Patents by Inventor Darrell Duffy

Darrell Duffy 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: 8340572
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Publication number: 20110004801
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Patent number: 7796942
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Publication number: 20080032623
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Patent number: 7277672
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Patent number: 7103016
    Abstract: A system is described having: a source node configured to transmit a data packet to a target node across a data network, the source node having a first retry timer set to a first retry time period after which the source node will retransmit a data packet if it has not received an appropriate response to the data packet; and a first intermediate node electrically positioned between the source node and the target node, the first intermediate node having a second retry timer set to a second retry time period after which the first intermediate node will retransmit the data packet if it has not received an appropriate response to the data packet, wherein the first retry time period is longer than the second retry time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Publication number: 20050053025
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Patent number: 6862430
    Abstract: A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Duffy, Glen Riley
  • Patent number: 5734659
    Abstract: A system has a node connected to a network, the node generating a separate session message for each of a plurality of users. The node places each of the separate session message in a slot in a single virtual circuit message, and transmits the virtual circuit message onto the network. A server is connected to the network, and the server receives the virtual circuit message, and the server identifies each of the separate session messages. The server then transmits each of the separate session message to a user having a session corresponding to each of the separate session messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mann, Darrell Duffy, Anthony Lauck, William Strecker
  • Patent number: 5640506
    Abstract: An improvement on the use of parity and a write cache for a RAID by adding a check code for the parity data itself. In addition, the time during which the parity check code is unprotected is reduced by using a single loop to calculate the old parity check code and verify it, determine the new parity information itself from the new write data, and calculate the new parity check code. Rather than cycle through all the parity blocks to calculate the old check code, and verify that it matches what is stored, the old check code is reconstructed block-by-block as the new parity is generated for each block in a loop. In addition, the new parity check code is constructed bit-by-bit at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: MTI Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Darrell Duffy
  • Patent number: 5058108
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mann, Darrell Duffy, Anthony Lauck, William Strecker
  • Patent number: 4975904
    Abstract: A local area network for interconnecting terminals and other users and data processing systems and other service providers over a communications link by means of interface units each of which may connect to several users or providers. The interface units communicate over the communications link by means of messages. When a user requires the use of a service, the interface unit establishes a virtual circuit between it and the interface unit connected to the service provider and a service session which allows the user and the service provider to communicate over the virtual circuit. If several users connected to the one interface unit as the first user require services provided by providers which connected to the same interface unit as the first provider, they communicate in sessions over the same virtual circuits. The session messages are accumulated into single virtual circuit messages that are acknowledged in unison by the receiving interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mann, Darrell Duffy, Anthony Lauck, William Strecker
  • Patent number: 4975905
    Abstract: A local area network for interconnecting terminals and other users and data processing systems and other service providers over a communications link. The users and providers connect to the communications link by means of interface units each of which may connect to several users or providers. The interface units communicate over the communications link by means of messages. When a user requires the use of a service, the interface unit establishes a virtual circuit between it and the interface unit connected to the service provider and a service session which allows the user and the service provider to communicate over the virtual circuit. If several users connected to the one interface unit as the first user require services provided by providers which connected to the same interface unit as the first provider, they communicate in sessions over the same virtual circuits. The session messages are accumulated into single virtual circuit messages that are acknowledged in unison by the receiving interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mann, Darrell Duffy, Anthony Lauck, William Strecker
  • Patent number: 4823122
    Abstract: A local area network for interconnecting terminals and other users and data processing systems and other service providers over a communications link. The users and providers connect to the communications link by means of interface units each of which may connect to several users or providers. The interface units communicate over the communications link by means of messages. When a user requires the use of a service, the interface unit establishes a virtual circuit between it and the interface unit connected to the service provider and a service session which allows the user and the service provider to communicate over the virtual circuit. If several users connected to the one interface unit as the first user require services provided by providers which connected to the same interface unit as the first provider, they communicate in sessions over the same virtual circuits. The session messages are accumulated into single virtual circuit messages that are acknowledged in unison by the receiving interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mann, Darrell Duffy