Patents by Inventor Donald Pitchforth

Donald Pitchforth 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: 9092791
    Abstract: A method and system of provisioning resources installed in a network element. Resources are installed in the network element. As resources are placed into service, a notification is transmitted to the vendor. The vendor generates an invoice, and the service provider generates a purchase order. Furthermore, a capacity planning system may monitor the system as resources are placed into service. If the amount of spare resources fall below a predetermined limit, the capacity planning system may transmit a request to the vendor for the additional equipment. In this manner, resources may be installed prior to the actual need for the resources. The resources may then be paid for by the service provider as the resources are needed and placed into service, thereby enabling a risk-sharing arrangement between the service provider and the vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Day, Donald Pitchforth
  • Patent number: 9037746
    Abstract: A method includes establishing a first pseudowire between a first switching device and a second switching device. The method also includes receiving customer traffic that includes time division multiplexed data and formatting the time division multiplexed data as packets. The method further includes identifying a destination for the customer traffic, identifying the first pseudowire for forwarding the customer traffic and forwarding the customer traffic via the first pseudowire to the second switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Christopher N. Del Regno, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, Jr., Terry W. McGinnis, Ronald Dennis Day
  • Patent number: 8797838
    Abstract: A device may isolate a first failure of a network interface that transports packets from one point in a network to another point in the network, may detect a subsequent failure of the interface, and may identify a recovery of the network interface from the subsequent failure. In addition, the device may restore the network interface to the network to enable the interface to transport packets after a wait-to-restore period that is approximately greater than or equal to a time difference between when the first failure and the subsequent failure occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Pitchforth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8630188
    Abstract: A device detects a signal condition for a link aggregation group (LAG) link, compares the detected signal condition to a signal threshold range, and enables one of a disabled state or a disabled timer state for the LAG link if the detected signal condition is outside the signal threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R Kotrla, Howard H Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, Jr., Michael U Bencheck, Richard C Schell, Matthew W Turlington, Glenn Wellbrock, James D Lee
  • Patent number: 8565085
    Abstract: A disclosed method and device relate to defining a link aggregation group (LAG) media access control (MAC) address and assigning the LAG MAC address to two or more links to define a LAG. The LAG MAC address does not duplicate physical MAC addresses associated with the links in the LAG. Datagrams associated with the links in the LAG are routed based on the LAG MAC address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Kotrla, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, Jr., Michael U. Bencheck, Richard C. Schell, Matthew W. Turlington, Glenn Wellbrock, James D. Lee
  • Patent number: 8437262
    Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Kotrla, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, Jr., Michael U. Bencheck, Richard C. Schell, Matthew W. Turlington, Glenn Wellbrock, James D. Lee
  • Publication number: 20110292787
    Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Scott R. KOTRLA, Howard H. CHIU, Donald PITCHFORTH, JR., Michael U. BENCHECK, Richard C. SCHELL, Matthew W. TURLINGTON, Glenn WELLBROCK, James D. LEE
  • Publication number: 20110251939
    Abstract: A method and system of provisioning resources installed in a network element. Resources are installed in the network element. As resources are placed into service, a notification is transmitted to the vendor. The vendor generates an invoice, and the service provider generates a purchase order. Furthermore, a capacity planning system may monitor the system as resources are placed into service. If the amount of spare resources fall below a predetermined limit, the capacity planning system may transmit a request to the vendor for the additional equipment. In this manner, resources may be installed prior to the actual need for the resources. The resources may then be paid for by the service provider as the resources are needed and placed into service, thereby enabling a risk-sharing arrangement between the service provider and the vendor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: VERIZON BUSINESS GLOBAL LLC
    Inventors: Ronald D. DAY, Donald PITCHFORTH
  • Patent number: 8036134
    Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Kotrla, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, Jr., Michael U. Bencheck, Richard C. Schell, Matthew W. Turlington, Glenn Wellbrock, James D. Lee
  • Patent number: 7978840
    Abstract: A method and system of provisioning resources installed in a network element. Resources are installed in the network element. As resources are placed into service, a notification is transmitted to the vendor. The vendor generates an invoice, and the service provider generates a purchase order. Furthermore, a capacity planning system may monitor the system as resources are placed into service. If the amount of spare resources fall below a predetermined limit, the capacity planning system may transmit a request to the vendor for the additional equipment. In this manner, resources may be installed prior to the actual need for the resources. The resources may then be paid for by the service provider as the resources are needed and placed into service, thereby enabling a risk-sharing arrangement between the service provider and the vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Ronald D. Day, Donald Pitchforth
  • Patent number: 7929448
    Abstract: A device detects a signal condition for a link aggregation group (LAG) link, compares the detected signal condition to a signal threshold range, and enables one of a disabled state or a disabled timer state for the LAG link if the detected signal condition is outside the signal threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Kotrla, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, Jr., Michael U. Bencheck, Richard C. Schell, Matthew W. Turlington, Glenn Wellbrock, James D. Lee
  • Publication number: 20110058487
    Abstract: A device detects a signal condition for a link aggregation group (LAG) link, compares the detected signal condition to a signal threshold range, and enables one of a disabled state or a disabled timer state for the LAG link if the detected signal condition is outside the signal threshold range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING, INC.
    Inventors: Scott R. Kotrla, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, JR., Michael U. Bencheck, Richard C. Schell, Matthew W. Turlington, Glenn Wellbrock, James D. Lee
  • Patent number: 7899072
    Abstract: A method and system of an embodiment may include a method, comprising receiving, at a computing device, network bandwidth information for a network, receiving, at a computing device, a request for network bandwidth, identifying, at a computing device, one or more portions of network bandwidth to fulfill the request. The method may include provisioning the one or more identified portions of unallocated network bandwidth for the request. The identification may comprise utilizing the network bandwidth information to identify one or more portions of unallocated network bandwidth with sufficient capacity for the request, and determining which of the one or more portions of unallocated network bandwidth will result in less fragmentation of remaining unallocated network bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan P. Staehling, Michael Freiberger, Donald Pitchforth, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110010589
    Abstract: A device may isolate a first failure of a network interface that transports packets from one point in a network to another point in the network, may detect a subsequent failure of the interface, and may identify a recovery of the network interface from the subsequent failure. In addition, the device may restore the network interface to the network to enable the interface to transport packets after a wait-to-restore period that is approximately greater than or equal to a time difference between when the first failure and the subsequent failure occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventor: Donald Pitchforth, JR.
  • Patent number: 7835291
    Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Kotrla, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, Jr., Michael U. Bencheck, Richard C. Schell, Matthew W. Turlington, Glenn Wellbrock, James D. Lee
  • Patent number: 7830784
    Abstract: A device may isolate a first failure of a network interface that transports packets from one point in a network to another point in the network, may detect a subsequent failure of the interface, and may identify a recovery of the network interface from the subsequent failure. In addition, the device may restore the network interface to the network to enable the interface to transport packets after a wait-to-restore period that is approximately greater than or equal to a time difference between when the first failure and the subsequent failure occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Pitchforth, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100246409
    Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Scott R. KOTRLA, Howard H. CHIU, Donald PITCHFORTH, JR., Michael U. BENCHECK, Richard C. SCHELL, Matthew W. TURLINGTON, Glenn WELLBROCK, James D. LEE
  • Publication number: 20100080244
    Abstract: A method and system of an embodiment may include a method, comprising receiving, at a computing device, network bandwidth information for a network, receiving, at a computing device, a request for network bandwidth, identifying, at a computing device, one or more portions of network bandwidth to fulfill the request. The method may include provisioning the one or more identified portions of unallocated network bandwidth for the request. The identification may comprise utilizing the network bandwidth information to identify one or more portions of unallocated network bandwidth with sufficient capacity for the request, and determining which of the one or more portions of unallocated network bandwidth will result in less fragmentation of remaining unallocated network bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Verizon Business Network Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan P. STAEHLING, Michael FREIBERGER, Donald PITCHFORTH, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090003195
    Abstract: A device may isolate a first failure of a network interface that transports packets from one point in a network to another point in the network, may detect a subsequent failure of the interface, and may identify a recovery of the network interface from the subsequent failure. In addition, the device may restore the network interface to the network to enable the interface to transport packets after a wait-to-restore period that is approximately greater than or equal to a time difference between when the first failure and the subsequent failure occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Verizon Business Network Services Inc.
    Inventor: Donald PITCHFORTH, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080281980
    Abstract: A method includes establishing a first pseudowire between a first switching device and a second switching device. The method also includes receiving customer traffic that includes time division multiplexed data and formatting the time division multiplexed data as packets. The method further includes identifying a destination for the customer traffic, identifying the first pseudowire for forwarding the customer traffic and forwarding the customer traffic via the first pseudowire to the second switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicants: Verizon Services Organization Inc., Verizon Business Network Services Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher N. Del Regno, Howard H. Chiu, Donald Pitchforth, JR., Terry W. McGinnis, Ronald Dennis Day