Patents by Inventor John Harper

John Harper 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).

  • Publication number: 20070038767
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for constructing a backup route from a source node around an adjacent component. The source node derives a first set of nodes reachable from it without traversing the adjacent component and a second set of nodes from which a neighbor node of adjacent components is reachable without traversing the adjacent component. The source node then constructs a backup route via an intermediate node in the intersection of the first and second sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Miles, Ian Charles Shand, Stewart Bryant, Stefano Previdi, John Harper, Clarence Filsfils
  • Publication number: 20060209719
    Abstract: A system and method routes data traffic over a unidirectional link of a computer network configured to implement a routing protocol, such as the ISIS routing protocol. To that end, the invention extends the ISIS routing protocol to allow dynamic discovery of neighboring routers (i.e., neighbors) that are connected via the unidirectional link and subsequent establishment of an adjacency between the neighbors over the link. Adjacency establishment is illustratively effected through the use of novel type/length/value (TLV) encoded formats appended to ISIS Hello packets to convey information between the neighbors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Stefano Previdi, David Ward, Jonathan Barth, John Harper, Ian Shand
  • Publication number: 20060125839
    Abstract: Disclosed is as system for reducing memory and computational requirements of graphics operations. The system provides techniques for combining otherwise individual operations to apply filters to images. The combined filter emerging from the combination spares the processor time and the creation of an entire intermediary image. The system further provides for application of these techniques in many contexts including where the operations are fragment programs in for a programmable GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventor: John Harper
  • Publication number: 20060125838
    Abstract: Disclosed is as system for reducing memory and computational requirements of graphics operations. The system provides techniques for combining otherwise individual operations to apply filters to images. The combined filter emerging from the combination spares the processor time and the creation of an entire intermediary image. The system further provides for application of these techniques in many contexts including where the operations are fragment programs in for a programmable GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventor: John Harper
  • Patent number: 7058016
    Abstract: A method for performing route calculations in a link state routing protocol at a node within a computer network. The method includes evaluating existing routes of the node when new route information is received and recalculating routes for the node only when the new route information improves at least one of the existing routes or at least one of the existing routes is made worse or lost. A system for performing route calculations is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Harper
  • Patent number: 7016313
    Abstract: According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating network topology information. A first link state packet associated with a first node is identified. A second link state packet associated with a second node is identified. Network topology information associated with the first node is generated using information from the first link state packet. Verification of two-way connectivity between the first node and the second node is deferred until analysis of the second link state packet is initiated for generating network topology information associated with the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Harper
  • Publication number: 20050285867
    Abstract: Techniques to generate partial display updates in a buffered window system in which arbitrary visual effects are permitted to any one or more windows (e.g., application-specific window buffers) are described. Once a display output region is identified for updating, the buffered window system is interrogated to determine which regions within each window, if any, may effect the identified output region. Such determination considers the consequences any filters associated with a window impose on the region needed to make the output update.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Brunner, John Harper
  • Publication number: 20050289519
    Abstract: A specified collection of computationally expensive functions are identified and polynomial approximations thereto are determined. In the context of a graphical processing application in general, and image filters in particular, certain characteristics of the specified collection of computationally expensive functions (e.g., range, accuracy and allowable error) permit highly efficient (computationally low cost) approximations to be determined a priori. The substitute polynomial approximations may be compiled into filter programs that can execute on a computer system's central processing or graphical processing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Sazegari, Ralph Brunner, John Harper
  • Publication number: 20050286794
    Abstract: A Gaussian blur approximation is applied to an image by repeated down-sampling operations followed by an up-sample operation. By using a truncated Gaussian filter as the down-sample filter, the frequency spectrum removed during down-sampling operations closely approximates the frequency spectrum lost during a true Gaussian blur operation. While any “good” up-sample filter may be used, up-sampling via linear interpolation may be especially beneficial in systems having a dedicated graphics processing unit. One benefit of the described technique is that it is computationally less costly to implement than a Gaussian blur. Another benefit is that this computational benefit increases as the size of the blur increases—becoming significant even for small blurs. Yet another benefit of the invention is that a judicious selection of pixel address to convolve with the filter leads to substantially reduced number of texture lookups required to effect a convolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Brunner, Kok Chen, John Harper
  • Publication number: 20050285866
    Abstract: Techniques to effect arbitrary visual effects using fragment programs executing on a programmable graphics processing unit are described. In a first technique, visual effects are applied to a buffered window system's assembly buffer prior to compositing a target window. In a second technique, visual effects are applied to a target window as it is being composited into the system's assembly buffer. In a third technique, visual effects are applied to a system's assembly buffer after compositing a target window. Finally, in a fourth technique, visual effects are applied to the system's assembly buffer as it is transmitted to the system's frame-buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Brunner, John Harper
  • Publication number: 20050231502
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for producing images including an application program interface. The system includes an API and techniques for creating images by defining relationships between filters and images, such relationships programmatically assembled in an object by a cooperative session between a requesting application and a graphics services resource. The system also includes aspects regarding optimization of the programmatically assembled object and techniques for rendering in multi-processor environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: John Harper, Ralph Brunner, Peter Graffagnino, Mark Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20050231521
    Abstract: Disclosed is as system for reducing memory and computational requirements of graphics operations. The system provides techniques for combining otherwise individual operations to apply filters to images. The combined filter emerging from the combination spares the processor time and the creation of an entire intermediary image. The system further provides for application of these techniques in many contexts including where the operations are fragment programs in for a programmable GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: John Harper
  • Publication number: 20050235287
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for producing images including emulation techniques. The system provides for emulation of graphics processing resources such that a central processing unit may provide graphics support. Disclosed embodiments include emulation of selected graphics calls as well as emulation of a programmable graphics processor for compatibility with systems having no compatible GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: John Harper
  • Publication number: 20050231514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for producing images including techniques for reducing the memory and processing power required for such operations. The system provides techniques for programmatically representing a graphics problem. The system further provides techniques for reducing and optimizing graphics problems for rendering with consideration of the system resources, such as the availability of a compatible GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: John Harper, Ralph Brunner, Peter Graffagnino, Mark Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20050213498
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently enabling routing states to be recovered after a failover or during a software upgrade in a system which supports graceful restart and stateful switchover are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for restarting a network device which has a plurality of routers and is in communication with a first peer being arranged to support graceful restart and a second peer includes performing a graceful restart with respect to the first peer. A peer transparent failover is performed with respect to the second peer. The graceful restart and the peer transparent failover are performed in response to a failure associated with the network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar Appanna, Ruchi Kapoor, Barry Friedman, Himanshu Shah, Gargi Nalawade, Shyam Suri, John Harper
  • Publication number: 20040067871
    Abstract: The invention relates to the localisation of genetic factors associated with dermal inflammation and immunity to particular regions of the human genome. In particular, there are described methods of determining the genetic susceptibility of an individual to disease conditions involving dermal inflammation and immunity, especially but not exclusively atopic dermatitis, methods for the identification of polymorphic alleles which confer susceptibility to conditions involving dermal inflammation and immunity and methods for the identification of a human genes which contribute to or are responsible for the manifestation of disease conditions involving dermal inflammation and immunity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: William Osmond Charles Cookson, John Harper, Miriam Fleur Moffatt, Goncalo Rocha Abecasis
  • Patent number: 6445710
    Abstract: A technique for logically connecting local communications networks (CNs) that may be separated by wide area networks containing routers and other network components. A logical link is formed between two devices called tunnelers, such that, once a tunnel has been established between two CNs, other devices on the CNs can communicate. The tunneling mechanism of the invention requires that each CN have only one active tunneler at any particular time, referred to as the designated tunneler, and each of the tunnelers is configured to have knowledge of the identities of the other tunnelers. A tunnel is established after a successful exchange of messages between two tunnelers, and then traffic may be forwarded through the tunnel in a transparent manner. The tunneling mechanism permits messages to be forwarded between CNs separated by a wide area network containing routers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Enterasys Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Radia Joy Perlman, William R. Hawe, John Harper
  • Patent number: 6134642
    Abstract: A digital system has a main memory 10 with a main memory access (DMA) unit 11 through which data channels 12, 13 are coupled to the memory. A processor system (processor 14, RAM data memory 15, instruction memory 16) is also coupled to the memory through a read/write buffer 20, each read stalling the processor for typically 5 cycles. For block reads, a block memory read unit 25 is connected in parallel with the path between the read/write buffer 20 and the DMA unit 11. This block read unit can be set from the processor 14 with a block start address and a block length passed as writes through the read/write buffer 20. The block is read (first phase) word by word from the main memory via the DMA unit into a memory 28 in the block read unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Digital Esquipment Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony John Holmes, Mark Elliott, Ian Nicholas Cottam, John Harper, Martin Stratford
  • Patent number: 5870386
    Abstract: A technique for logically connecting local area networks (LANs) that may be separated by wide area networks containing routers and other network components. A logical link is formed between two bridge-like devices called tunnelers, such that, once a tunnel has been established between two LANs, other devices on the LANs can communicate as if the tunnel were a bridge. The tunneling mechanism of the invention requires that each LAN or extended LAN have only one active tunneler at any particular time, referred to as the designated tunneler, and each of the tunnelers is configured to have knowledge of the identities of the other tunnelers. A tunnel is established after a successful exchange of messages between two tunnelers, and then traffic may be forwarded through the tunnel in a transparent manner. The tunneling mechanism permits messages to be forwarded between LANs separated by a wide area network containing routers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Radia Joy Perlman, William R. Hawe, John A. Harper
  • Patent number: 5730845
    Abstract: A method of producing an organo-nitrogen compound by the direct conversion of elemental nitrogen, in which a substrate vapor of a simple organic compound, e.g. propanol is mixed with a carrier gas at least partly comprising nitrogen and the vapor mixture is passed over a catalyst, e.g. of a transition metal, and irradiated with microwave radiation to produce a simple organo-nitrogen compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignees: Gecalsthom Limited, Isambard Services Limited
    Inventors: David John Harper, Ronald Michael Henson, David John Wheeler