Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Hughes

Christopher A. Hughes 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).

  • Publication number: 20070025253
    Abstract: A computer system teams its network resources by apportioning each of the resources into one of two or more groups. One or more resources make up each of the groups having a link operative to be coupled together as a port trunk to a different one of two or more coupling devices providing connectivity between the system and a network. A unique layer2 address is assigned to each one of the groups. The one or more resources of each group are programmed to receive on their group's assigned layer2 address. A response is generated to a communication request received from the network. The responses specify one of the assigned layer2 addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Enstone, Michael McGee, Darda Chang, Christopher Hughes
  • Publication number: 20060187928
    Abstract: A plurality of peer network devices are configured to load-balance data transmitted between them on a point-by-point basis. Each peer device has a team of network resources coupling it to a local area network. A peer device transmitting data to one of the other peer devices load-balances the data over the team of resources of the receiving one of the peer devices. Each peer device multicasts to the other peer devices a data frame from that includes peer data defining attributes of the team of the multicasting peer device. The multicast data frame is updated with new peer data whenever one or more of the attributes of the team of the multicasting peer device are changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Michael McGee, Mark Enstone, Mark Stratton, Christopher Hughes
  • Publication number: 20060143384
    Abstract: A system and method for the design and operation of a distributed shared cache in a multi-core processor is disclosed. In one embodiment, the shared cache may be distributed among multiple cache molecules. Each of the cache molecules may be closest, in terms of access latency time, to one of the processor cores. In one embodiment, a cache line brought in from memory may initially be placed into a cache molecule that is not closest to a requesting processor core. When the requesting processor core makes repeated accesses to that cache line, it may be moved either between cache molecules or within a cache molecule. Due to the ability to move the cache lines within the cache, in various embodiments special search methods may be used to locate a particular cache line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Christopher Hughes, James Tuck, Victor Lee, Yen-Kuang Chen
  • Publication number: 20060143404
    Abstract: A system and method for the design and operation of a cache system with differing cache location lengths in level one caches is disclosed. In one embodiment, each level one cache may include groups of cache locations of differing length, capable of holding portions of a level two cache line. A state tree may be created from data in a sharing vector. When a request arrives from a level one cache, the level two cache may examine the nodes of the state tree to determine whether the node of the state tree corresponding to the incoming request is already active. The results of this determination may be used to inhibit or permit the concurrent processing of the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Yen-Kuang Chen, Christopher Hughes, James Tuck
  • Patent number: 7032889
    Abstract: An anti-scaling device comprises a hollow central body for mounting on a bar and several spike units extending outwardly from the body in different directions. Pairs of spike units are rotatably and preferably detachably mounted on opposite sides of the central body. The device may further comprise serrated webs extending outwardly from the central body between the spike units. The device may also comprise rows of sharp-edged teeth axially aligned along the central body. Alternatively, the spike units may be partially rotatable serrated propellers or may be pivotably rotatably mounted. The device may be moulded from plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventors: Frederick James Moss, Janusz Lucien Holland, Mark Christopher Hughes
  • Publication number: 20060085591
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate a hybrid hardware and software implementation of transactional memory accesses in a computer system. A processor including a transactional cache and a regular cache is utilized in a computer system that includes a policy manager to select one of a first mode (a hardware mode) or a second mode (a software mode) to implement transactional memory accesses. In the hardware mode the transactional cache is utilized to perform read and write memory operations and in the software mode the regular cache is utilized to perform read and write memory operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Sanjeev Kumar, Christopher Hughes, Partha Kundu, Anthony Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20060057402
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved microdevices and methods of manufacturing such devices. More particularly the present invention is directed to the use of a compound having the general structure (formula (I)): wherein R is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C5-C6 aryl for bonding silica based substrates to plastic substrates or to other silica based substrates. In addition the polymer can be used to coat microchannels to enhance the physical properties of the microdevice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Augustine, James Landers, Jerome Ferrance, Joy Polefrone, W. Christopher Hughes
  • Publication number: 20060034190
    Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with network load balancing are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a load balancing logic configured to cause different portions of network traffic to be transmitted from a transmitting node to different network adapters in a receiving node to cause the network traffic to be receive load balanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Michael McGee, Mark Enstone, Mark Stratton, Christopher Hughes
  • Publication number: 20060018263
    Abstract: A method for monitoring network connectivity. The method may include the act of transmitting a respective request packet from a network interface card (NIC) of a plurality of NICs in a NIC team to an external network device. The method may also include the act of receiving a respective response packet from the external network device at each respective NIC from which a respective request packet was received by the external network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Michel McGee, Michael McIntyre, Mark Stratton, Christopher Hughes
  • Publication number: 20050205143
    Abstract: A single 180-degree turn of a knob moves the valve between sending water through the softener/filter unit and bypassing it. The knob is attached to a geared shaft. The geared shaft mates with a geared piston. This piston contains 2 cylindrical sealing surfaces riding axially in an inner bore connected to the in and out ports for the plumbing. In service, one of the sealing surfaces seals in the middle of the inner bore, forcing flow down into the unit. Turning the bypass knob translates the piston so that one sealing surface seals one end of the inner bore while the other sealing surface seals the other end. This blocks flow from entering the unit and provides a flow path directly from the in port to the out port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventor: Christopher Hughes
  • Patent number: 6884373
    Abstract: A method for securing a branch assembly to a “live” pipeline. An upper part of the assembly incorporating the branch is positioned on the pipeline over a containment ring located on the pipeline and within which is an annular seal surrounding an area from which the branch is to extend. A lower part of the assembly is positioned on the pipeline beneath the upper part and the two parts are secured together so that the seal is compressed and an annular space is left between the two parts and the external surface of the pipeline. Grout is injected into the annular space and cures to bond the two parts forming the branch assembly in position on the pipeline. The use of grout avoids having to use welding techniques on a “live” pipeline. A coupon can be cut out of the pipeline, via the access through the branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Lattice Intellectual Property Limited
    Inventors: Leigh Martin Johnson, Christopher Hughes, Dan Quoc Vu
  • Patent number: D452122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Reality Products Limited
    Inventors: Mark Christopher Hughes, Januse Lucien Holland