Patents by Inventor Benjamin Levy Pfaff

Benjamin Levy Pfaff 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: 9876672
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a network are described. A view of current state of the network is maintained where the current state of the network characterizes network topology and network constituents, including network entities and network elements residing in or on the network. Events are announced that correspond to changes in the state of the network and one or more network elements can be configured accordingly. Methods for managing network traffic are described that ensure forwarding and other actions taken by network elements implement globally declared network policy and refer to high-level names, independently of network topology and the location of network constituents. Methods for discovering network constituents are described, whereby are automatically configured. Routing may be performed using ACL and packets can be intercepted to permit host to continue in sleep mode. The methods are applicable to virtual environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Casado, Keith E. Amidon, Peter J. Balland, III, Natasha Gude, Justin Pettit, Benjamin Levy Pfaff, Scott J Shenker, Daniel J Wendlandt
  • Publication number: 20160013969
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a network are described. A view of current state of the network is maintained where the current state of the network characterizes network topology and network constituents, including network entities and network elements residing in or on the network. Events are announced that correspond to changes in the state of the network and one or more network elements can be configured accordingly. Methods for managing network traffic are described that ensure forwarding and other actions taken by network elements implement globally declared network policy and refer to high-level names, independently of network topology and the location of network constituents. Methods for discovering network constituents are described, whereby are automatically configured. Routing may be performed using ACL and packets can be intercepted to permit host to continue in sleep mode. The methods are applicable to virtual environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Martin Casado, Keith E. Amidon, Peter J. Balland, III, Natasha Gude, Justin Pettit, Benjamin Levy Pfaff, Scott J. Shenker, Daniel J. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 9083609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a network are described. A view of current state of the network is maintained where the current state of the network characterizes network topology and network constituents, including network entities and network elements residing in or on the network. Events are announced that correspond to changes in the state of the network and one or more network elements can be configured accordingly. Methods for managing network traffic are described that ensure forwarding and other actions taken by network elements implement globally declared network policy and refer to high-level names, independently of network topology and the location of network constituents. Methods for discovering network constituents are described, whereby are automatically configured. Routing may be performed using ACL and packets can be intercepted to permit host to continue in sleep mode. The methods are applicable to virtual environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Casado, Keith Eric Amidon, Peter J. Balland, III, Natasha Gude, Justin Pettit, Benjamin Levy Pfaff, Scott J. Shenker, Daniel J. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 8966035
    Abstract: In general, the present invention relates to a virtual platform in which one or more distributed virtual switches can be created for use in virtual networking. According to some aspects, the distributed virtual switch according to the invention provides the ability for virtual and physical machines to more readily, securely, and efficiently communicate with each other even if they are not located on the same physical host and/or in the same subnet or VLAN. According other aspects, the distributed virtual switches of the invention can support integration with traditional IP networks and support sophisticated IP technologies including NAT functionality, stateful firewalling, and notifying the IP network of workload migration. According to further aspects, the virtual platform of the invention creates one or more distributed virtual switches which may be allocated to a tenant, application, or other entity requiring isolation and/or independent configuration state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Casado, Paul Ingram, Keith Eric Amidon, Peter J. Balland, III, Teemu Koponen, Benjamin Levy Pfaff, Justin Pettit, Jesse E. Gross, IV, Daniel J. Wendlandt
  • Publication number: 20100257263
    Abstract: In general, the present invention relates to a virtual platform in which one or more distributed virtual switches can be created for use in virtual networking. According to some aspects, the distributed virtual switch according to the invention provides the ability for virtual and physical machines to more readily, securely, and efficiently communicate with each other even if they are not located on the same physical host and/or in the same subnet or VLAN. According other aspects, the distributed virtual switches of the invention can support integration with traditional IP networks and support sophisticated IP technologies including NAT functionality, stateful firewalling, and notifying the IP network of workload migration. According to further aspects, the virtual platform of the invention creates one or more distributed virtual switches which may be allocated to a tenant, application, or other entity requiring isolation and/or independent configuration state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: NICIRA NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Casado, Paul Ingram, Keith Eric Amidon, Peter J. Balland, III, Teemu Koponen, Benjamin Levy Pfaff, Justin Pettit, Jesse E. Gross, IV, Daniel J. Wendlandt
  • Publication number: 20090138577
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a network are described. A view of current state of the network is maintained where the current state of the network characterizes network topology and network constituents, including network entities and network elements residing in or on the network. Events are announced that correspond to changes in the state of the network and one or more network elements can be configured accordingly. Methods for managing network traffic are described that ensure forwarding and other actions taken by network elements implement globally declared network policy and refer to high-level names, independently of network topology and the location of network constituents. Methods for discovering network constituents are described, whereby are automatically configured. Routing may be performed using ACL and packets can be intercepted to permit host to continue in sleep mode. The methods are applicable to virtual environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Nicira Networks
    Inventors: Martin Casado, Keith Eric Amidon, Peter J. Balland, III, Natasha Gude, Justin Pettit, Benjamin Levy Pfaff, Scott J. Shenker, Daniel J. Wendlandt