Patents by Inventor Hugh Barrass

Hugh Barrass 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: 8259748
    Abstract: A transmitter transmits a data frame as an uninterrupted stream of codeblocks of predefined size on a first 10 Gigabit/second data path between a MAC and PHY. It inserts a first idle block of predefined size within the data frame if there is insufficient data. A receiver receives a second idle block on a second data path, the second idle block including a request to slow down the transmission on the first data path. The receiver causes the transmitter to insert a third idle block in response to receiving the second idle block. The transmitter may further send a stream identifier including an identifier for a data stream and a bandwidth factor. The transmitter may send one codeblock chosen from data blocks for the data stream and idle blocks, and then send the bandwidth factor number of codeblocks chosen from data blocks for other data streams and idle blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 8201006
    Abstract: A method includes buffering an initial amount of data of a data set transmitted from a MAC. When an amount of time for data associated with the data set to fill a PHY buffer approaches an amount of time for the far-end PHY to transition from the second far-end PHY power state to the first far-end PHY power state, buffering a remaining amount of data of the data set transmitted from the MAC and transmitting the data to a far-end PHY after the far-end PHY transitions between a second and first far-end PHY power state. When the amount of time for data associated with the data set to fill the buffer exceeds the amount of time for the far-end PHY to transition from the second to the first far-end PHY power state, transmitting a data delay indicator to the MAC to preempt the MAC from transmitting the remaining amount of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavlo Bobrek, Stephen Wethington, Hugh Barrass
  • Publication number: 20120051735
    Abstract: A scalable signal processing test device and related signal processing techniques are provided herein for processing signals at a signal processing module of the scalable signal processing test device. Source electrical signals are processed to generate test electrical signals that model electrical signals produced by an optical module from received optical signals in accordance with a high speed optical standard for optical transmission. The test electrical signals are transmitted over transmit links to a host device that is configured to receive the test electrical signals in a format that would normally be produced by an optical module in accordance with the high speed optical standard. The test electrical signals are received after they have been looped back from the host device over receive links from the host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Brice Achkir, Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 8107365
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a modified local PHY is adapted to couple a legacy host device to link partner implementing Energy Efficient Ethernet. The modified local PHY includes a buffer and if the legacy host transmits data when the modified local PHY is in a Low Power Idle (LPI) state then the data is stored in the buffer and transmission is paused until the modified local PHY transitions from the LPI state to an active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 8009571
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for detecting a loop-back in a physical layer on an Ethernet link. In the physical layer, a device sends a base page on the Ethernet link. The base page has at least one next page capability bit set. Subsequently, the device receives a received base page. Thereafter, for detecting the loop-back, the next page capability bit is set in the received base page is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saravan Arunachalam, Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 7903597
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a synchronization command to synchronize time information among each component of a set of components in a communication path. The method includes generating a power state message. The method includes transmitting the power state message, by the first component, to the remaining components in the communication path. The power state message is configured to reduce the power consumption of the remaining components of the set of components from a first power amount to a second power amount for a time period and the time period is associated with the synchronized time information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Biederman, Dennis Fahey, Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 7835381
    Abstract: Providing point to multi-point communication includes associating channels to endpoint nodes of a digital subscriber line, where each channel is associated with an endpoint node, and associating channel criteria to the endpoint nodes, where each channel criterion is associated with an endpoint node. Downstream packets are broadcast from a headend node to the endpoint nodes using the channels. Upstream packets transmitted from the endpoint nodes are received, where the upstream packets are multiplexed according to the channel criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Barrass
  • Publication number: 20100262848
    Abstract: A method includes buffering an initial amount of data of a data set transmitted from a MAC. When an amount of time for data associated with the data set to fill a PHY buffer approaches an amount of time for the far-end PHY to transition from the second far-end PHY power state to the first far-end PHY power state, buffering a remaining amount of data of the data set transmitted from the MAC and transmitting the data to a far-end PHY after the far-end PHY transitions between a second and first far-end PHY power state. When the amount of time for data associated with the data set to fill the buffer exceeds the amount of time for the far-end PHY to transition from the second to the first far-end PHY power state, transmitting a data delay indicator to the MAC to preempt the MAC from transmitting the remaining amount of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavlo Bobrek, Stephen Wethington, Hugh Barrass
  • Publication number: 20100191794
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for detecting a loop-back in a physical layer on an Ethernet link. In the physical layer, a device sends a base page on the Ethernet link. The base page has at least one next page capability bit set. Subsequently, the device receives a received base page. Thereafter, for detecting the loop-back, the next page capability bit is set in the received base page is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saravan Arunachalam, Hugh Barrass
  • Publication number: 20100128738
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a modified local PHY is adapted to couple a legacy host device to link partner implementing Energy Efficient Ethernet. The modified local PHY includes a buffer and if the legacy host transmits data when the modified local PHY is in a Low Power Idle (LPI) state then the data is stored in the buffer and transmission is paused until the modified local PHY transitions from the LPI state to an active state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: CISCOTECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Hugh Barrass
  • Publication number: 20100103955
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a synchronization command to synchronize time information among each component of a set of components in a communication path. The method includes generating a power state message. The method includes transmitting the power state message, by the first component, to the remaining components in the communication path. The power state message is configured to reduce the power consumption of the remaining components of the set of components from a first power amount to a second power amount for a time period and the time period is associated with the synchronized time information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Biederman, Dennis Fahey, Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 7701862
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for detecting a loop-back in a physical layer on an Ethernet link. In the physical layer, a device sends a base page on the Ethernet link. The base page has at least one next page capability bit set. Subsequently, the device receives a received base page. Thereafter, for detecting the loop-back, the next page capability bit is set in the received base page is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saravan Arunachalam, Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 7680097
    Abstract: A network switch having a hybrid switch architecture, which is scalable to increase connectivity, buffering, and bandwidth by using multiple shared-memory switch fabrics and multiple crossbar switch fabrics. Each of the crossbar switch fabrics is coupled to each of the shared-memory switch fabrics. The shared-memory switch fabrics are configured to store and retrieve packets. The crossbar switch fabrics are configured to distribute and recollect packets to and from each of the shared-memory switch fabrics. The network switch having a hybrid switch architecture distributes packets from a crossbar switch fabric to the multiple shared-memory switch fabrics to share the distributed packets among the multiple shared-memory switch fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Goldstein, David Smith, Harish Devanagondi, Hugh Barrass, Kamran Torabi, Rajesh Patil
  • Patent number: 7593315
    Abstract: A 10GBASE-T transceiver that is capable of performing cable diagnostics. The transceiver is a physical layer device (PHY) that has four transceiver sections. Each section includes an input path and an output path. The input path generally includes a receiver, an analog-to-digital converter, a far end cross talk/near end cross talk canceller section, an alien noise canceller section, and an equalizer section. The output path includes a coding and preconditioning section, a digital-to-analog converter, and a transmitter. A substantial savings can be realized by utilizing the same elements that perform data communication to perform cable diagnostics. The diagnostics might occur before a link is formed or after a link is formed and may be based on test signals only or on data signals or communications. A first PHY might perform diagnostics alone or in combination with a second PHY which is in communication with the first as a link partner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 7545055
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for transmitting over non-adjacent multiple conducting pairs and aggregating powers from the conducting pairs to power remote electronic devices at an end station include, at a line termination (LT), a plurality of power transmitting circuits configured to transmit power over the multiple conducting pairs, and a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of power transmitting circuits and configured to receive a current sense signal from a power receiving circuit at the remote electronic device, and further include, at a network termination (NT), one or more current limiters coupled to multiple conducting pairs and operable to limit the power from the conducting pairs based on power demand information of the end station, and a load controller coupled to the one or more current limiters and configured to selectively activate the one or more current limiters based on a determination by the microcontroller that the end station is allowed to receive a full power demand, the determination being
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 7415062
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a system for communicating data includes a data switch coupled to one or more CPE devices. The data switch may communicate with one or more CPE devices using a first predetermined PSD and using a second predetermined PSD. The operability of the switch is provided by software embodied in a computer-readable medium. In a more particular embodiment, the data switch may also communicate substantially simultaneously with two or more CPE devices using at least two different PSDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh Barrass, Brian A. Arnold, David A. Schwartz, Joseph A. Shiran
  • Publication number: 20080019389
    Abstract: A transmitter transmits a data frame as an uninterrupted stream of codeblocks of predefined size on a first 10 Gigabit/second data path between a MAC and PHY. It inserts a first idle block of predefined size within the data frame if there is insufficient data. A receiver receives a second idle block on a second data path, the second idle block including a request to slow down the transmission on the first data path. The receiver causes the transmitter to insert a third idle block in response to receiving the second idle block. The transmitter may further send a stream identifier including an identifier for a data stream and a bandwidth factor. The transmitter may send one codeblock chosen from data blocks for the data stream and idle blocks, and then send the bandwidth factor number of codeblocks chosen from data blocks for other data streams and idle blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Hugh Barrass
  • Publication number: 20070121518
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for detecting a loop-back in a physical layer on an Ethernet link. In the physical layer, a device sends a base page on the Ethernet link. The base page has at least one next page capability bit set. Subsequently, the device receives a received base page. Thereafter, for detecting the loop-back, the next page capability bit is set in the received base page is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saravan Arunachalam, Hugh Barrass
  • Patent number: 7161936
    Abstract: A solid-state crossbar switch for transmitting data traffic includes a first number of input ports. Each input port is operable to receive DSL data from a data switch. The crossbar switch also includes a second number of output ports. Each output port is capable of being coupled to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device. The crossbar switch includes a third number of 1×N solid-state analog switches. Each 1×N solid-state analog switch is operable to couple one of the input ports with N output ports. Each input port may be coupled to one of the analog switches. The second number of output ports may be greater than N. The crossbar switch may include a sweeper port coupled to each output port. The sweeper port is operable to monitor each output port to detect an active connection of a CPE device to one of the output ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh Barrass, David A. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7154845
    Abstract: A method for measuring crosstalk in a data service system includes transmitting a signal using a first device. The first device is coupled to a solid state crossbar switch. The method includes coupling the first device using the crossbar switch to a first data line coupled to the crossbar switch such that the signal communicates over the first data line. The first data line is capable of being coupled to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device. The method includes coupling a first number of second devices coupled to the crossbar switch to a second number of data lines coupled to the crossbar switch using the crossbar switch. Each second number of data lines is capable of being coupled to a CPE device. The method also includes monitoring the second number of data lines for near end crosstalk (NEXT) generated by the signal communicating over the first data line using the first number of second devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh Barrass, Scott M. Simon