fields according to a predefined header format. The multiplexer is configured to stream a sequence of the network packets for transmission over a communication network, by combining the generated packet headers from the header generator with the corresponding payloads from the logic circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Lukas Reinbold, Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Publication number: 20190306287
    Abstract: A conversion pipeline includes a media input stage, a packetizer, a MAC engine and a PHY interface. The media input stage is configured to receive from a media source a sequence of media frames carrying media content. The packetizer is configured to convert the media frames into a sequence of Ethernet packets by generating headers and appending portions of media frames to corresponding generated headers, including appending a first portion of a first media frame to a first generated header before the first media frame is fully received. The MAC engine is configured to commence outputting a first Ethernet packet as an uninterrupted unit, the first Ethernet packet including the first header and payload bits corresponding to the first portion of the first media frame, before the first media frame is fully received. The PHY interface is configured to transmit the Ethernet packets over a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Kniplitsch, Manfred Kunz, Lukas Reinbold
  • Publication number: 20190166027
    Abstract: A packet generator includes a checksum calculator configured to distinguish, in a communication packet belonging to a sequence of packets, between (i) one or more constant values of a header of the packet, the one or more constant values remaining unchanged across the packets in the sequence, (ii) a payload of the packet, and (iii) one or more variable values of the header, the one or more variable values changing among the packets in the sequence, to determine a constant-values partial checksum calculated over the constant values of the header, to calculate a payload partial checksum over the payload, to calculate a final checksum value for the packet based on (i) the constant-values partial checksum, (ii) the payload partial checksum and (iii) the variable values of the header, and to insert the final checksum value into the packet. An egress interface transmits the packet over a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Lukas Reinbold, Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Publication number: 20190036799
    Abstract: A network device is provided and operative to secure remote access to an internal component including a processor and/or a register. The network device includes an Ethernet interface, an access port, and a controller. The Ethernet interface receives, from a host device, frames transmitted over an Ethernet network. The access port is physically connected to the internal component and physically inaccessible to the host device. The controller is physically connected to the access port. The controller: accesses the internal component via the access port; based on the frames, determines whether the host device is authorized; if the host device is not authorized, prevent the host device from accessing the processor or the register; and if the host device is authorized, permit the host device, via the Ethernet interface and the access port, to control operation of the processor or change the contents of the register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas KNIPLITSCH
  • Patent number: 10091079
    Abstract: A chipset including one or more system-on-chips. The chipset includes a memory-mapped device, an Ethernet interface, and a remote management controller. The memory-mapped device includes a test access port and is configured to access a register based on an address of a memory corresponding to the register. The Ethernet interface is configured to receive Ethernet frames transmitted over an Ethernet network. One or more of the Ethernet frames are received from a host device. The one or more of the Ethernet frames are received to test the one or more system-on-chips. The remote management controller is coupled to the test access port. The remote management controller is configured to, based on the one or more of the Ethernet frames, remotely control operation of the memory-mapped device or another device in the one or more system-on-chips, and restrict (a) testing of the one or more system-on-chips or the memory-mapped device, and (b) access by the host device to the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Patent number: 9800698
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with ordering packets into a transmission order within a queue are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes shaper logic configured to (i) respectively determine launch times for packets received from a host bus, and (ii) order the packets into a transmission order according to the launch times. The launch times are expected transmission times for the packets that are provided according to one or more attributes associated with each respective one of the packets. The apparatus includes a queue configured to store the packets in the transmission order for transmission onto a network in a single stream. The shaper logic is configured to merge the packets from multiple streams into the transmission order when providing the packets to the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Lukas Reinbold, Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Publication number: 20160330094
    Abstract: A chipset including one or more system-on-chips. The chipset includes a memory-mapped device, an Ethernet interface, and a remote management controller. The memory-mapped device includes a test access port and is configured to access a register based on an address of a memory corresponding to the register. The Ethernet interface is configured to receive Ethernet frames transmitted over an Ethernet network. One or more of the Ethernet frames are received from a host device. The one or more of the Ethernet frames are received to test the one or more system-on-chips. The remote management controller is coupled to the test access port. The remote management controller is configured to, based on the one or more of the Ethernet frames, remotely control operation of the memory-mapped device or another device in the one or more system-on-chips, and restrict (a) testing of the one or more system-on-chips or the memory-mapped device, and (b) access by the host device to the register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas Kniplitsch
  • Patent number: 8984093
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses for arbitration of time-sensitive data transmissions. In some aspects a start of the first scheduled data transmission may be advanced effective to increase the duration of time between an end of the first scheduled data transmission and a start of a second scheduled data transmission. A non-scheduled data transmission can then be performed during the increased duration of time between the end of the advanced first scheduled data transmission and the start of the second scheduled data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Kniplitsch, Jens Wilke