Patents Examined by Steven Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6992984
    Abstract: The novel credit-based adaptive flow control method and system for multi-stage, multi-dimensional, data switching architecture. The method and system of the present invention estimates and balances data flow in the switch architecture by using statistical information derived from the normal switching operation without requiring specific information from the previous stage. The multi-stage multi-dimensional switching architecture of the present invention includes three stages. The first and third stages are the buffering stages, and the second stage acts as a buffer-less crossbar switch node. Each stage includes an array of switching elements, and each element includes either a queuing processor or an arbitration processor arranged to progressively refine estimates of the data traffic from switch elements in the first stage by the second stage. The second stage maintains the statistic of valid traffic arrival and departure, and feedback grant information bit to the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Garry Z. Gu
  • Patent number: 6990072
    Abstract: Arbitration for a switch fabric (e.g., an input-buffered switch fabric) is performed. The switch fabric has a set of ports. Each port from the set of ports is associated with its own set of links. The set of ports includes a first port and a second port. A link is selected from the set of links associated with the first port based on a weight value associated with each remaining link associated with a candidate packet and being from the set of links associated with the first port. A first penalty for a weight vector entity associated with the first port is determined by based on a weight value associated with each link from a first subset of links from the set of links for the first port. Each link from the first subset of links is not associated with a candidate packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: PTS Corporation
    Inventors: Mehdi Alasti, Kamran Sayrafian-Pour, Vahid Tabatabaee
  • Patent number: 6985466
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a base station (BS) for transmitting information to a subscriber unit (SU) in a cellular communication system. The information is included in a downlink signal sent from a signal processing circuit through an array of antennae. The processing depends on a weight set that is utilized in generating individual signals to be sent on individual antennae in the array to the SU. The weight set is determined by transmitting a plurality of pilot downlink signals from BS to the SU, each pilot downlink signal being processed with a different weight set than that used to process the other pilot downlink signals. Report signals are received for each of the pilot downlink signals and are compared to determine which weight set should be utilized. The present invention may be practiced within existing CDMA cellular standards such as the IS-95 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: ArrayComm, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis C. Yun, Mitchell D. Trott
  • Patent number: 6985441
    Abstract: A network device includes a filter and an embedded processor. The filter receives a packet, determines whether the packet is an RSVP packet, and transmits an interrupt signal when the packet is an RSVP packet. The embedded processor receives the interrupt signal and generates at least one packet processing parameter in response to the interrupt signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Yatin R. Acharya
  • Patent number: 6982952
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system (100) includes a rear transition module (102) coupled to receive a DSX signal (105) and a payload node (104) coupled to the rear transition module via a backplane (110), where the payload node is coupled to process the DSX signal. A secondary payload node (114) is coupled to secondary rear transition module (112) via the backplane. A protection bus (150) couples the rear transition module to the secondary rear transition module outside the backplane, where failure of the payload node operates to shunt the DSX signal through the rear transition module to the secondary rear transition module. Failure of the payload node operates to switch processing of the DSX signal from the payload node to the secondary payload node, and the secondary rear transition module independently controls shunting of the DSX signal through the rear transition module to the secondary rear transition module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Halliday, Charles C Hill
  • Patent number: 6980536
    Abstract: In order to qualitatively improve roaming of mobile parts (MT, RPP, DIPS) in at least partially asynchronous, wireless telecommunication networks (TKN) with telecommunication systems (TKS1 . . . TKSn) having a plurality of base stations (BS, RFP, DIFS) arranged in radio cells (FZ), first base stations (BS1, RFP1, DIFS1) which are respectively neighbored by at least one asynchronous second base station (BS2, RFP2, DIFS2) send information to first mobile parts (MT1, RPP1, DIPSI1) connectible by telecommunication to the first base stations (BS1, RFP1, DIFS1), said information indicating that the respective, first base station (BS1, RFP1, DIFS1) sending the information is surrounded by at least one second base station (BS2, RFP2, DIFS2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Egon Schulz, Rolf Biedermann
  • Patent number: 6977927
    Abstract: A system for allocating storage resources in a storage area network is described. A logical unit number (LUN) mapper receives at least one storage request parameter and maps the storage request parameters to at least one physical LUN. The LUN mapper includes at least one LUN map. The storage request parameters include a host id parameter, a target LUN parameter, and a target host bus adaptor (HBA) parameter. The LUN mapper uses the host id parameter to select the one of the LUN maps that corresponds to the host id parameter. The LUN mapper applies the target LUN parameter and the target HBA parameter to the selected LUN map to locate the physical LUN(s) stored in the selected LUN map. The LUN mapper issues the received read/write storage request to at least one storage device that houses the physical LUN(s). The one or more storage devices are located in the storage area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John W. Bates, Nicos A. Vekiarides
  • Patent number: 6975606
    Abstract: A subscriber unit (104) is gracefully migrated from a selected base transceiver station (108) to an alternate base transceiver station (108) by attenuating the communication signals transmitted by the selected base transceiver station (108). A subscriber unit (104) communicatively coupled to the selected base transceiver station (108) compares the attenuated communication signal strength to communications signals generated by alternate base transceiver stations (108) until an alternative communication signal having greater signal strength is identified. The subscriber unit (104) then migrates to the base transceiver station (108) transmitting the alternative communication signal. The rate of active data packet transmissions to a subscriber unit (104) is increased by using all available traffic channels to transmit data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank W. Korinek, Richard L. Van Egeren
  • Patent number: 6975628
    Abstract: The present invention defines an object-oriented programming model appropriate for both ASIC-based networking silicon as well as network processors. This model obtains this range of expressiveness by identifying the fundamental units of packet processing performed by underlying hardware (either ASIC or network processor). Software objects, called Stages, are then created to encapsulate and represent these fundamental units of packet processing. Using this API, a directed graph of packet flow is formed using the Stage objects. This directed graph of packet flow models packet processing performed by underlying forwarding hardware. As a result, additional services can be added or deleted from a single switching/routing device without affecting the underlying forwarding engine hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Erik J. Johnson, Kapil Jain
  • Patent number: 6975646
    Abstract: A network interconnection system has a plurality of input and output ports that are connected to different networks. An input interface connected to each of the input ports converts the input signal to an LCH packet signal when an input signal is not a MAC frame. A form of the LCH packet signal is identical to the MAC frame and a content of the LCH packet signal corresponding to a source address field of the MAC frame is set to all 0, which is inhibited in the MAC frame format. An output interface connected to each of the output ports converts the LCH packet signal to a signal conforming to a corresponding network when receiving an LCH packet signal as an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Atsuya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6975637
    Abstract: An integrated Ethernet PHY/MAC apparatus having a single link partner capability register shared between a PHY and a corresponding MAC, which implements IEEE Standard 302.3, including IEEE Standards 802.3u and 802.3x. Apparatus also includes plural PHYs, each having a corresponding MAC integrably coupled therewith such that an integrated multi-port Ethernet device is realized. A network consists of at least one integrated Ethernet PHY/MAC device having a single link partner capability register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: John K. Lenell
  • Patent number: 6973074
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting voice, voiceband data and phone signaling is described. Analog voice, voiceband data and phone signaling are converted into their corresponding digitized version. The digital voice, digitized voiceband data, and digitized phone signaling may be transported as AAL2 packets via an LAN that follows an LAN protocol that supports levels of transmission priority. The LAN protocol may be, for example, HomePNA. The packets may be formatted in a manner similar to other networking protocols for transmitting digitized voice, digitized voiceband data and digitized phone signaling, such as AAL2. The use of AAL2 packets instead of voice over IP packets and techniques allows use of simpler less costly components and a straightforward interworking at the residential gateway device connected to the WAN via DSL using the emerging loop emulation service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus Maranhao
  • Patent number: 6973103
    Abstract: A communication control system and method comprising, in one embodiment, a plurality of strobe signals are generated at different timings in a transmission circuit and a plurality of latch circuits equal to the number of strobe signals are provided in a receiver circuit so that data is retained in each latch circuit using the strobe signals one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Hayashi, Hideo Matsukawa, Toyoaki Yokoi
  • Patent number: 6973042
    Abstract: Loopback interfaces are put into routers in a packet switched network. When an end to end Quality of Service (QoS) path is not performing adequately, the delay and jitter characteristics are measured for individual network subsystems. An audio signal is converted into a stream of audio packets and sent hop by hop to the different routers in the network having the loopback interface. QoS is determined by looping back the stream of audio packets from the different routers. If necessary, the network is reconfigured according to loopback delay in the individual network subsystems. Reconfiguration can comprise routing telephone calls through different paths in the network or adding additional equipment to increase capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Cary W. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6970425
    Abstract: The present invention provides a throttling unit for throttling and distributing data transmissions between terminals and servers in a network. The throttling unit determines a current status of the servers in the system, typically by receiving an overload notification from each server. Once the throttling unit has determined the current status of the servers, the throttling unit can adjust transmission rates of terminals to control the amount of the data received by each server based on its corresponding status. The transmission rate can also include a local load coefficient which can be adjusted to either increase or decrease the transmission rate of a terminal to a server depending on the status of the servers. A data transmission can subsequently be sent from a terminal to the servers based on the transmission rate determined for each of the servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Yury Bakshi
  • Patent number: 6970467
    Abstract: A transfer scheme for speech and voice band signals and ISDN digital signals which is capable of reducing a transmission bandwidth required for communications of speech, FAX, voice band data and ISDN digital signals that are to be entered from the STM network to the ATM network, and reducing the ATM cell assembling delay time, is disclosed. In the ATM cell multiplexing at the transmitting side, the signal type judgement results for the signals entered from the STM network are notified to the ATM cell multiplexing unit, and these signals are multiplexed into the ATM cell according to the notified signal types so that it becomes possible to multiplex the signals for each input signal type separately, and it becomes possible to treat the STM signals with different network qualities for different signal types as a single ATM connection in which only the input signals with the same quality requirement are multiplexed within the ATM network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: KDD Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuo Sunaga, Hiroyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6970456
    Abstract: To monitor the use of a chargeable dynamic signaling port of a trunk connecting two exchanges, in particular in connection with applications which communicate via exchanges and which are likely to require to use such ports, rights of use are assigned to each application enabling it either to have a port of this kind set up and then to use it, or only to use a port of this kind if it has already been set up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Christian Laroque, Lahcen Bennai
  • Patent number: 6967936
    Abstract: Improved timing synchronization and access control techniques for use in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) wireless system or other type of wireless communication system. In accordance with the invention, an uplink synchronization and access control system is provided in which mobile stations transmit certain timing and access signals in dedicated intervals in an uplink stream. Access control is illustratively implemented as a two-stage process in which a given mobile first transmits a generic uplink access signal in one of the intervals. If this access is accepted, the base station transmits an access acknowledgment containing initial timing and power corrections, along with initial channel assignments on which the mobile can initiate a call set-up process. For re-synchronization, mobiles transmit timing synchronization signals in the dedicated timing and access intervals. The base station measures the arrival time of the signals, and sends back appropriate timing corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Rajiv Laroia, Junyi Li, Sundeep Rangan, Sathyadev Venkata Uppala
  • Patent number: 6965592
    Abstract: A distributed gateway includes distributed gateway routing elements co-located with SS7 network elements. Each distributed gateway routing element performs an SS7 routing function, such an MTP level 3 routing function. The distributed gateway routing elements communicate with each other over a virtual bus that guarantees quality of service for SS7 message packets. Accordingly, the distributed gateway routing elements set quality of service parameters in the SS7 message packets that are forwarded over the virtual bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Tekelec
    Inventors: Robert John Tinsley, Peter Joseph Marsico, Lee Barfield Smith, Virgil Elmer Long, Gregory Allen Hunt
  • Patent number: 6965615
    Abstract: A technique is provided for striping packets across pipelines of a processing engine within a network switch. The processing engine comprises a plurality of processors arrayed as pipeline rows and columns embedded between input and output buffers of the engine. Each pipeline row or cluster includes a context memory having a plurality of window buffers of a defined size. Each packet is apportioned into fixed-sized contexts corresponding to the defined window size associated with each buffer of the context memory. The technique includes a mapping mechanism for correlating each context with a relative position within the packet, i.e., the beginning, middle and end contexts of a packet. The mapping mechanism facilitates reassembly of the packet at the output buffer, while obviating any any out-of-order issues involving the particular contexts of a packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Kerr, Jeffery Scott, John William Marshall, Scott Nellenbach