Patents by Inventor Christopher T. Coston
Christopher T. Coston 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: 10742514Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt
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Publication number: 20190296981Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt
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Patent number: 10257044Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt
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Publication number: 20180034706Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt
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Patent number: 9787547Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt
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Publication number: 20150295773Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt
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Patent number: 8990423Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Inventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt
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Patent number: 8352632Abstract: A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Joshua D. Voigt, Christopher T. Coston, Robert J. Feuerstein, Daniel Youngblood, Dan Rosenstock, Troy Kau, Greg Bernhardt