Patents by Inventor Bruce Fairman

Bruce Fairman 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: 7287113
    Abstract: An isochronous data pipe provides a bi-directional path for data between an application and a bus structure. The isochronous data pipe includes the ability to send, receive and perform manipulations on any isochronous stream of data, including data on any number of isochronous channels. The isochronous data pipe is a programmable sequencer that operates on the stream of isochronous data as it passes through the isochronous data pipe. The isochronous data pipe is programmed by an application to perform specific operations on the stream of data before the data is either transmitted across the bus structure or sent to the application, thereby pre-processing and manipulating the data before it is delivered to its destination. The operations are performed on both the packet header and the data field of the data packet. The isochronous data pipe can be stopped and started on the occurrence of specific events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Smyers, Bruce Fairman, Hisato Shima
  • Patent number: 7154910
    Abstract: A data transmission method configures a source plug on a source device and a destination plug on a destination device for respectively transmitting and receiving isochronous data packets in non real-time. A stream of non real-time isochronous data packets is formed by first packetizing the data stream into conventional real-time isochronous data packets. Then, either a partial real-time isochronous data packet or multiple real-time isochronous data packets are encapsulated within a data payload portion of a non real-time isochronous data packet depending on the transmission speed. If the transmission speed is less than real-time, then a partial real-time isochronous data packet is encapsulated within the non real-time isochronous data packet. If the transmission speed is greater than real-time, then multiple real-time isochronous data packets are encapsulated within a single non real-time isochronous data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Bardini, Glen Stone, Bruce Fairman, Scott Smyers
  • Patent number: 7103700
    Abstract: An isochronous data pipe provides a bi-directional path for data between an application and a bus structure. The isochronous data pipe includes the ability to send, receive and perform manipulations on any isochronous stream of data, including data on any number of isochronous channels. The isochronous data pipe is a programmable sequencer that operates on the stream of isochronous data as it passes through the isochronous data pipe. The isochronous data pipe is programmed by an application to perform specific operations on the stream of data before the data is either transmitted across the bus structure or sent to the application, thereby pre-processing and manipulating the data before it is delivered to its destination. The operations are performed on both the packet header and the data field of the data packet. The isochronous data pipe can be stopped and started on the occurrence of specific events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Smyers, Bruce Fairman, Hisato Shima
  • Publication number: 20060168586
    Abstract: A system and method for interactively utilizing a user interface to manage device resources comprises at least one resource characterization that includes resource requirements for executing a requested process. An allocation manager may then compare the resource requirements for the requested process to the currently-available device resources. The allocation manager may then authorize or deny the requested process depending upon whether the currently-available resources are sufficient to adequately service the resource requirements of the requested process. An interface manager may provide relevant information from sources such as the resource characterization and the allocation manager to a user interface to thereby allow a system user to interactively manage device resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Glen Stone, Bruce Fairman, Harold Ludtke
  • Publication number: 20050198426
    Abstract: An isochronous data pipe provides a bi-directional path for data between an application and a bus structure. The isochronous data pipe includes the ability to send, receive and perform manipulations on any isochronous stream of data, including data on any number of isochronous channels. The isochronous data pipe is a programmable sequencer that operates on the stream of isochronous data as it passes through the isochronous data pipe. The isochronous data pipe is programmed by an application to perform specific operations on the stream of data before the data is either transmitted across the bus structure or sent to the application, thereby pre-processing and manipulating the data before it is delivered to its destination. The operations are performed on both the packet header and the data field of the data packet. The isochronous data pipe can be stopped and started on the occurrence of specific events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Scott Smyers, Bruce Fairman, Hisato Shima
  • Publication number: 20050125569
    Abstract: An automatically configuring storage array includes a plurality of media storage devices coupled together within a network of devices. Preferably, the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-2000 serial bus network of devices. The media storage devices are utilized to record and retrieve streams of data transmitted within the network of devices. The media storage devices communicate with each other in order to store and retrieve streams of data over multiple media storage devices, if necessary. When a record or playback command is received by any one of the media storage devices, the media storage devices send control communications between themselves to ensure that the stream of data is recorded or transmitted, as appropriate. Control of the record or transmit operation is also transferred between the media storage devices in order to utilize the full capacity of the available media storage devices. Preferably, streams of data are recorded utilizing redundancy techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Swidler, Bruce Fairman, Glen Stone, Scott Smyers
  • Publication number: 20050097245
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, an applications programming interface (API) implements and manages isochronous and asynchronous data transfer operations between an application and a bus structure. During an synchronous transfer the API includes the ability to transfer any amount of data between one or more local data buffers within the application and a range of addresses over the bus structure using one or more asynchronous transactions. An automatic transaction generator may be used to automatically generate the transactions necessary to complete the data transfer. The API also includes the ability to transfer data between the application and another node on the bus structure isochronously over a dedicated channel. During an isochronous data transfer, a buffer management scheme is used to manage a linked list of data buffer descriptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Kevin Lym, Hisato Shima, Scott Smyers, Bruce Fairman
  • Publication number: 20050002402
    Abstract: A real-time transport protocol (RTP) describes a payload format for transporting IEC 61883-1 CIP compliant IEEE 1394-2000 isochronous transport data. The transport data includes a stream format, such as DV (Digital Video), AM824 (Audio/Music data format with an 8-bit header and 24 bits of audio), or MPEG, that has been packetized for isochronous transport by a source. The payload format is opaque to the transport mechanism. The isochronous transport clock is derived from the IEEE 1394-2000 cycle timer clock. The RTP is used to transport IEEE 1394-2000, IEC 61883 compliant data streams between IEEE 1394-2000 buses using IP (Internet Protocol), specifically, Ethernet/IP. Alternatively, other IP formats are used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventor: Bruce Fairman
  • Patent number: 6810452
    Abstract: A method and system for quarantine during bus topology configuration are described. In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes quarantining a set of devices coupled to a bus. The method further includes establishing a topology of the bus. The method may also include receiving a reset signal and quarantining in response to the reset signal. In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a system. The system includes a bus having a reset signal and a plurality of data signals. The system also includes a set of devices, with each device of the set of devices coupled to the bus. The system further includes a controller. The controller having a memory configured to store device identifiers corresponding to the devices of the set of devices. The memory further configured to store quarantine information relating to the devices of the set of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: David V. James, Bruce Fairman, Richard Scheel
  • Patent number: 6728821
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the bandwidth allocated for isochronous data traffic on an interconnected data bus is disclosed. The present system uses an isochronous resource manager (IRM) to sense a bandwidth change request from a talker. The IRM instigates a bandwidth adjustment associated with the bandwidth change request to one or more bus bridge portals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: David Vernon James, Bruce Fairman, David Hunter, Hisato Shima
  • Publication number: 20030217199
    Abstract: An isochronous data pipe provides a bi-directional path for data between an application and a bus structure. The isochronous data pipe includes the ability to send, receive and perform manipulations on any isochronous stream of data, including data on any number of isochronous channels. The isochronous data pipe is a programmable sequencer that operates on the stream of isochronous data as it passes through the isochronous data pipe. The isochronous data pipe is programmed by an application to perform specific operations on the stream of data before the data is either transmitted across the bus structure or sent to the application, thereby pre-processing and manipulating the data before it is delivered to its destination. The operations are performed on both the packet header and the data field of the data packet. The isochronous data pipe can be stopped and started on the occurrence of specific events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Scott D. Smyers, Bruce Fairman, Hisato Shima
  • Patent number: 6647446
    Abstract: A method and system for using a new bus identifier in an interconnect, and the interconnect including a plurality of nodes and at least one bus bridge. A configuration change is determined on the first bus connected to the plurality of nodes. Each node has a corresponding bus identifier. A new bus identifier is assigned for each node having a changed state if a configuration change is determined on the first bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: David V. James, Bruce Fairman, David Hunter, Hisato Shima
  • Patent number: 6631415
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing a connection using a stream identifier (“id”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system identifies a talker node, which provides an isochronous data stream via a communication media. Once the talker node is identified, an identifier and an sub-identifier of the talker node are identified. After identifying the identifier and sub-identifier, the stream id associated with the isochronous data stream is identified in response to the identifier and sub-identifier. Next, the system establishes at least one connection according to the stream id. When the connection between the second and talker nodes is established, the listener node reads the isochronous data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: David Vernon James, Bruce Fairman, Hisato Shima
  • Publication number: 20030169772
    Abstract: A data transmission method configures a source plug on a source device and a destination plug on a destination device for respectively transmitting and receiving isochronous data packets in non real-time. A stream of non real-time isochronous data packets is formed by first packetizing the data stream into conventional real-time isochronous data packets. Then, either a partial real-time isochronous data packet or multiple real-time isochronous data packets are encapsulated within a data payload portion of a non real-time isochronous data packet depending on the transmission speed. If the transmission speed is less than real-time, then a partial real-time isochronous data packet is encapsulated within the non real-time isochronous data packet. If the transmission speed is greater than real-time, then multiple real-time isochronous data packets are encapsulated within a single non real-time isochronous data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Bardini, Glen Stone, Bruce Fairman, Scott Smyers
  • Patent number: 6587910
    Abstract: An isochronous data pipe provides a bi-directional path for data between an application and a bus structure. The isochronous data pipe includes the ability to send, receive and perform manipulations on any isochronous stream of data, including data on any number of isochronous channels. The isochronous data pipe is a programmable sequencer that operates on the stream of isochronous data as it passes through the isochronous data pipe. The isochronous data pipe is programmed by an application to perform specific operations on the stream of data before the data is either transmitted across the bus structure or sent to the application, thereby pre-processing and manipulating the data before it is delivered to its destination. The operations are performed on both the packet header and the data field of the data packet. The isochronous data pipe can be stopped and started on the occurrence of specific events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics
    Inventors: Scott D. Smyers, Bruce Fairman, Hisato Shima
  • Patent number: 6584539
    Abstract: A method and system for distributing messages on a bus bridge interconnect are described. In one embodiment, the interconnect comprises a number of nodes, a bus bridge, and a number of buses. The method and system insure that the messages have been observed by each node. In one embodiment, a message is initiated at an initiating node. The message is forwarded to an adjacent neighbor node. The adjacent neighbor node processes and forwards the message to its adjacent neighbor node. The message is received at the initiating node in its original or modified form. In one embodiment, the message is removed from the interconnect once it is received by the initiating node. In an alternate embodiment, each node generates an appended message by one appending an extended unique identifier (EUI) to the message. Once the appended message is received at the initiating node, the appended message is saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: David V. James, Bruce Fairman, Scott Smyers
  • Patent number: 6539450
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the bandwidth allocated for isochronous data traffic on an interconnected data bus is disclosed. The present system uses an isochronous resource manager (IRM) to sense a bandwidth change request from a talker. The IRM instigates a bandwidth adjustment associated with the bandwidth change request to one or more bus bridge portals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: David V. James, Bruce Fairman, David Hunter, Hisato Shima
  • Patent number: 6502158
    Abstract: A system for allowing a node to be accessed through multiple address spaces. The system includes a virtual address memory providing a software settable bus identification address and a stable node identification address for each node in a net, a physical address memory providing a physically assigned node identification address for each node in a local bus, and a logical address memory providing a stable node identification address for each node in the local bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: David V. James, Bruce Fairman
  • Patent number: 6496860
    Abstract: A media manager provides data flow management and other services for client applications on devices coupled together within a network. Preferably, these devices are coupled together within an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. A device control module is generated for each available device for providing an abstraction for all of the capabilities and requirements of the device including the appropriate control protocol, physical connections and connection capabilities for the device. The media manager also manages the flow and format of data transfers between the devices on the network. Through an interface, a user accesses the media manager and enters functions which are to be completed using the devices coupled together on the network. If the appropriate devices are available, the media manager controls and manages the completion of the requested task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Aaron Ludtke, Bruce Fairman, Scott Smyers
  • Patent number: 6493753
    Abstract: A media manager provides data flow management and other services for client applications on devices coupled together within a network. Preferably, these devices are coupled together within an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. A device control module is generated for each available device for providing an abstraction for all of the capabilities and requirements of the device including the appropriate control protocol, physical connections and connection capabilities for the device. The media manager also manages the flow and format of data transfers between the devices on the network. Through an interface, a user accesses the media manager and enters functions which are to be completed using the devices coupled together on the network. If the appropriate devices are available, the media manager controls and manages the completion of the requested task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Aaron Ludtke, Bruce Fairman, Scott Smyers