Patents by Inventor Arthur G. Howarth
Arthur G. Howarth 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).
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Patent number: 9419814Abstract: In one embodiment, an occurrence of a triggering event is detected and it is determined that a virtual disk will be assembled in response to the triggering event. A time is determined at which the virtual disk will be assembled. When it is ascertained that the assembly time occurs, the virtual disk is assembled. It may also be determined whether a connection request is received for the virtual disk during a predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 9239764Abstract: The present invention provides for the provisioning and redundancy of RFID middleware servers. Middleware servers can be automatically provisioned and RFID device/middleware server associations can be automatically updated. Some implementations of the invention provide for automatic detection of middleware server malfunctions. Some such implementations provide for automated provisioning and automated updating of RFID device/middleware server associations, whether a middleware server is automatically brought online or is manually replaced. Changes and reassignments of the RFID device populations may be accommodated.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Publication number: 20140215261Abstract: The present invention provides for the provisioning and redundancy of RFID middleware servers. Middleware servers can be automatically provisioned and RFID device/middleware server associations can be automatically updated. Some implementations of the invention provide for automatic detection of middleware server malfunctions. Some such implementations provide for automated provisioning and automated updating of RFID device/middleware server associations, whether a middleware server is automatically brought online or is manually replaced. Changes and reassignments of the RFID device populations may be accommodated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 8719434Abstract: The present invention provides enhanced flexibility regarding the use of media devices, including media communication peripheral devices, in communication sessions. Communication sessions can be conducted between devices having differing capabilities. According to some implementations, requests for communication sessions may be accepted according to the capabilities and/or preferences indicated for local media communication peripheral devices. Some components of an incoming communication signal may be selected for reproduction by a local media communication peripheral device and others may be ignored.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Surendra Prajapat, Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 8700778Abstract: The present invention provides for the provisioning and redundancy of RFID middleware servers. Middleware servers can be automatically provisioned and RFID device/middleware server associations can be automatically updated. Some implementations of the invention provide for automatic detection of middleware server malfunctions. Some such implementations provide for automated provisioning and automated updating of RFID device/middleware server associations, whether a middleware server is automatically brought online or is manually replaced. Changes and reassignments of the RFID device populations may be accommodated.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 8604910Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for determining the status of a networked device. Messages from such devices may include information indicating the health, accuracy and/or reliability of a device and/or of the network that includes the device. Multiple message formats may be supported, e.g., heartbeat only, partial statistics, full statistics, etc. Transmission of such messages may be triggered by the occurrence of various conditions, such as the passage of a predetermined time interval, a predetermined change in one or more criteria, etc. In some implementations, a time-based message throttle establishes a minimum time interval between messages. Messages may be created in a format that is compatible with SNMP. Messages may be transmitted in more than one packet, if necessary. Messages may be sent to one or more devices, e.g., to one or more servers, according to various criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 8581728Abstract: In one implementation, a method includes determining first component data by a first aggregation device at a first time, the first aggregation device being associated with a first one of a plurality of device components of a device, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second one of the plurality of device components of the device. The first component data may be stored. A component request may be received storing the first component data; receiving a component request; and providing the first component data via the wireless interface in response to the component request; wherein the determining, storing, receiving, and providing steps are performed when the device is powered off.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Prasad Miriyala, Chandrodaya Prasad
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Publication number: 20120262278Abstract: In one implementation, a method includes determining first component data by a first aggregation device at a first time, the first aggregation device being associated with a first one of a plurality of device components of a device, the first component data comprising identification data regarding at least a second one of the plurality of device components of the device. The first component data may be stored. A component request may be received storing the first component data; receiving a component request; and providing the first component data via the wireless interface in response to the component request; wherein the determining, storing, receiving, and providing steps are performed when the device is powered off.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Prasad Miriyala, Chandrodaya Prasad
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Patent number: 8249953Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for determining the status of a networked device, e.g., a networked RFID device. In some embodiments of the invention, a customized packet is used to transmit a “heartbeat” from each of a plurality of networked devices to a server. Some such embodiments use a customized syslog packet for the heartbeats. The heartbeat includes identification information regarding the device, e.g., the unique electronic product code (“EPC”) of the device. The identification information may include other identification and/or authentication information, such as a shared secret and time data, which may be hashed with the identification information. The heartbeat may include information indicating the health, accuracy and/or reliability of the device and/or of the network that includes the device.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Rajiv Singhal
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Patent number: 8212674Abstract: In one implementation, a method includes reading first component data from a first tag associated with a first component of a device. The device may be powered on or off. The first component data indicate components associated with the first component at a first time. The method may involve obtaining second component data from a second tag associated with a support structure. The second component data may indicate components disposed in the support structure at a second time. The method may also involve comparing the first component data with the second component data and determining whether the first component data match the second component data.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Prasad Miriyala, Chandrodaya Prasad
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Patent number: 8113418Abstract: Some implementations of the invention involve forming “logical” or “virtual” devices by aggregating a plurality of physical devices. The physical devices may be, for example, controllers, RFID readers and/or storage devices. Some logical devices comprise components of physical devices, such as individual antennas from a plurality of RFID readers. The physical devices may be located near one another or may be distributed over a wide geographical area. Logical device definitions can also be concatenated to include devices having two or more levels of logical device definitions. A single logical device grouping may include physical devices at differing levels of a network hierarchy.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Roland Saville, Prasad Miriyala
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Patent number: 8098160Abstract: A method and system for remotely configuring and/or provisioning a device that is nonoperational is provided. The device may be, in general, any electronic device that includes at least one setting (“device setting”) that can be programmatically or otherwise established or adjusted to configure and/or provision the device for its operation. The method includes detecting, via a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag, a state of a device that is communicatively coupled to the RFID tag; and providing the device setting via the RFID tag when the state signifies that the device is nonoperational.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Chandroadya Prasad, Patrick Wetterwald, Prasad Miriyala, Pascal Thubert, Vincent Jean Ribiere, Roland Saville
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Publication number: 20110314392Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a group and determining an authorization associated with the group. The group includes a plurality of parties, and the authorization is indicative of a privilege level associated with the group. The method also includes obtaining a set of data and processing the set of data. Processing the set of the data includes determining if the authorization indicates that at least a first section of the data is accessible to the group. Finally, the first section of data is rendered for presentation to the group if it is determined that the authorization indicates that the first section of the data is accessible to the group.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 8063782Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to inventory groupings of components, e.g., the physical chassis of a networking device as well as the various cards, modules, and/or blades inserted within the chassis. The inventory may be performed remotely. Some implementations also provide mechanisms to determine remotely the physical location of the asset. Preferred implementations of the invention can provide such functionality regardless of whether a main power supply of the physical device is on or off. Some embodiments of the invention employ radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2007Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Prasad Miriyala, Chandrodaya Prasad, Arthur G. Howarth, Roland Saville
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Publication number: 20110231930Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying content associated with a composition and at least one authorization associated with a user. The content is a subject of a request for access associated with the user, and is an aggregate of a plurality of sections. The plurality of sections includes a first section with a first authorization level and a second section with a second authorization level that is higher than the first authorization level. The method also includes determining if at least one authorization indicates that the user may access the first section and determining if at least one authorization indicates that the user may access the second section. The first section is portrayed to the user if it is determined that the user may access the first section, and the second section is portrayed to the user if it is determined that the user may access the second section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 7953826Abstract: The present invention provides for the provisioning and redundancy of RFID middleware servers. Middleware servers can be automatically provisioned and RFID device/middleware server associations can be automatically updated. Some implementations of the invention provide for automatic detection of middleware server malfunctions. Some such implementations provide for automated provisioning and automated updating of RFID device/middleware server associations, whether a middleware server is automatically brought online or is manually replaced. Changes and reassignments of the RFID device populations may be accommodated.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Publication number: 20110004781Abstract: The present invention provides for the provisioning and redundancy of RFID middleware servers. Middleware servers can be automatically provisioned and RFID device/middleware server associations can be automatically updated. Some implementations of the invention provide for automatic detection of middleware server malfunctions. Some such implementations provide for automated provisioning and automated updating of RFID device/middleware server associations, whether a middleware server is automatically brought online or is manually replaced. Changes and reassignments of the RFID device populations may be accommodated.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Publication number: 20100229185Abstract: In one embodiment, an occurrence of a triggering event is detected and it is determined that a virtual disk will be assembled in response to the triggering event. A time is determined at which the virtual disk will be assembled. When it is ascertained that the assembly time occurs, the virtual disk is assembled. It may also be determined whether a connection request is received for the virtual disk during a predetermined time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventor: Arthur G. Howarth
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Patent number: 7786861Abstract: Some implementations of the present invention provide methods and devices for detecting the theft of, and disabling, electronic devices such as computers and network devices. The devices may be disabled when a signal is not detected, e.g., for a predetermined period of time. For example, a radio frequency (“RF”) signal (e.g., a beacon), an Internet Protocol (“IP”) signal or the like may define a space within which the devices may be operated with complete functionality. Outside this space, the devices will be disabled, at least to some degree. The degree of disablement may depend on the length of time since the signal was last detected. Alternatively, the devices may be disabled when a signal is detected: some such implementations define “portals,” “choke points” or the like past which a device may not be transported without some degree of disablement.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Roland Saville, Prasad Miriyala, Chandrodaya Prasad
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Patent number: 7658319Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for identifying, locating and provisioning individual RFID devices in a network with “personalities” that are appropriate for the roles of the RFID devices. According to some implementations of the invention, a combination of EPC code information and existing networking standards form the basis of identifying and provisioning methods. For example, MAC address information and EPC information can be combined to identify a particular device and its location in a network. For implementations using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”), DHCP Options may be used to pass provisioning information. Some implementations employ Domain Name Service (“DNS”) and dynamic DNS (“DDNS”) to allow easy identification of RFID devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Arthur G. Howarth, Ralph Droms, Roland Saville, Lawrence Kreeger, Christopher Wiborg, Vikas Butaney, Rajiv Singhal