Patents by Inventor William S. Duckwall

William S. Duckwall 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: 8407330
    Abstract: An electronic system interconnect. The interconnect comprises a first node and a second node coupled to the first node. The interconnect is initially configured to include the first and second nodes. A third node is added to the interconnect after the interconnect is initially configured, and the first node responds to the addition of the third node by initiating a new connect handshake with the third node. The first node begins by transmitting a first signal to the third node. The first node signals that the third node has been added to the interconnect if the third node responds to the first signal by transmitting a second signal. The first node causes the interconnect to be reconfigured if the third node transmits a third signal in response to receiving the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 8155112
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Publication number: 20110292944
    Abstract: A method for administering transmission of a first type of packets and a second type of packets over a serial bus is disclosed. The method comprises: if there is a packet of a second type to be sent, then concatenating the packet of the second type to a plurality of packets of the first type and sending the plurality of packets of the first type followed by the concatenated packet of the second type; and if there is no packet of the second type to be sent, then concatenating a bogus ack packet to the plurality of packets of the first type and sending the plurality of packets of the first type followed by the concatenated bogus ack packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Jerrold V. Hauck, Prashant Kanhere, William S. Duckwall
  • Patent number: 7995606
    Abstract: A method for administering transmission of a first type of packets and a second type of packets over a serial bus. In one embodiment, the method comprises: if there is a packet of a second type to be sent, then concatenating the packet of the second type to a plurality of packets of the first type and sending the plurality of packets of the first type followed by the concatenated packet of the second type; and if there is no packet of the second type to be sent, then concatenating a bogus ack packet to the plurality of packets of the first type and sending the plurality of packets of the first type followed by the concatenated bogus ack packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jerrold V. Hauck, Prashant Kanhere, William S. Duckwall
  • Publication number: 20080140864
    Abstract: An electronic system interconnect. The interconnect comprises a first node and a second node coupled to the first node. The interconnect is initially configured to include the first and second nodes. A third node is added to the interconnect after the interconnect is initially configured, and the first node responds to the addition of the third node by initiating a new connect handshake with the third node. The first node begins by transmitting a first signal to the third node. The first node signals that the third node has been added to the interconnect if the third node responds to the first signal by transmitting a second signal. The first node causes the interconnect to be reconfigured if the third node transmits a third signal in response to receiving the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 7334030
    Abstract: An electronic system interconnect. The interconnect comprises a first node and a second node coupled to the first node. The interconnect is initially configured to include the first and second nodes. A third node is added to the interconnect after the interconnect is initially configured, and the first node responds to the addition of the third node by initiating a new connect handshake with the third node. The first node begins by transmitting a first signal to the third node. The first node signals that the third node has been added to the interconnect if the third node responds to the first signal by transmitting a second signal. The first node causes the interconnect to be reconfigured if the third node transmits a third signal in response to receiving the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 7096302
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerating detection of speed code signals, and in particular S400 signals, for IEEE Standard 1394-1995 serial bus devices. The present invention validates S400 mode immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal, or immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal following a first S200 speed signal. The invention further provides S200 and S100 mode validation according to current implementations. Additionally, the invention does not require RX_DATA_PREFIX as a pre-requisite for signal detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: William S. Duckwall
  • Patent number: 6954787
    Abstract: An electronic system interconnect. The interconnect comprises a first node and a second node coupled to the first node. The interconnect is initially configured to include the first and second nodes. A third node is added to the interconnect after the interconnect is initially configured, and the first node responds to the addition of the third node by initiating a new connect handshake with the third node. The first node begins by transmitting a first signal to the third node. The first node signals that the third node has been added to the interconnect if the third node responds to the first signal by transmitting a second signal. The first node causes the interconnect to be reconfigured if the third node transmits a third signal in response to receiving the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 6904044
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 6839791
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerating detection of speed code signals, and in particular S400 signals, for IEEE Standard 1394-1995 serial bus devices. The present invention validates S400 mode immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal, or immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal following a first to S200 speed signal. The invention further provides S200 and S100 mode validation according to current implementations. Additionally, the invention does not require RX_DATA_PREFIX as a pre-requisite for signal detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: William S. Duckwall
  • Publication number: 20040246959
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which origmally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 6763414
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 6721330
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 6711173
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Publication number: 20030055999
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Publication number: 20030037161
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Publication number: 20020188780
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerating detection of speed code signals, and in particular S400 signals, for IEEE Standard 1394-1995 serial bus devices. The present invention validates S400 mode immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal, or immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal following a first to S200 speed signal. The invention further provides S200 and S100 mode validation according to current implementations. Additionally, the invention does not require RX_DATA_PREFIX as a pre-requisite for signal detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Zayante
    Inventor: William S. Duckwall
  • Publication number: 20020188783
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission. The second data packet is also transmitted down the bus in the direction of the node which originally transmitted the first data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener
  • Patent number: 6457086
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerating detection of speed code signals, and in particular S400 signals, for IEEE Standard 1394-1995 serial bus devices. The present invention validates S400 mode immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal, or immediately after detecting an S400 speed signal following a first S200 speed signal. The invention further provides S200 and S100 mode validation according to current implementations. Additionally, the invention does not require RX_DATA_PREFIX as a pre-requisite for signal detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Apple Computers, Inc.
    Inventor: William S. Duckwall
  • Publication number: 20020103947
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, multi-speed concatenated packet strings are transmitted by a first node on a serial bus. To accommodate multi-speed packets, a speed signal is transmitted immediately prior to the packet. In a second embodiment, ACK-concatenation is used to allow a node to transmit a data packet immediately after transmitting an acknowledge signal on the bus. The data packet need not be related to the ACK packet. In a third embodiment, a node which receives a first data packet followed by a data end signal on a child port, concatenates a second data packet onto the first data packet during retransmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: William S. Duckwall, Michael D. Teener