Patents by Inventor David Massengill

David Massengill 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: 8665705
    Abstract: An example method of rerouting data involves rerouting a logical circuit from a first set of switches to a second set of switches to communicate data between network devices without breaking the logical circuit. The logical circuit comprises variable communication paths. The second set of switches is to form a route associated with the variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting. The example method also involves rerouting the data from the logical circuit to a logical failover circuit in the data network when the logical circuit fails based on a committed information rate having been exceeded. The logical failover circuit comprises an alternative communication path to communicate the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Publication number: 20140029417
    Abstract: An example method involves, when a first quality of service parameter for a failed logical circuit is equal to or less than a second quality of service parameter for a logical failover circuit, rerouting data from the failed logical circuit to the logical failover circuit without requiring authorization from a customer to communicate the data at the second quality of service parameter. When the second quality of service parameter for the logical failover circuit is a lower level of quality than the first quality of service parameter for the failed logical circuit: a customer is prompted for an authorization to communicate the data via the logical failover circuit at the second quality of service parameter; when the authorization is received, the data is rerouted from the failed logical circuit to the logical failover circuit; and when the authorization is denied, the data is not rerouted to the logical failover circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Publication number: 20140029409
    Abstract: An example method involves generating a table to store current reroute statistics based on rerouting of data from one or more logical circuits, when they have failed, to one or more logical failover circuits. The current reroute statistics include trap data received for the one or more logical circuits. The trap data includes a committed information rate. Each of the logical circuits and logical failover circuits is identified by a logical circuit identifier that is renamed until the one or more logical circuits have been restored. The table is updated to store updated reroute statistics that include updated trap data received for the one or more logical circuits. Generating the updated reroute statistics comprises detecting a change in a status of the one or more logical circuits by determining if a frame has been dropped. The frame is dropped when the committed information rate has been exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Publication number: 20140025988
    Abstract: An example involves identifying a failure of a dedicated logical circuit connecting a host device to a remote device to communicate data that originates and terminates only at the host and remote devices. When a first logical circuit identifier of the dedicated logical circuit does not match a second logical circuit identifier of a logical failover circuit comprising an alternate communication path for communicating the data: the second logical circuit identifier is renamed to identify the logical failover circuit using the first logical circuit identifier when the logical failover circuit is a dedicated logical failover circuit to communicate only when the dedicated logical circuit fails, and the dedicated logical circuit is renamed to identify the dedicated logical circuit using the second logical circuit identifier when the logical failover circuit is to communicate regardless of failure of the dedicated logical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Publication number: 20130322452
    Abstract: A customer order is received for routing data for a time period. A logical circuit is provisioned for routing the data during the time period. The logical circuit is provisioned through a first LATA, an IEC, and a second LATA. The logical circuit includes first variable communication paths that automatically reroute from a first set of switches to a second set of switches of the first LATA while maintaining the logical circuit, second variable communication paths to route the data through the second LATA, and fixed communication paths to route the data between the first LATA, the second LATA, and the IEC. The second set of switches forms a route associated with the first variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting. The logical circuit is added to a deletion batch for deletion after the time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Publication number: 20130326262
    Abstract: An example method of rerouting data involves rerouting a logical circuit from a first set of switches to a second set of switches to communicate data between network devices without breaking the logical circuit. The logical circuit comprises variable communication paths. The second set of switches is to form a route associated with the variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting. The example method also involves rerouting the data from the logical circuit to a logical failover circuit in the data network when the logical circuit fails based on a committed information rate having been exceeded. The logical failover circuit comprises an alternative communication path to communicate the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8565074
    Abstract: An example method involves rerouting data from a logical circuit to a logical failover circuit when the logical circuit fails based on an exceeded quality of service parameter. The logical failover circuit is selected based on a committed bit rate, a variable bit rate, or an unspecified bit rate. The example method also involves rerouting data from a first set of switches to a second set of switches in the absence of a failure associated with the logical circuit. The logical circuit comprises variable communication paths, and the second set of switches are to form a route associated with the variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting while maintaining the logical circuit through the second set of switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8547830
    Abstract: A disclosed example method involves determining a first quality of service parameter associated with a failed logical circuit, and a second quality of service parameter associated with a logical failover circuit. When the first quality of service parameter is equal to or less than the second quality of service parameter, data from the failed logical circuit is rerouted to the logical failover circuit without requiring authorization from a customer to communicate the data at the second quality of service parameter. When the second quality of service parameter is a lower level of quality than the first quality of service parameter, the customer is prompted for authorization to communicate the data via the logical failover circuit at the second quality of service parameter. When authorization is received, the data is rerouted to the logical failover circuit. When authorization is denied, the data is not rerouted to the logical failover circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8547831
    Abstract: An example involves selecting a logical failover circuit comprising an alternate communication path for communicating data upon a failure of a dedicated logical circuit connecting a host device to a remote device. When a first logical circuit identifier of the dedicated logical circuit does not match a second logical circuit identifier of the logical failover circuit: the second logical circuit identifier of the logical failover circuit is renamed to identify the logical failover circuit using the first logical circuit identifier when the logical failover circuit is a dedicated logical failover circuit used to communicate only when the dedicated logical circuit fails, and the dedicated logical circuit is renamed to identify the dedicated logical circuit using the second logical circuit identifier when the logical failover circuit is used to communicate regardless of the failure of the dedicated logical circuit. The data is rerouted to the logical failover circuit without manual intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8509118
    Abstract: A customer order is received for routing data for a time period, and provisioning a logical circuit for routing the data during the time period. The logical circuit is provisioned through a first LATA, an IEC, and a second LATA. The logical circuit includes first variable communication paths that automatically reroute from a first set of switches to a second set of switches of the first LATA while maintaining the logical circuit, second variable communication paths to route the data through the second LATA, and fixed communication paths to route the data between the first LATA, the second LATA, and the IEC. The second set of switches form a route associated with the first variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting. The logical circuit is added to a deletion batch, and disconnected at the end of the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8509058
    Abstract: An example method involves rerouting a logical circuit from a first set of switches to a second set of switches to communicate data between network devices without breaking the logical circuit. The logical circuit includes variable communication paths, and the second set of switches are to form a route associated with the variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting. The example method also involves detecting a failure of the logical circuit based on at least one of a committed information rate or a committed burst size having been exceeded. In addition, the data is rerouted from the logical circuit to a logical failover circuit in the data network in response to detecting the failure of the logical circuit. The logical failover circuit includes an alternative communication path to communicate the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8345537
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically rerouting logical circuit data from a physical circuit failure in a data network. When a failure in a logical circuit is detected, a label or services name associated with the logical circuit is automatically associated with a logical circuit identifier utilized for identifying the logical circuit in the 10 data network. Once the logical circuit is associated with the logical circuit identifier, the logical circuit data may be automatically rerouted to a “failover network,” thereby minimizing lost data until the failure in the logical circuit is resolved. The logical failover circuit may be an already existing logical circuit provisioned over a dedicated backup physical circuit in the data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8345543
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to automatically reroute logical circuit data. In accordance with an example method, a failure of a dedicated logical circuit in a packet-based network is identified. The dedicated logical circuit has a first logical circuit identifier assigned prior to identifying the failure. The dedicated logical circuit connects a host device to a remote device to communicate data that originates and terminates only at the host device and the remote device. A logical failover circuit comprising an alternate communication path for communicating the data is selected. When the first logical circuit identifier of the dedicated logical circuit does not match a second logical circuit identifier of the logical failover circuit, the second logical circuit identifier is renamed to match the first logical circuit identifier. The data is rerouted to the logical failover circuit without manual intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8339988
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for provisioning logical circuits for intermittent use in a data network. A customer order requesting the use of a logical circuit for communicating data for a predetermined time period is received in the data network. A logical circuit is then provisioned in the data network prior to the start of the predetermined time period for communicating the customer data. Once the predetermined time period has elapsed, the provisioned logical circuit is deleted from the data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8339938
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for tracking the rerouting of logical circuit data in a data network. A disclosed example method involves updating reroute information in response to a dropped packet associated with a quality of service parameter having been exceeded. Transmitted data is rerouted to at least one logical failover circuit in the data network from at least one failed logical circuit associated with the exceeded quality of service parameter. The at least one logical failover circuit is selected based on a bit rate capability specified to be one of a committed bit rate, a variable bit rate, or an unspecified bit rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Publication number: 20120275299
    Abstract: A disclosed example method involves determining a first quality of service parameter associated with a failed logical circuit, and a second quality of service parameter associated with a logical failover circuit. When the first quality of service parameter is equal to or less than the second quality of service parameter, data from the failed logical circuit is rerouted to the logical failover circuit without requiring authorization from a customer to communicate the data at the second quality of service parameter. When the second quality of service parameter is a lower level of quality than the first quality of service parameter, the customer is prompted for authorization to communicate the data via the logical failover circuit at the second quality of service parameter. When authorization is received, the data is rerouted to the logical failover circuit. When authorization is denied, the data is not rerouted to the logical failover circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Publication number: 20120224475
    Abstract: A disclosed example method to identify a failure in a logical circuit involves receiving non-requested trap data from a plurality of switches forming a logical circuit. The logical circuit spans first, second, and third logical networks. The example method also involves polling first and second switches of the logical circuit exclusive of others of the plurality of switches of the logical circuit. The first switch forms a first network-to-network interface between the first logical network and the second logical network. The second switch forms a second network-to-network interface between the second logical network and the third logical network. The first and second switches are selected for polling based on the trap data indicating a problem at the first and second switches. The example method also involves identifying a failure of the logical circuit without manual intervention based on the polling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8243592
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically rerouting data. In accordance with a disclosed example method, congestion is identified in a logical circuit. The logical circuit comprises at least a first communication path in a first local access and transport area, a second communication path in an inter-exchange carrier, and a third communication path in a second local access and transport area. The example method also involves determining that the congestion is isolated to the second communication path in the inter-exchange carrier. Data associated with the logical circuit is rerouted without manual intervention using an alternate communication path to bypass the inter-exchange carrier. The rerouting comprises routing the data through the first local access and transport area, the alternate communication path, and the second local access and transport area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8223632
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for prioritized rerouting of logical circuit data in a data network. A logical circuit failure is identified in the data network. Following the identification of the logical circuit failure, a quality of service parameter for the communication of data in the failed logical circuit is determined. The quality of service parameter may include a traffic descriptor indicating the quality of the data communicated in the logical circuit. Then, a logical failover circuit comprising an alternate communication path for communicating the data in the failed logical circuit is identified. Next, a quality of service parameter for the communication of data in the logical failover circuit is determined. If the quality of service parameter for the failed logical circuit is equal to the quality of service parameter for the logical failover circuit, then the data from the failed logical circuit is rerouted to the logical failover circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 8203933
    Abstract: For automatically identifying a failure in a logical circuit in a data network without manual intervention, the logical circuit includes one or more logical connections for communicating data in the data network. A network management module periodically requests trap data indicating the status of the logical connections in the logical circuit. After the trap data has been received by the network management module, the trap data is analyzed to determine whether any of the logical connections has failed. If it is determined that a logical connection has failed, the network management module may wait a predetermined time period to determine whether the failed logical connection has been restored. If after the predetermined time period the logical connection has not been restored, then the logical circuit is identified as having failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Taylor, David Massengill, John Hollingsworth