Patents by Inventor Austin D. Ritchie
Austin D. Ritchie 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).
-
Patent number: 11616687Abstract: A dynamic controller to automatically generate layer 3 network connections between devices and/or networks associated with a virtual computing environment in response to a request for such connections is provided such that communications associated with the computing environment may be transmitted between the endpoints. For example, the dynamic controller may connect one or more cloud service provider networks, one or more customer-controlled data centers, one or more customer networks, and the like, based on information provided in a connection request. A layer 3 communication controller may also be instantiated within a core network that manages the flow of communications between the connected networks, such as by translating messages between the connected networks so that messages intended for a connected network may match the supported communication protocols of that network and/or providing one or more security features to the transmitted communications.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2022Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20220255800Abstract: A dynamic controller to automatically generate layer 3 network connections between devices and/or networks associated with a virtual computing environment in response to a request for such connections is provided such that communications associated with the computing environment may be transmitted between the endpoints. For example, the dynamic controller may connect one or more cloud service provider networks, one or more customer-controlled data centers, one or more customer networks, and the like, based on information provided in a connection request. A layer 3 communication controller may also be instantiated within a core network that manages the flow of communications between the connected networks, such as by translating messages between the connected networks so that messages intended for a connected network may match the supported communication protocols of that network and/or providing one or more security features to the transmitted communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20220255773Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure involve systems and methods for utilizing Virtual Local Area Network separation in a connection, which may be a single connection, between a customer to a telecommunications network and a cloud environment to allow the customer to access multiple instances within the cloud through the connection. A customer may purchase multiple cloud resource instances from a public cloud environment and, utilizing the telecommunications network, connect to the multiple instances through a communication port or connection to the cloud environment. To utilize the single connection or port, communication packets intended for the cloud environment may be tagged with a VLAN tag that indicates to which cloud instance the packet is intended. The telecommunications network may route the packet to the intended cloud environment and configure one or more aspects of the cloud environment to analyze the attached VLAN tag to transmit the packet to the intended instance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Level 3 Communication, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Patent number: 11323292Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure involve systems and methods for utilizing Virtual Local Area Network separation in a connection, which may be a single connection, between a customer to a telecommunications network and a cloud environment to allow the customer to access multiple instances within the cloud through the connection. A customer may purchase multiple cloud resource instances from a public cloud environment and, utilizing the telecommunications network, connect to the multiple instances through a communication port or connection to the cloud environment. To utilize the single connection or port, communication packets intended for the cloud environment may be tagged with a VLAN tag that indicates to which cloud instance the packet is intended. The telecommunications network may route the packet to the intended cloud environment and configure one or more aspects of the cloud environment to analyze the attached VLAN tag to transmit the packet to the intended instance.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Patent number: 11323319Abstract: A dynamic controller to automatically generate layer 3 network connections between devices and/or networks associated with a virtual computing environment in response to a request for such connections is provided such that communications associated with the computing environment may be transmitted between the endpoints. For example, the dynamic controller may connect one or more cloud service provider networks, one or more customer-controlled data centers, one or more customer networks, and the like, based on information provided in a connection request. A layer 3 communication controller may also be instantiated within a core network that manages the flow of communications between the connected networks, such as by translating messages between the connected networks so that messages intended for a connected network may match the supported communication protocols of that network and/or providing one or more security features to the transmitted communications.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20210058290Abstract: A dynamic controller to automatically generate layer 3 network connections between devices and/or networks associated with a virtual computing environment in response to a request for such connections is provided such that communications associated with the computing environment may be transmitted between the endpoints. For example, the dynamic controller may connect one or more cloud service provider networks, one or more customer-controlled data centers, one or more customer networks, and the like, based on information provided in a connection request. A layer 3 communication controller may also be instantiated within a core network that manages the flow of communications between the connected networks, such as by translating messages between the connected networks so that messages intended for a connected network may match the supported communication protocols of that network and/or providing one or more security features to the transmitted communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20200366528Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure involve systems and methods for utilizing Virtual Local Area Network separation in a connection, which may be a single connection, between a customer to a telecommunications network and a cloud environment to allow the customer to access multiple instances within the cloud through the connection. A customer may purchase multiple cloud resource instances from a public cloud environment and, utilizing the telecommunications network, connect to the multiple instances through a communication port or connection to the cloud environment. To utilize the single connection or port, communication packets intended for the cloud environment may be tagged with a VLAN tag that indicates to which cloud instance the packet is intended. The telecommunications network may route the packet to the intended cloud environment and configure one or more aspects of the cloud environment to analyze the attached VLAN tag to transmit the packet to the intended instance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Patent number: 10742447Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure involve systems and methods for utilizing Virtual Local Area Network separation in a connection, which may be a single connection, between a customer to a telecommunications network and a cloud environment to allow the customer to access multiple instances within the cloud through the connection. A customer may purchase multiple cloud resource instances from a public cloud environment and, utilizing the telecommunications network, connect to the multiple instances through a communication port or connection to the cloud environment. To utilize the single connection or port, communication packets intended for the cloud environment may be tagged with a VLAN tag that indicates to which cloud instance the packet is intended. The telecommunications network may route the packet to the intended cloud environment and configure one or more aspects of the cloud environment to analyze the attached VLAN tag to transmit the packet to the intended instance.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventor: Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20200244486Abstract: A method for transmitting data over networks includes associating Customer Edge Virtual Local Area Network (CE-VLAN) identifiers with an Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC). Each of the CE-VLAN identifiers is assigned to a respective Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) of a cloud computing environment and the EVC extends between a first network and the cloud computing environment through a second network. The EVC is also configured to transmit packets including any of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment. The method further includes transmitting a packet received from the first network and including one of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment using the EVC.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Michael L. Nyhus, Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20200228373Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating communication between two or more autonomous system instances include the instantiation of a bridge between the autonomous system (AS) instances. The bridge includes multiple virtual routers each of which is connected using a Layer 2 and a Layer 3 connection to a respective one of the AS instances. For example, each router may be connected to a respective AS instance by each of a virtual local area network (VLAN) connection and a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) session. To facilitate the BGP session, the bridge may be assigned an AS number (ASN) different than that of each of the AS instances and that is exchanged between the routers and the AS instances. Routing within the bridge may be facilitated by the exchange of interior gateway protocol (IGP) information between the virtual routers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Michael E. Feldpusch, Jin-Gen Wang, Austin D. Ritchie
-
Patent number: 10630508Abstract: A method for transmitting data over networks includes associating Customer Edge Virtual Local Area Network (CE-VLAN) identifiers with an Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC). Each of the CE-VLAN identifiers is assigned to a respective Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) of a cloud computing environment and the EVC extends between a first network and the cloud computing environment through a second network. The EVC is also configured to transmit packets including any of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment. The method further includes transmitting a packet received from the first network and including one of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment using the EVC.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Michael L. Nyhus, Austin D. Ritchie
-
Patent number: 10608841Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating communication between two or more autonomous system instances include the instantiation of a bridge between the autonomous system (AS) instances. The bridge includes multiple virtual routers each of which is connected using a Layer 2 and a Layer 3 connection to a respective one of the AS instances. For example, each router may be connected to a respective AS instance by each of a virtual local area network (VLAN) connection and a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) session. To facilitate the BGP session, the bridge may be assigned an AS number (ASN) different than that of each of the AS instances and that is exchanged between the routers and the AS instances. Routing within the bridge may be facilitated by the exchange of interior gateway protocol (IGP) information between the virtual routers.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Michael E. Feldpusch, Jin-Gen Wang, Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20190132152Abstract: A method for transmitting data over networks includes associating Customer Edge Virtual Local Area Network (CE-VLAN) identifiers with an Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC). Each of the CE-VLAN identifiers is assigned to a respective Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) of a cloud computing environment and the EVC extends between a first network and the cloud computing environment through a second network. The EVC is also configured to transmit packets including any of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment. The method further includes transmitting a packet received from the first network and including one of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment using the EVC.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Michael L. Nyhus, Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20190036733Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating communication between two or more autonomous system instances include the instantiation of a bridge between the autonomous system (AS) instances. The bridge includes multiple virtual routers each of which is connected using a Layer 2 and a Layer 3 connection to a respective one of the AS instances. For example, each router may be connected to a respective AS instance by each of a virtual local area network (VLAN) connection and a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) session. To facilitate the BGP session, the bridge may be assigned an AS number (ASN) different than that of each of the AS instances and that is exchanged between the routers and the AS instances. Routing within the bridge may be facilitated by the exchange of interior gateway protocol (IGP) information between the virtual routers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Michael E. Feldpusch, Jin-Gen Wang, Austin D. Ritchie
-
Publication number: 20190014038Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure involve systems and methods for utilizing Virtual Local Area Network separation in a connection, which may be a single connection, between a customer to a telecommunications network and a cloud environment to allow the customer to access multiple instances within the cloud through the connection. A customer may purchase multiple cloud resource instances from a public cloud environment and, utilizing the telecommunications network, connect to the multiple instances through a communication port or connection to the cloud environment. To utilize the single connection or port, communication packets intended for the cloud environment may be tagged with a VLAN tag that indicates to which cloud instance the packet is intended. The telecommunications network may route the packet to the intended cloud environment and configure one or more aspects of the cloud environment to analyze the attached VLAN tag to transmit the packet to the intended instance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventor: Austin D. Ritchie