Patents by Inventor Andy D. Helfrich

Andy D. Helfrich 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).

  • Virtual path ring protection method and apparatus
    Publication number: 20030142678
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the robust implementation and protection of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) traffic over a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR). The traditional SONET bridging function is eliminated for the ATM traffic in favor of a selector function. The selector function occurs at the ingress of the ATM traffic to the UPSR and directs the ATM traffic to its destination via a virtual path over the UPSR. The ATM traffic is protected from both SONET failures and ATM failures by means of an Intra-Ring Communication (IRC) protocol. The IRC protocol governs failure detection and the notification of the SONET nodes on the UPSR of the failure and any protection switch that may be necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Eric L. Chan, Andy D. Helfrich, Leland M. Kornhaus
  • Virtual path ring protection method and apparatus
    Patent number: 6553034
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the robust implementation and protection of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) traffic over a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR). The traditional SONET bridging function is eliminated for the ATM traffic in favor of a selector function. The selector function occurs at the ingress of the ATM traffic to the UPSR and directs the ATM traffic to its destination via a virtual path over the UPSR. The ATM traffic is protected from both SONET failures and ATM failures by means of an Intra-Ring Communication (IRC) protocol. The IRC protocol governs failure detection and the notification of the SONET nodes on the UPSR of the failure and any protection switch that may be necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Chan, Andy D. Helfrich, Leland M. Kornhaus
  • Virtual path ring protection method and apparatus
    Publication number: 20010046206
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the robust implementation and protection of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) traffic over a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR). The traditional SONET bridging function is eliminated for the ATM traffic in favor of a selector function. The selector function occurs at the ingress of the ATM traffic to the UPSR and directs the ATM traffic to its destination via a virtual path over the UPSR. The ATM traffic is protected from both SONET failures and ATM failures by means of an Intra-Ring Communication (IRC) protocol. The IRC protocol governs failure detection and the notification of the SONET nodes on the UPSR of the failure and any protection switch that may be necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Eric L. Chan, Andy D. Helfrich, Leland M. Kornhaus
  • Virtual path ring protection method and apparatus
    Patent number: 6301254
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the robust implementation and protection of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) traffic over a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR). The traditional SONET bridging function is eliminated for the ATM traffic in favor of a selector function. The selector function occurs at the ingress of the ATM traffic to the UPSR and directs the ATM traffic to its destination via a virtual path over the UPSR. The ATM traffic is protected from both SONET failures and ATM failures by means of an Intra-Ring Communication (IRC) protocol. The IRC protocol governs failure detection and the notification of the SONET nodes on the UPSR of the failure and any protection switch that may be necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Chan, Andy D. Helfrich, Leland M. Kornhaus