Patents Examined by Chirag G. Shah
  • Method, apparatus and system for a stackable ethernet switch
    Patent number: 7983192
    Abstract: Implementation of non-blocking switch stacking capability for a switch device using a plug-in stacking module to connect to the switch device. In one embodiment, the plug-in stacking module receives switched data from one switch means of the connected switch device and switches the received switch data to another switch means of the same switch device. In another embodiment, switching configurations are changed so that operation of the switch device in combination with the plug-in stacking module increases a total number of ports for which non-blocking switching is supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Gihad Ghaibeh, Marwan Naboulsi
  • Hardware switch for hypervisors and blade servers
    Patent number: 7983257
    Abstract: A hardware switch for use with hypervisors and blade servers is disclosed. The hardware switch enables switching to occur between different guest OSs running in the same server, or between different servers in a multi-root IOV system, or between different guest OSs running in the same server in single-root IOV systems. Whether embedded in a host bus adapter (HBA), converged network adapter (CNA), network interface card (NIC) or other similar device, the hardware switch can provide fast switching with access to and sharing of at least one external network port such as a Fibre Channel (FC) port, 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) port, FC over Ethernet (FCoE) port, or other similar port. The hardware switch can be utilized when no hypervisor is present or when one or more servers have hypervisors, because it allows for switching (e.g. Ethernet switching) between the OSs on a single hypervisor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Emulex Design & Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Mukund Chavan, Parag Bhide, Chaitanya Tumuluri, Ravindra Sadanand Shenoy
  • Routing method and routing path recovery mechanism in wireless sensor network environment
    Patent number: 7983207
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an asymmetric routing method and routing path recovery mechanism. The wireless sensor network environment includes at least a management unit, at least a gateway, and mobile nodes. When joining, each mobile node obtains an unique ID code and, additionally, a depth as the gradient to the management unit. Accordingly, a mobile node sends an uplink packet via a nearby node with lower depth to the management unit; while the management unit transmits a downlink packet to a mobile node by utilizing the source route method. When the parent node of a mobile node is damaged or moves to another position or said mobile node with its sub-tree descendants changes their position together, the uplink routing path is recovered via selecting a nearby node of the sub-tree as relay node and the downlink routing path is recovered via sending a control message to the management unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Jun-Yu Lai, Kuei-Li Huang, Jui-Tang Wang, Chien-Chao Tseng, Chao-Nan Wu
  • Method for transmitting layer 2 packet and access device thereof
    Patent number: 7978694
    Abstract: A method for Layer 2 packet transmission is disclosed, wherein a corresponding relationship between packet attribute information and public MAC addresses is configured in an access device such that the access device could find a corresponding public MAC address in the corresponding relationship when receiving a packet from a user terminal, then replaces the source MAC address with the public MAC address found, and then sends the packet to a convergence layer device. A method for transmission of a Layer 2 packet without character information is also disclosed. The access device needs to obtain the packet attribute information and carry the information in the packet to be sent to the convergence layer device. An access device is also disclosed. As a result, the capacity of the VLAN and the MAC address table items needed for the convergence layer device to convert MAC addresses is greatly decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haijun Wu
  • Ethernet frame and synchronous optical network (SONET) frame convertible interface device and frame transmission method
    Patent number: 7978727
    Abstract: An apparatus for decreasing the hardware load from L2 switch MAC address learning for Ethernet-Over-SONET technology that uses VLAN, simplifying frame transmission between Ethernet and SONET, and improving the reliability of each device is disclosed. An Ethernet frame and SONET frame convertible interface part establishes a register that holds an Ethernet frame specific VLANID and SONET frame specific STS path ID in opposition, and a multiplexing part that multiplexes an Ethernet frame having a specific VLANID corresponding to a specific STS path ID that is held by a register among an input plurality of Ethernet frame VLAN ID's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Sachiko Nemoto, Sumio Koseki
  • Controlling software distribution or file transfer
    Patent number: 7978730
    Abstract: An example of a solution provided here comprises automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection; comparing results of the measuring, with bandwidth parameters; preventing a transfer of a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum acceptable value; providing to an end user an option of transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than a minimum acceptable value, but is less than an optimal value; and automatically transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Childress, David Bruce Kumhyr, Neil Raymond Pennell, Thomas Michael Ruiz
  • Sequence numbering for distributed wireless networks
    Patent number: 7978656
    Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate maintaining consistent radio-link layer protocol (RLP) sequence numbers in the event of an RLP sequence number reset. An offset can be adjusted upon occurrence of the event to reflect a subsequent expected sequence number. The offset can be added to the RLP sequence numbers such that receiving devices and/or higher layer applications can operate without realizing the sequence number reset. Additionally, the offset can be synchronized among base stations to facilitate operability following handoff of the receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nileshkumar J. Parekh, Rajesh Kumar, Maksim (Max) Krasnyanskiy, Eric Hall
  • Virtual ethernet MAC switching
    Patent number: 7978701
    Abstract: A method of sending an information package from a first data network to at least one second data network through a communications network, in particular a SDH or SONET network, comprises a first plurality of access points, a second plurality of MPLS switches, a third plurality of paths defined from each of the access points to an Ethernet switch including MPLS switching capabilities via at least one of the MPLS switches, and a fourth plurality of paths defined from the Ethernet switch including MPLS switching capabilities to each of the access points via at least one of the MPLS switches. The method further comprises receiving the information package at a specific access point and adding a header including a MPLS label to the information package. The information package including the header is sent to the Ethernet switch including MPLS switching capabilities via a path of the third plurality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventor: Per Flemming Hansen
  • Method for controlling routing in a packet network supported by a transport network
    Patent number: 7978687
    Abstract: A method of controlling routing in a packet network supported by a transport network allowing the dynamic creation/suppression of links for transporting packets of said packet network, said method including a routing step, a step of informing other routers of said network of the metric assigned to each link of the packet network, and a step of creating/destroying a link. The link may have three states: a non-connected state if said two routers cannot be directly connected, a virtual connection state wherein a virtual metric is assigned to said link between said head end router and said tail end router of the same communication, and a real connection state wherein a real metric is normally assigned to said link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Le Roux, Géraldine Calvignac
  • Apparatus for determining locations of fields in a data unit
    Patent number: 7978700
    Abstract: A header analyzer unit generates attribute information regarding headers of a data unit. The header analyzer unit includes a programmable memory unit having a content addressable memory (CAM) with an input to receive a first portion of the data unit and a second portion of the data unit. The programmable memory unit also includes a memory separate from the CAM and coupled to an output of the CAM. The CAM stores indications of locations within the memory separate from the CAM, and the memory separate from the CAM programmably stores header attribute information regarding a plurality of different types of headers for data units having different formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell Israel (MISL) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaniv Kopelman, Aviran Kadosh
  • Method and apparatus of multicast service flow processing for headend cable modem
    Patent number: 7974283
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of processing a multicast service flow for a headend cable modem is provided. The method of processing the multicast service flow includes: classifying an inputted multicast packet by a session; composing an internal header including multicast service flow information allocated to the classified session; and outputting an internal multicast packet including the internal header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ho-Sook Lee, O Hyung Kwon, Soo In Lee
  • Dynamic queue memory allocation with flow control
    Patent number: 7974190
    Abstract: A method in an Ethernet controller for allocating memory space in a buffer memory between a transmit queue (TXQ) and a receive queue (RXQ) includes allocating initial memory space in the buffer memory to the RXQ and the TXQ; defining a RXQ high watermark and a RXQ low watermark; receiving an ingress data frame; determining if a memory usage in the RXQ exceeds the RXQ high watermark; if the RXQ high watermark is not exceeded, storing the ingress data frame in the RXQ; if the RXQ high watermark is exceeded, determining if there are unused memory space in the TXQ; if there are no unused memory space in the TXQ, transmitting a pause frame to halt further ingress data frame; if there are unused memory space in the TXQ, allocating unused memory space in the TXQ to the RXQ; and storing the ingress data frame in the RXQ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: Chung Chen Luan
  • Data communications network for the management of an ethernet transport network
    Patent number: 7969888
    Abstract: A communications network comprising a plurality of nodes supporting connection-oriented traffic and connectionless traffic, wherein management traffic between the nodes is propagated as connectionless traffic having a common management identifier. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising logic that supports connection-oriented traffic and Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)-based connectionless traffic, wherein the logic propagates management messages as VLAN-based connectionless traffic having a unique VLAN identifier (VID). Included is a communications network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising provisioning a unique VID for management messages, and selectively propagating management messages with the unique VID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Sultan, Linda Dunbar, T. Benjamin Mack-Crane, Lucy Yong
  • System and method for multicasting in an internet protocol virtual private network environment
    Patent number: 7969981
    Abstract: A method is provided in one example implementation and includes sending a PIM join message to the second spoke router by the hub router. The second spoke router dynamically determines each interested remote spoke router by parsing a hub-sent PIM message and accordingly constructs the multicast routing entry such that the first and second spoke routers establish multicast communication independent of a hub router. In more specific embodiments, the PIM join/prune messaging includes a list of each downstream spoke router that sent a PIM join/prune, in a new attribute. The PIM join/prune message is sent by the hub router towards a multicast source. A new receiver-list attribute is created that the hub router populates with a non-broadcast multi-access (NBMA) address for each interested spoke router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajiv Asati, Yiqun Cai, Mohamed Khalid
  • Network scaling with summarized internet protocol label switched paths
    Patent number: 7969983
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a system and method are shown that includes receiving information defining a route to a network device. Further, a routing summary summarizing the route to the network device is generated. Additionally, an aggregate label is selected that corresponds to a defined class and to the routing summary. Moreover, the aggregate label and the defined class are advertised into a domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Neil Guichard, George L. Swallow
  • Access point planning mechanism
    Patent number: 7969910
    Abstract: A method for inserting an access point unit into a wireless telecommunications network, comprising: performing a self installation process in the access point unit, wherein during said self installation process, the access point unit automatically detects physical and RF layer parameters of access points around it, and selects its own physical and RF layer parameters according thereto, and/or performing a self-interconnection process in the access point unit wherein the access point unit contacts at least one feeder; and said feeder determines whether or not to permit connection of said access point unit to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Designart-Networks Ltd
    Inventors: Oz Barak, Assaf Touboul
  • Connectivity outage detection based on a multicast management MPLS-VPN group
    Patent number: 7969908
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus that allow for accurate determination of network topology utilizing multicast groups are provided. A multicast group may be established that contains a set of VPN endpoints to be monitored. By sending ping packets from each provider edge endpoint to the multicast group, ping responses (with unicast addresses for responders) may be collected and analyzed to determine reachability of the endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew John Ballantyne
  • Cycle-based restoration in mesh networks utilizing bandwidth and flow considerations
    Patent number: 7969862
    Abstract: A two step method for determining restoration cycles for a mesh network includes generating a set of possible restoration cycles, and selecting a subset of low-cost restoration cycles on the network. The cost of a restoration cycle may be based, in part, on the availability of capacity on the link to restore traffic with and/or without interference, and network policy. Enabling the restoration cycles to be determined based on the bandwidth capacity of the restoring link, the flows carried by the other link, and other network policy considerations enables embodiments of the invention to account for traffic class, priority, and other traffic considerations when selecting restoration cycles on the network. Identifying arcs on the network with relatively high cost restoration cycles allows portions of the network to be targeted for increased capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Guo-Qiang Wang, Attahiru Sule Alfa
  • Method of determining path maximum transmission unit
    Patent number: 7969876
    Abstract: Network endpoints using TCP/IP operate to determine the maximum transmission unit (MTU) of the path between them. This determination is done so as to avoid the expensive IP fragmentation that will occur when transmitting links with a smaller MTU size. The standard method of determining the path MTU (PMTU) has several known deficiencies, including: inefficient use of bandwidth as proper operation will likely result in the loss of one or more packets and difficulty of implementation as the reverse channel communication mechanism, reception of ICMP messages indicating the discarding of unfragmentable packets, is frequently blocked by firewalls and other security apparatus. A method of determining the PMTU between intermediate proxies is disclosed that does not require reception of ICMP messages or the inefficient use of bandwidth due to the presumed dropping of packets with valid data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Samuels, Paul Sutter
  • System for scheduling scans of interior nodes of a network domain for reachability events
    Patent number: 7969907
    Abstract: An arrangement for scheduling scans of internal network nodes for reachability events by a border node of a network domain, schedules the scans according to the rate at which reachability notifications are received by the node. As the rate at which notifications are received increases, the interval between scans also increases. Conversely, as the rate of notifications decreases, the interval also decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu Shah, Gargi Nalawade