Patents by Inventor Clifton Powers

Clifton Powers 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: 9013982
    Abstract: A communication comprises a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) links, a first node having at least one application port configured for an elastic service and a plurality of DSL ports, and a second node having at least one application port configured for an elastic service and a plurality of DSL ports. Each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave data received over the at least one application port across the plurality of DSL ports, each DSL port allocated a set of DSL timeslots for transport of the data received over the at least one application port. When a failure is detected on one of the DSL links, each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave the data received over the at least one application port across the remaining DSL ports not connected to the failed DSL link without adjusting the set of DSL timeslots allocated to each of the remaining DSL ports for transport of the data from the at least one application port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Polland, Clifton Powers, Manish Sharma, Laxman R. Anne, Yiu Lam Chan
  • Patent number: 8982913
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a first multiplexer card having a first plurality of TDM ports and a first differential signaling interface, the first multiplexer card operable to map timeslots from the TDM ports to a first combined signal transmitted via the first differential signaling interface; a first unit coupled to the first differential signaling interface and configured to map timeslots extracted from the first combined signal to a DSL frame; a second unit coupled to the first unit via the a DSL link, the second unit having a third differential signaling interface and operable to map timeslots extracted from the DSL frame to a second combined signal; and a second multiplexer card having a second plurality of TDM ports and a fourth differential signaling interface, the second multiplexer card operable to map each of the timeslots from the second combined signal to one of the second plurality of TDM ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Patent number: 8787151
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a plurality of DSL links comprising a first group and second group of DSL links, each group comprising more than one DSL link. The communication system also comprises a first node and a second node each having at least one application port and a plurality of DSL ports. Each DSL port is coupled to a respective one of the DSL links such that the first and second nodes are communicatively coupled via the DSL links. Each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave a first copy of data received over the respective application port across the first group and to interleave a second copy of the data across the second group. When a failure is detected on a DSL link in the first group, each of the first and second nodes is configured to switch from the first group to the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Polland, Clifton Powers, Manish Sharma, Laxman R. Anne, Yiu Lam Chan
  • Patent number: 8781086
    Abstract: A digital subscriber line (DSL) unit comprises a first user port configured to communicate signals according to an Ethernet protocol and a second user port configured to communicate signals according to a second non-Ethernet protocol The DSL unit also comprises at least one DSL port configured to communicate signals according to a DSL protocol; and a processing device configured to analyze Ethernet signals received over the first user port to determine when to output data from the respective received Ethernet signals over the second user port and when to output data from the respective received Ethernet signals over the at least one DSL port. The processing device is further configured to extract data from signals received over the second user port and insert the extracted data into a corresponding Ethernet signal having a respective emulated circuit identification and to output the corresponding Ethernet signal over the first user port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Polland, Laxman Anne, Clifton Powers, Manish Kumar Sharma
  • Patent number: 8732262
    Abstract: A method to reduce link-up time between nodes in a communication system is provided. The method includes determining a node in the communication system is in a HANDSHAKE state; randomly configuring the node in one of a master mode and a slave mode based on a determination that the node is in the HANDSHAKE state; determining if the node is in a LINK-UP state with a selected node in the communication system based on the random configuring of the node; and randomly re-configuring the node in one of the master mode and the slave mode based on a negative determination that the node is in the LINK-UP state with the selected node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yiu Lam Chan, Clifton Powers, Laxman R. Anne, Derli Chan, Manish Sharma, Sheng-Chang Hsu
  • Patent number: 8665897
    Abstract: System and methods for High-speed Digital Subscriber Line Software Download are provided. In one embodiment, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceiver Unit is provided. The transceiver unit comprises at least one DSL transceiver, wherein the at least one DSL transceiver implements an Embedded Operations Channel (EOC) and a data path over at least one DSL pair; a first memory for storing a software file for transfer over the DSL pair, wherein the software file comprises a header and at least one file record; and a second memory for storing a provisioning table, wherein the provisioning table establishes timeslot allocations for a plurality of channels communicated over the data path, including provisions for a software download channel for transmitting the software file from the first memory to a target unit over the data path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Polland, Xinkuan Zhou, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Clifton Powers, Yiu Lam Chan
  • Publication number: 20130343528
    Abstract: A digital subscriber line (DSL) unit comprises a first user port configured to communicate signals according to an Ethernet protocol and a second user port configured to communicate signals according to a second non-Ethernet protocol The DSL unit also comprises at least one DSL port configured to communicate signals according to a DSL protocol; and a processing device configured to analyze Ethernet signals received over the first user port to determine when to output data from the respective received Ethernet signals over the second user port and when to output data from the respective received Ethernet signals over the at least one DSL port. The processing device is further configured to extract data from signals received over the second user port and insert the extracted data into a corresponding Ethernet signal having a respective emulated circuit identification and to output the corresponding Ethernet signal over the first user port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Polland, Laxman Anne, Clifton Powers, Manish Kumar Sharma
  • Publication number: 20130054725
    Abstract: A method to reduce link-up time between nodes in a communication system is provided. The method includes determining a node in the communication system is in a HANDSHAKE state; randomly configuring the node in one of a master mode and a slave mode based on a determination that the node is in the HANDSHAKE state; determining if the node is in a LINK-UP state with a selected node in the communication system based on the random configuring of the node; and randomly re-configuring the node in one of the master mode and the slave mode based on a negative determination that the node is in the LINK-UP state with the selected node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: 100-ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yiu Lam Chan, Clifton Powers, Laxman R. Anne, Derli Chan, Manish Sharma, Sheng-Chang Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130022094
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a plurality of DSL links comprising a first group and second group of DSL links, each group comprising more than one DSL link. The communication system also comprises a first node and a second node each having at least one application port and a plurality of DSL ports. Each DSL port is coupled to a respective one of the DSL links such that the first and second nodes are communicatively coupled via the DSL links. Each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave a first copy of data received over the respective application port across the first group and to interleave a second copy of the data across the second group. When a failure is detected on a DSL link in the first group, each of the first and second nodes is configured to switch from the first group to the second group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Polland, Clifton Powers, Manish Sharma, Laxman R. Anne, Yiu Lam Chan
  • Publication number: 20130021899
    Abstract: A communication comprises a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) links, a first node having at least one application port configured for an elastic service and a plurality of DSL ports, and a second node having at least one application port configured for an elastic service and a plurality of DSL ports. Each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave data received over the at least one application port across the plurality of DSL ports, each DSL port allocated a set of DSL timeslots for transport of the data received over the at least one application port. When a failure is detected on one of the DSL links, each of the first and second nodes is configured to interleave the data received over the at least one application port across the remaining DSL ports not connected to the failed DSL link without adjusting the set of DSL timeslots allocated to each of the remaining DSL ports for transport of the data from the at least one application port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Joe Polland, Clifton Powers, Manish Sharma, Laxman R. Anne, Yiu Lam Chan
  • Patent number: 8340118
    Abstract: A multiplexing card comprises a primary TDM port over which TDM frames are communicated to and from a networking device, a plurality of secondary TDM ports over each of which fractional TDM frames are communicated to and from a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) units; and a logic device coupled between the primary TDM port and the plurality of secondary TDM ports, wherein the logic device is operable to map timeslots from each of the fractional TDM frames received over the plurality of secondary TDM ports to timeslots in a TDM frame communicated over the primary TDM port, and to map each of a plurality of blocks of timeslots in a TDM frame received over the primary TDM port to one of the plurality of secondary TDM ports; wherein the combined number of timeslots containing user data in the fractional TDM frames received over the plurality of secondary TDM ports is less than or equal to the maximum number of available timeslots in the corresponding TDM frame communicated over the primary TDM port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Patent number: 8085816
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a central unit configured to transmit and receive communication signals; a remote unit configured to transmit and receive communication signals; and a regenerator unit configured to regenerate and transmit received communication signals, the regenerator unit comprising a first interface, a second interface and a control and status circuit configured to control operation of the first and second interface, wherein each interface is configured to operate as an independent logical regenerator unit; wherein the central unit and the remote unit communicate over a first communication loop via the first independent interface of the regenerator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Publication number: 20110099546
    Abstract: System and methods for High-speed Digital Subscriber Line Software Download are provided. In one embodiment, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Transceiver Unit is provided. The transceiver unit comprises at least one DSL transceiver, wherein the at least one DSL transceiver implements an Embedded Operations Channel (EOC) and a data path over at least one DSL pair; a first memory for storing a software file for transfer over the DSL pair, wherein the software file comprises a header and at least one file record; and a second memory for storing a provisioning table, wherein the provisioning table establishes timeslot allocations for a plurality of channels communicated over the data path, including provisions for a software download channel for transmitting the software file from the first memory to a target unit over the data path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Joe Polland, Xinkuan Zhou, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Clifton Powers, Yiu Lam Chan
  • Patent number: 7869465
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a first communication unit having a plurality of application ports; and a second communication unit having a plurality of application ports and coupled to the first communication unit; wherein the first communication unit is configured to extract timeslots from a first signal having a first interface format and from a second signal having a second interface format, and to insert the extracted timeslots into a frame for transmission to the second communication unit; wherein the second communication unit is configured to pass the first interface format signal to an application port of a similar interface format and to pass the second interface format signal to an application port of a third dissimilar interface format based on the order of the extracted timeslots in the frame transmitted from the first communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Patent number: 7864667
    Abstract: A communication system comprising at least one communication unit. Each communication unit includes an interface port, a first-digital-subscriber-line port, a second-digital-subscriber-line port, and a central processing unit. The central processing unit is communicatively coupled to receive information indicative of the operability of the first-digital-subscriber-line port and the second-digital-subscriber-line port. The at least one communication unit is implemented on the physical layer in single-pair mode. The at least one communication unit is configured to switch from sending timeslots in dual-pair mode to sending timeslots in 1+1 protection mode when communication on one of the first-digital-subscriber-line port and the second-digital-subscriber-line port fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Patent number: 7642683
    Abstract: A self-regulating permanent magnet device has a first rotor segment and second rotor segment, each supporting a set of permanent magnets, wherein the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment is modified based on the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device. By modifying the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment, the alignment between their respective sets of permanent magnets, and therefore, the electromotive force (emf) generated in the stator coils is regulated. The position of the second rotor segment is defined by the connection of a torsion spring between the first rotor segment and second rotor segment and a reactionary torque device connected to the second rotor segment. The torsion spring creates a spring force that acts to maintain the alignment between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Clifton Powers, Michael Raymond Hernden, Mahesh J. Shah
  • Publication number: 20090290583
    Abstract: A multiplexing card comprises a primary TDM port over which TDM frames are communicated to and from a networking device, a plurality of secondary TDM ports over each of which fractional TDM frames are communicated to and from a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) units; and a logic device coupled between the primary TDM port and the plurality of secondary TDM ports, wherein the logic device is operable to map timeslots from each of the fractional TDM frames received over the plurality of secondary TDM ports to timeslots in a TDM frame communicated over the primary TDM port, and to map each of a plurality of blocks of timeslots in a TDM frame received over the primary TDM port to one of the plurality of secondary TDM ports; wherein the combined number of timeslots containing user data in the fractional TDM frames received over the plurality of secondary TDM ports is less than or equal to the maximum number of available timeslots in the corresponding TDM frame communicated over the primary TDM port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Publication number: 20090290603
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a first multiplexer card having a first plurality of time division multiplex (TDM) ports and a first differential signaling interface, wherein the first multiplexer card is operable to map timeslots from each of the first plurality of TDM ports to a first combined signal transmitted via the first differential signaling interface; a first unit having a second differential signaling interface coupled to the first differential signaling interface, wherein the first unit is operable to extract the timeslots from the first combined signal and to map the extracted timeslots to a digital subscriber line (DSL) frame for transmission over a DSL link; a second unit coupled to the first unit via the DSL link, the second unit having a third differential signaling interface, wherein the second unit is operable to extract the timeslots in the DSL frame and to map the timeslots to a second combined signal transmitted via the third differential signaling interface; and a second multiplexer ca
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Publication number: 20090092150
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a first communication unit having a plurality of application ports; and a second communication unit having a plurality of application ports and coupled to the first communication unit; wherein the first communication unit is configured to extract timeslots from a first signal having a first interface format and from a second signal having a second interface format, and to insert the extracted timeslots into a frame for transmission to the second communication unit; wherein the second communication unit is configured to pass the first interface format signal to an application port of a similar interface format and to pass the second interface format signal to an application port of a third dissimilar interface format based on the order of the extracted timeslots in the frame transmitted from the first communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: 100-ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland
  • Publication number: 20090092176
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a central unit configured to transmit and receive communication signals; a remote unit configured to transmit and receive communication signals; and a regenerator unit configured to regenerate and transmit received communication signals, the regenerator unit comprising a first interface, a second interface and a control and status circuit configured to control operation of the first and second interface, wherein each interface is configured to operate as an independent logical regenerator unit; wherein the central unit and the remote unit communicate over a first communication loop via the first independent interface of the regenerator unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: 100-ADC DSL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Xinkuan Zhou, Clifton Powers, Laxman Anne, Manish Sharma, Joe Polland