Bused Computer Networking Patents (Class 709/253)
  • Patent number: 7817036
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a physical location of one or more units in a rack, including: using one or more physical cables between rack units; cascading a first signal through the one or more units located in the rack, the first signal being encoded with a unit number and a physical parameter; and creating a rack ID by utilizing hardware parameters, the hardware parameters being determined by: detecting a second signal that exists from a bottom unit, the bottom unit located at the bottom of the rack; and using a third signal to send data between the one or more units in the rack by manipulating void spaces within the rack, the third signal being either cabled or an optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick K. Egan, Michael L. Miller, Todd J. Rosedahl
  • Patent number: 7818364
    Abstract: A processor communication register (PCR) contained within a multiprocessor cluster system provides enhanced processor communication. The PCR stores information that is useful in pipelined or parallel multi-processing. Each processor cluster has exclusive rights to store to a sector within the PCR and has continuous access to read its contents. Each processor cluster updates its exclusive sector within the PCR, instantly allowing all of the other processors within the cluster network to see the change within the PCR data, and bypassing the cache subsystem. Efficiency is enhanced within the processor cluster network by providing processor communications to be immediately networked and transferred into all processors without momentarily restricting access to the information or forcing all the processors to be continually contending for the same cache line, and thereby overwhelming the interconnect and memory system with an endless stream of load, store and invalidate commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar Arimilli, Robert Alan Cargnoni, Derek Edward Williams, Kenneth Lee Wright
  • Patent number: 7818480
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless remote network management system for interfacing a series of remote devices (e.g., computers, servers, networking equipment, etc.) to one or more user workstations. The system is multifunctional to allow multiple users to control remote devices through serial access or keyboard, video, and cursor control device access via wireless and hard-wired connections. The remote devices are preferably coupled to a wireless-enabled remote management unit through a chain of computer interface modules, and each user workstation includes a wireless user station coupled to a keyboard, a video monitor and a cursor control device. The remote management unit and user stations preferably communicate via a wireless network, which enables a user workstation to access, monitor and control any of the remote devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Raritan Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: David Hoerl, John T. Burgess
  • Patent number: 7814187
    Abstract: Spatial structure of system modules is automatically determined with respect to other system modules. Information on the spatial structure of a first system module is determined with respect to other system modules by providing an information module, which is respectively associated with the system modules, containing information on the spatial structure of each respective system module, and which can be accessed via an associated interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Linke
  • Patent number: 7802134
    Abstract: Restoring of content of data blocks to non-volatile storage as the content existed at a particular instant in time. After accessing the last backup representing the most recent backup of the plurality of data blocks prior to the particular instant in time, the content of each data block represented in the last backup is written to a corresponding position in the non-volatile storage. This last backup may be an incremental backup in which only those data blocks that had changed since the immediate prior backup were actually backed up. Then, restoration occurs through each prior backup in reverse chronologic order until the full backup is encountered and restored. When restoring a backup, a data block is not restored if the data block had already been restored proceeding in reverse chronological order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Symantec Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Sobel, Bruce McCorkendale
  • Patent number: 7769906
    Abstract: A FlexRay communication module for coupling a FlexRay communication connection to a subscriber, associated with the FlexRay communication module, in a FlexRay network over which messages are transferred, the FlexRay communication module including a first assemblage for storing at least a portion of the transferred messages, and a second assemblage for connecting the first assemblage to the subscriber, and a third assemblage for connecting the FlexRay communication connection to the first assemblage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Hartwich, Christian Horst, Franz Bailer
  • Patent number: 7765331
    Abstract: A blade server system includes a plurality of blade slots, a management module, and a plurality of switch modules. The switch modules provide connectivity to a plurality of communications fabrics. At least one switch module includes an integrated redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller. A storage enclosure may be connected to the switch with the integrated RAID controller without having to include a stand-alone RAID controller, such as in one of the blade slots, and without having to include a RAID controller within the storage enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rezaul Shah Mohammad Islam, Gregg Steven Lucas, Kenneth Robert Schneebeli, Theodore Brian Vojnovich
  • Patent number: 7761529
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing memory requests for logic blocks or clients of a device. In one embodiment, busses are separated by the type of data to be carried by the busses. In another aspect, data transfers are decoupled from the memory requests which initiate the data transfers. In another aspect, clients competing for busses are arbitrated and selected memory requests may be provided programmable higher priority than other memory operations of a similar type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ashish V. Choubal, Madhu R. Gumma, Christopher T. Foulds, Mohannad M. Noah
  • Patent number: 7743170
    Abstract: The present invention for data distribution relates to a network wherein a distributor, which may be an Ethernet switch, is used in combination with active taps and programmable logic controllers to increase data transfer speeds and the volumes of transmission using active branching elements, i.e., active taps, that are interconnected via a bus line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Hirschmann Electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Schenkyr
  • Patent number: 7739405
    Abstract: A mechanism for managing multicast groups with send-without-receive (SWR) joiners without the use of traps on creation and deletion of groups is provided. Group information is maintained continuously while the SWR member exists. When an SWR join is attempted and the group does not already exist, the group information (MLID) is marked as used and the first switch to which the SWR packets are sent is routed to discard all packets sent to the group. When receiving members join the group, the routing is updated so that the SWR member begins sending to the receiving members. When the last receiving member leaves the group, the first switch is again routed to discard the packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vivek Kashyap, Gregory Francis Pfister
  • Patent number: 7739290
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for object persistence. In an embodiment, a proxy object is created based, at least in part, on object metadata stored in an internal data store of a persistence manager. The persistence manager may receive a request to access member data of a persistent object associated with the proxy object. In one embodiment, the persistence manager provides the member data from the proxy object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: SAP (AG)
    Inventor: Albert P. Rossmann
  • Patent number: 7707309
    Abstract: An isolation switch blade Fibre Channel switch presents F_ports to form a first Fibre Channel fabric and N_ports to a second Fibre Channel fabric to appear as node devices. The isolation switch blade may be used to connect a plurality of blade servers to a Fibre Channel fabric. Fabric events engendered by the insertion or removal of hot-pluggable devices are handled by the isolation switch blade and “event storms” on the Fibre Channel fabric are avoided. The isolation switch blade presents the blade servers to the FC fabric as a virtualized N_port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Brocade Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Shanbhag, Richard L. Hammons, Balakumar N. Kaushik, Vincent W. Guan
  • Patent number: 7707437
    Abstract: A power state broadcast mechanism. A master device may broadcast a message through the use of a protocol to each of one or more slave devices to inform the slave devices of the power state of a computer system. The broadcast message may include a protocol header indicating the start of the broadcast transaction, a function type parameter indicating the type of broadcast transaction, and power state data indicating the power state of the computer system. Each of the slave devices may read the protocol header to detect the start of a broadcast transaction, and the function type parameter to determine the type of broadcast transaction. If the function type parameter indicates a power state broadcast transaction, each of the slave devices may read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust the current power state of the slave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Berenbaum, Raphael Weiss
  • Patent number: 7698405
    Abstract: An add-on module provides extrinsic management functionality to legacy and other devices. Contemplated modules include: (a) a state agent that provides at least one of the MILARRS function, and (b) a product agent that communicates with the device using at least one serial interface. Implementations are contemplated for both legacy devices that natively provide less than complete MILARRS functionality, and newly developed devices for which the developer desires a ready-made implementation of MILARRS functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Lantronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis D. Brown, Nicholas J. Witchey
  • Patent number: 7689724
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of sharing device data from a peripheral device by at least a first and a second computer where the peripheral device coupled with the first computer. The apparatus includes a device emulator coupled between the first computer and the second computer, the device emulator adapted to pass the device data from the first computer to the second computer in a format used by the peripheral device. Device data is received at the first computer, and it is determined whether the device data should be processed by the first computer, and the device data is passed to the device emulator for transmission to the second computer. In a method implementation, the determining operation may examine whether the first computer is the intended target of device data. The device data may be received at the device emulator and the device data may be encoded in a format used by the peripheral device, and transmitted in the format to the second computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Sullivan Hatton, David Gordon Wright
  • Patent number: 7675871
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for communicating between a host and an agent. The method includes the step of performing a first transaction between a host controller and a hub. The hub is operable to perform a single transaction with an agent based on the first transaction. The method then includes the step of performing a second transaction between the host controller and the hub. The second transaction is based on the single transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John I. Garney, John S. Howard
  • Patent number: 7673274
    Abstract: A system for data processing comprises a host circuit (104) and an integrated circuit (102). The integrated circuit (102) is in communication with the host circuit (104) and the host circuit (104) is external to the integrated circuit (102). The integrated circuit (102) includes a plurality of programmable elements for data processing (300), each programmable element (300) including a host interface (305) for receiving host data and a host control signal from the host, a crosspoint switch (318), and an interpolation module (310). The host data includes a serial stream of input data values. The interpolation module (310) selectively inserts one or more interpolation data values, such as zero, between selected ones of the input data values according to the host control signal, and communicates the input data values and interpolation data values to the crosspoint switch (318).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: L3 Communications Integrated Systems, LP
    Inventors: Jerry William Yancey, Yea Zong Kuo
  • Patent number: 7653755
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for determining communication paths, especially for AV/C devices. The system includes gathering pertinent information about drivers in each available communication between nodes in the system and ordering the driver information in a communication path list string. The system may be employed with multiple nodes having one or more communication paths between nodes. The system may also be employed with multiple nodes where at least one of the nodes is a bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Erik P. Staats
  • Publication number: 20100011127
    Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: INVENSYS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Johnson, Paul C. Badavas, T. Eric Christiansen, Peter D. Hansen, Thomas B. Kinney, Seyamak Keyghobad, Bo Ling, Richard L. Thibault, William Baker
  • Publication number: 20090313389
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and configured storage media are provided for flexible data mirroring. In particular, the invention provides many-to-one data mirroring, including mirroring from local servers running the same or different operating systems and/or file systems at two or more geographically dispersed locations. The invention also provides one-to-many data mirroring, mirroring with or without a dedicated private telecommunications link, and mirroring with or without a dedicated server or another server at the destination(s) to assist the remote mirroring unit(s). In addition, the invention provides flexibility by permitting the use of various combinations of one or more external storage units and/or RAID units to hold mirrored data. Spoofing, SCSI and other bus emulations, and further tools and techniques are used in various embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Miralink Corporation
    Inventors: Ron McCabe, Robert Church, Tracy Camp, Stuart W. Card, David J. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7620702
    Abstract: A multiprocessor includes a module configured to collect status data, one or more processing engines, and a push engine. Part of the status data is collected from devices connected to a bus and indicates readiness of the devices to participate in data transfers over the bus. The processing engines schedule transfers of data packets between the processor and the devices. The push engine performs unsolicited transfers of a portion of the status data to the processing engines in response to the module collecting new status data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Gilbert Wolrich, Debra Bernstein, Matthew Adiletta, William Wheeler
  • Patent number: 7620837
    Abstract: A data transmission system including a slave device (30) and a master device (10) is disclosed. Slave device (30) may include a slave side clock signal generator section (32) for generating a slave side clock signal (CLKSOUT), a phase adjusting circuit (40) for controlling a phase of a slave side clock signal (CLKSOUT), output sections (33-1 to 33-m) for outputting transmission data signals (SD1 to SDm) in response to slave side clock signal (CLKSOUT), and a timing reference signal generator section (34) for outputting a timing reference signal (SSPH) in response to slave side clock signal (CLKSOUT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7617330
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for communicating with at least one network device via a network bus comprising a bus controller and a host computer. The bus controller executes a series of instructions, which can be transferred to the bus controller from the host computer. The instructions are executed in a manner independent of the host computer so as to reduce the workload of the host computer. Since the bus controller can execute the series of instructions without further intervention of the host computer, the host computer can perform other operations concurrent with the execution of the series of instructions by the bus controller. In one embodiment, at least one of the instructions has an associated data field that is variable and can be altered by the host computer, such that the host computer can alter the instruction used by the bus controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Ellerbrock, Daniel W. Konz, Marshall Watts
  • Patent number: 7617329
    Abstract: A system includes a scalability port switch (SPS) and a plurality of nodes. The SPS has a plurality of ports, each port coupled to a node. Each port is connected to a scalability port protocol distributed (SPPD). A snoop filter in the SPS tracks which nodes may be using various memory addresses. A scalability port protocol central (SPPC) is responsible for processing messages to support coherent and non-coherent transactions in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tuan M. Quach, Lily P. Looi, Kai Cheng
  • Patent number: 7613813
    Abstract: A network application executing on a host system provides a list of application buffers in host memory stored in a queue to a network services processor coupled to the host system. The application buffers are used for storing data transferred on a socket established between the network application and a remote network application executing in a remote host system. Using the application buffers, data received by the network services processor over the network is transferred between the network services processor and the application buffers. After the transfer, a completion notification is written to one of the two control queues in the host system. The completion notification includes the size of the data transferred and an identifier associated with the socket. The identifier identifies a thread associated with the transferred data and the location of the data in the host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cavium Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad R. Hussain, Richard E. Kessler, Faisal Masood, Robert A. Sanzone, Imran Badr
  • Publication number: 20090271131
    Abstract: A data acquisition and/or control module (101) for interfacing with a device (115) is provided. The module (101) and device (115) form part of a sensor/control network. The module (101) comprises a transceiver (103) for receiving data from and transmitting data to the sensor/control network, a first microcontroller (107) connected to a second microcontroller (109), first and second memories (105a, 105b) external to both the first and second microcontrollers (107, 109), and switching means. The first microcontroller (107) is further connected to the transceiver (103), while the second microcontroller (109) is further for connecting to the device (115). The switching means are operable to connect one of the first and second microcontrollers (107, 109) selectively to one of the first and second memories (105a, 105b), and to connect the respective other of the first and second microcontrollers (107, 109) to the respective other of the first and second memories (105a, 105b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Drone Technology Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Martin Ashton
  • Patent number: 7610379
    Abstract: The present invention, sometimes called Enterlink Conductor, provides a new approach to sharing public processes while maintaining specified controls for separation and security between process participants in a federated system with state that interconnects applications of multiple companies. The Enterlink Conductor comprises a process engine that executes compound processes, a compound process repository that stores compound processes, a process engine user interface to monitor and manage the process engine, a conductor engine that controls the operation of the process engine, a conductor repository that stores participant objects and relationship objects; and a conductor user interface to monitor and manage the conductor engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Reynolds and Reynolds Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H Hellbusch, Girish U Balsavar
  • Publication number: 20090240813
    Abstract: Disclosed is a communication network system in a bus network structure, the system including: a broker processing a message routing; a connector, and a plurality of services connected to the broker via the connector, wherein: the service is a communicable terminal node and each of the plurality of services is connected to the broker via one connector, the connector is a module for mediating a connection between the service and the broker, each connector connected to only one broker, and the broker is a module for setting up a routing path or the connection with the connector, and to process the message routing, all brokers connected to each other in a full mesh topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: NHN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyoung Wook Chun
  • Publication number: 20090235124
    Abstract: To configure a secure bus subscriber connected to a field bus in a secure control system, the secure bus subscriber being assigned a defined subscriber address, the invention provides a method having the following steps: an address allocation message is sent from a control unit connected to the field bus to the secure bus subscriber, the address allocation message comprising the defined subscriber address, the defined subscriber address is stored in a memory in the secure bus subscriber, and an acknowledgement message is sent from the secure bus subscriber to the control unit, the acknowledgement message comprising the defined subscriber address, where the address allocation message is sent on the basis of planning data for the secure bus subscriber connected to the field bus which are stored in the control unit. The invention also provides an appropriate control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Joachim Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7574526
    Abstract: A method for managing multicast groups with send-without-receive (SWR) joiners without the use of traps on creation and deletion of groups is provided. Group information is maintained continuously while the SWR member exists. When an SWR join is attempted and the group does not already exist, the group information (MLID) is marked as used and the first switch to which the SWR packets are sent is routed to discard all packets sent to the group. When receiving members join the group, the routing is updated so that the SWR member begins sending to the receiving members. When the last receiving member leaves the group, the first switch is again routed to discard the packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vivek Kashyap, Gregory Francis Pfister
  • Publication number: 20090198836
    Abstract: A distributed computing bus that provides both data transport and ambient computing power is provided. Contemplated buses comprise a network fabric of interconnected networking infrastructure nodes capable of being programmed before or after installation in the field. A fabric manager organizes the fabric into a bus topology communicatively coupling computing elements that exchange payload data using a bus protocol. Nodes within the bus topology operate on the payload data as the data passes through the node on route to its destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: RAPTOR NETWORKS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 7539781
    Abstract: A network storage system includes a non-volatile memory to store data including a log of received data access requests, and a cluster interconnect adapter through which to send data to a cluster partner. The nonvolatile memory and the cluster interconnect adapter are implemented in a single device connected to an expansion bus in the network storage system. Communication with the nonvolatile memory is carried out using LDMA, and communication with the cluster partner is carried out using RDMA via the cluster interconnect adapter. LDMA and RDMA functionality are merged in a common software stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: NetApp. Inc.
    Inventors: Naveen Bali, Ravi K. Budhia
  • Publication number: 20090080346
    Abstract: A method for point-to-point ethernet communication over point-to-multipoint shared single conductor channel topology comprises transmitting an ethernet signal upstream over the point-to-multipoint topology from one end point of the topology to the root of the topology, transmitting the ethernet signal downstream over the point-to-multipoint topology from the root of the topology to all end points of the topology, and selectively processing only at a designated end point the ethernet signal received at all end points. An ethernet system may comprise single conductor channel cabling (e.g., coaxial cabling) including a trunk line and a plurality of branch lines connecting to the trunk line at a plurality of points along the trunk line, a single root transceiver (root-PHY) connected at an end of the trunk line, and a plurality of end point transceivers (EP-PHYs), each connected to a respective one of the plurality of branch lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Scott Powell, Ali Abaye
  • Patent number: 7509405
    Abstract: Network topology is inferred by (a) determining which non-interconnect devices are visible to each adapter in the network; (b) determining sets of adapters having visibility to identical sets of non-interconnect devices; (c) for each set of adapters having more than one adapter, associating an interconnect device to the set and assigning links to the associated interconnect device from the adapters; (d) obtaining a list of non-interconnect devices in the network excluding non-interconnect devices already having satisfied visibilities; (e) for each visible non-interconnect device in the list of all non-interconnect devices, finding an adapter not already linked to the non-interconnect device having visibility to the non-interconnect device, and assigning a link between the non-interconnect device and an interconnect device assigned to the found adapter or directly between the found adapter and the non-interconnect device; and (f) iterating steps (d) and (e) until visibility of each adapter is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Eric D. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 7509436
    Abstract: A computerized system and method for provide increased data throughput for a virtual driver. The system includes a SCSI (Small Computer System Interconnect) port manager; a miniport driver operatively coupled to the SCSI port manager; and a network interface operatively coupled to the miniport driver. Upon receiving indication that a SCSI command has been completed, the miniport driver issues a request to the SCSI port manager causing the SCSI port manager to issue a function call into the miniport driver. As a result, the function call to complete the request is in the SCSI port manager's context. The method includes calling a first routine in a first module to deliver a data packet; sending a function request to a second module that causes the second module to call a second routine in the first module. As a result, the second routine is called in the proper context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Steven Rissmeyer
  • Publication number: 20090077269
    Abstract: A computing system architecture is based upon a peer-to-peer, asynchronous model. The architecture specifies a set of infrastructure facilities that comprise an inter-prise operating system. The inter-prise operating system provides all the facilities that make application coding as easy in the peer-to-peer asynchronous model as it is in a hierarchical, synchronous model. Services, which reside in containers, are linked asynchronously by an inter-prise bus and use data from a virtual data store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neal L. Goldstein, Adam J. Richards, David Sherr, David Levy, Chalon G. Mullins
  • Patent number: 7493417
    Abstract: Processor communication registers (PCRs) contained in each processor within a multiprocessor system and interconnected by a specialized bus provides enhanced processor communication. Each PCR stores identical processor communication information that is useful in pipelined or parallel multi-processing. Each processor has exclusive rights to store to a sector within each PCR and has continuous access to read the contents of its own PCR. Each processor updates its exclusive sector within all of the PCRs utilizing communication over the specialized bus, instantly allowing all of the other processors to see the change within the PCR data, and bypassing the cache subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar Arimilli, Robert Alan Cargnoni, Derek Edward Williams, Kenneth Lee Wright
  • Patent number: 7478174
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for maintaining the stability of a network. The present invention includes systems and methods that identify an open circuit condition and reconfigure the network bus to continue communications without slowing the communication rate or removing the network bus from service. The system includes a termination device associated with each network device. Each termination device includes a network termination element that can be switchably connected to the network bus in response to a command issued by a bus controller when an open circuit condition downstream of the network device has been detected. In another embodiment, the present invention provides systems and methods for controlling input current to a remote device located on a network. A sensing element is associated with the device that is capable of sensing the input current and through switches, altering the input current to the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Ellerbrock, Christian J. Noll
  • Patent number: 7472203
    Abstract: Command system for a plurality of network devices. The command system may comprise a network administrator provided on a network, the network administrator issuing a command signal over the network. A plurality of device interfaces provided between the network and each of the network devices. Each of the plurality of device interfaces having: at least one input line to receive the command signal over the network; a transceiver operatively associated with the input line, the transceiver detecting the command signal on the input line; and at least one switching element provided between the transceiver and the network device, the at least one switching element establishing a link to the network device when the command signal is detected by the transceiver. The plurality of device interfaces delivering the command signal to the plurality of network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Colorado Vnet, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh P. Adamson, Scott Hesse
  • Patent number: 7466668
    Abstract: A Gigabit Media Independent Interface (RGMII), which is adapted to also implement a ten bit interface (RTBI) that is intended to be an alternative to both the IEEE 802.3z GMII and the TBI is disclosed. The interface has a reduced number of input and output pins, i.e., pin-count, that can implement the above GMII and TBI standards. More particularly, the interface reduces the number of pins required to interconnect the MAC and the PHY from a maximum of 28 pins (TBI) to 13 pins in a cost effective and technology independent manner. The RGMII maps pins to transfer data at the same data rate with control functionality with a minimum number of input and output pins, and does so by utilizing both the rising and falling edges of the clock signal and complies with existing interface specifications set forth in the IEEE standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Dove
  • Patent number: 7461141
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing driver configuration operations without a system reboot is disclosed. In one embodiment, a network server's adapter driver receives a request to change a configuration of a selected instance of a plurality of instances. In response, the adapter driver may then determine if there is data flow through the selected instance. If there is no data flow through the selected instance, the method includes blocking subsequent data flow and subsequent information requests issued to the adapter driver. The selected instance may then be reinitializing without rebooting the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Byers, Jing Huang, Khosrow Panah
  • Patent number: 7456701
    Abstract: A flexible substrate including: a first part provided with a first device DV1; a second part provided with a second device; a wiring part placed between the first part and the second part and including a plurality of wirings for coupling the first device and the second device; the first device including at least a first data transfer control unit, the second device including at least a second data transfer control unit, the first data transfer control unit and the second data transfer control unit transferring data by using a differential signal, and the plurality of wirings for coupling the first device and the second device including at least one differential signal line pair for transferring data by using a differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keitaro Fujimori, Mihiro Nonoyama, Yukinari Shibata, Yoshiteru Ono, Hiroyasu Honda, Yoshiro Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20080281987
    Abstract: An existing protection mechanism is enhanced through the use of an automatic protection switching protocol data unit (APS PDU). In conjunction with transmitting Ethernet frames to a second bridge over a primary path, a first bridge transmits APS PDUs to the second bridge over a secondary path. The APS PDUs provide the second bridge with information about the protection switching mechanism being used and provide indications regarding the status of the primary path. In particular, protection switching may be facilitated by forming an APS PDU that is extended to include an indication of an identity for a trunk or a primary path before transmitting the APS PDU to the second bridge. Alternatively, after forming a regular APS PDU, protection switching may be facilitated by encapsulating the regular APS PDU with information identifying a trunk or a primary path before transmitting the APS PDU to the second bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
    Inventors: Darek Skalecki, Geraldine Civil, Dinesh Mohan
  • Patent number: 7451242
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing network access using network controllers and network interfaces. A network controller has one or more subsystems including a monitoring system that monitors a plurality of communication paths to detect a presence of link pulses in one of the communication paths, a communication providing system that routs the available network signal to a first device, and a communication halting system that prevents the available network signal from being transmitted to one or more other devices. A network interface has a first circuit path routing a first network signal received at a first input of the network interface to a first device. Moreover, the network interface has a second circuit path routing a second network signal received at a second input of the network interface to a first output of the first network interface to be received at a first input of a second network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Rui M. Amorin, Marc C. Keller, Robert S Westfall, James R York, Thomas Higgins
  • Publication number: 20080270786
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for direct anonymous attestation from bilinear maps. In one embodiment, the method includes the creation of a public/private key pair for a trusted membership group defined by an issuer; and assigning a unique secret signature key to at least one member device of the trusted membership group defined by the issuer. In one embodiment, using the assigned signature key, a member may assign a message received as an authentication request to prove membership within a trusted membership group. In one embodiment, a group digital signature of the member is verified using a public key of the trusted membership group. Accordingly, a verifier of the digital signature is able to authenticate that the member is an actual member of the trusted membership group without requiring of the disclosure of a unique identification information of the member or a private member key to maintain anonymity of trusted member devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Ernest F. Brickell, Jiangtao Li
  • Patent number: 7444433
    Abstract: A computing system architecture is based upon a peer-to-peer, asynchronous model. The architecture specifies a set of infrastructure facilities that comprise an inter-prise operating system. The inter-prise operating system provides all the facilities that make application coding as easy in the peer-to-peer asynchronous model as it is in a hierarchical, synchronous model. Services, which reside in containers, are linked asynchronously by an inter-prise bus and use data from a virtual data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neal L. Goldstein, Adam J. Richards, David Sherr, David Levy, Chalon G. Mullins
  • Patent number: 7428618
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a bi-directional dataflow are disclosed which permits the transparent movement of data from one processor to another via a shared memory fabric which is connected with both processors. This permits the incoming data of a first processor to be utilized by a second processor thereby freeing that processor from having to handle incoming data. Further, the second processor can handle outgoing data exclusively, freeing the first processor from having to handle outgoing data. In this way, each direction of a bi-directional dataflow may be handled by the maximum capability of a bi-directional capable processing device. The shared memory may comprise a plurality of banks of synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) devices, and may be used to store packet data in a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Cloudshield Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zahid Najam, Peder J. Jungck, Macduy T. Vu, Andrew T Nguyen, Gregory Scott Triplett
  • Patent number: 7420476
    Abstract: Disclosed is a programmable computing and display device for upgrading a cockpit instrument panel of an aircraft. The programmable computing and display device includes a plurality of processing units; a network backbone that establishes a network among the processing units for the exchange of network data traffic; at least one display to display video graphics to a cockpit crew member; and a modular assembly that retains the processing units, the network backbone and the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: William T. Stiffler
  • Patent number: 7406531
    Abstract: A method and a communication system for exchanging data between at least two users interconnected over a bus system are described. The data is contained in messages which are transmitted by the users over the bus system. To improve data exchange among users so that in the normal case, there is a high probability that it will be possible to transmit messages with a low latency, while on the other hand, in the worst case, a finite maximum latency can be guaranteed, the data be transmitted in an event-oriented method over the bus system as long as a preselectable latency period elapsing between a transmission request by a user and the actual transmission operation of the user can be guaranteed for each message to be transmitted as a function of the utilization of capacity of the bus system, and otherwise the data is transmitted over the bus system by a deterministic method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Fuehrer, Bernd Muller
  • Patent number: 7403990
    Abstract: An information distribution system is provided that can distribute various types of information without imposing extra workload on users. This information distribution system includes a server device that can access a profile DB and an information source DB. This server device includes an operation history recorder, a feature extractor, a profiler, an information collector, and an information distributor. Every time a user operates an information device, the server device obtains the operation history of the user. The operation history contains the user ID, the types of operations, and the text information of the handled document. The server device then linguistically analyzes the text information to extract the feature information. After performing weighting on the feature information, the server device registers the feature information in the profile DB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nishiyama, Katsumi Kanasaki, Hiroko Mano, Masayuki Kameda, Masumi Narita, Masako Hirose