Patents by Inventor Joseph C. Elliott

Joseph C. Elliott 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: 6975623
    Abstract: A data communication architecture including a plurality of devices having input/output (I/O) ports supporting communication at a first rate and a data processor having a number of I/O ports where each I/O port supports data communication at a second data rate. The second data rate is at least double the first data rate. A communication link coupled to one of the data processor I/O ports supports the second data rate. A bridge device is coupled to the communication link and to the I/O ports of the plurality of devices. The bridge device translates the communication link at the second data rate to a plurality of communication links at the first data rate, where the plurality of communication links at the first data rate are substantially independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: McDATA Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Nelson, Gary R. Flauaus, Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott, Catherine C. Huang, John R. Flanagan, Louis W. Ricci
  • Patent number: 6829659
    Abstract: The present invention provides fiber channel networks the ability to logically disconnect without closing an exchange pair wherein the control unit signals the channel that the channel can elect to keep the exchange open by sending the channel a status command. A preferred status command to permit the channel to keep the exchange open includes an End Connection=‘0’ with Channel End=‘1’ and device end=‘0’.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Joseph C. Elliott, John R. Flanagan, Giles R. Frazier, Catherine C. Huang
  • Publication number: 20040174867
    Abstract: A data communication architecture including a plurality of devices having input/output (I/O) ports supporting communication at a first rate and a data processor having a number of I/O ports where each I/O port supports data communication at a second data rate. The second data rate is at least double the first data rate. A communication link coupled to one of the data processor I/O ports supports the second data rate. A bridge device is coupled to the communication link and to the I/O ports of the plurality of devices. The bridge device translates the communication link at the second data rate to a plurality of communication links at the first data rate, where the plurality of communication links at the first data rate are substantially independent of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Nelson, Gary R. Flauaus, Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott, Catherine C. Huang, John R. Flanagan, Louis W. Ricci
  • Patent number: 6728803
    Abstract: A data communication architecture including a plurality of devices having input/output (I/O) ports supporting communication at a first rate and a data processor having a number of I/O ports where each I/O port supports data communication at a second data rate. The second data rate is at least double the first data rate. A communication link coupled to one of the data processor I/O ports supports the second data rate. A bridge device is coupled to the communication link and to the I/O ports of the plurality of devices. The bridge device translates the communication link at the second data rate to a plurality of communication links at the first data rate, where the plurality of communication links at the first data rate are substantially independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: McData Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Nelson, Gary R. Flauaus, Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott, Catherine C. Huang, John R. Flanagan, Louis W. Ricci
  • Patent number: 6473782
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of transferring information in a network computing system environment. The network environment includes a main storage coupled to a channel subsystem with a plurality of channels which is in processing communication with a control unit capable of coupling to a plurality of input/output devices. At first the packets of data are sent concurrently to and from the main storage. Next execution of certain channel functions are transferred to the control unit so that certain commands can be combined with the data packets in one sequence. Finally only one start data command and only one end command notification needs to be sent before and after a plurality of data packets is transferred respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott, Robert J. Dugan, John R. Flanagan, Giles R. Frazier, Catherine C. Huang, Louis W. Ricci
  • Publication number: 20020152338
    Abstract: The present invention provides fiber channel networks the ability to detect lost information units transmitted be nodes. Each information unit includes a new count field that identifies the unit as a sequential event. When the information unit is received, the count field is compared with the count field saved from the previous unit and an error is asserted if the count is not the expected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph C. Elliott, John R. Flanagan, Giles R. Frazier, Catherine C. Huang, Louis W. Ricci
  • Publication number: 20020091883
    Abstract: The present invention provides fiber channel networks the ability to logically disconnect without closing an exchange pair wherein the control unit signals the channel that the channel can elect to keep the exchange open by sending the channel a status command. A preferred status command to permit the channel to keep the exchange open includes an End Connection=‘0’ with Channel End=‘1’ and device end=‘0’.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Joseph C. Elliott, John R. Flanagan, Giles R. Frazier, Catherine C. Huang
  • Patent number: 6347334
    Abstract: A method for implementing a link level service in a computer network having a first port device and a second port device. Node identification data is stored in the second port device. A physical-layer communications coupling is provided between the first port device and the second port device which may be a point-to-point, loop, or switched circuit connection. The first port device sends a request node identification (RNID) message addressed to the second port device. The second port device creates an accept message and copies stored node identification data into the accept message. The second port device sends the accept message to the first port device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: McData Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Fredericks, Michael E. O'Donnell, Joseph C. Elliott
  • Patent number: 6338083
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of transferring information in a network computing system environment. The network environment includes a main storage coupled to a channel subsystem with a plurality of channels in processing communication with a control unit capable of coupling to a plurality of input/output devices. First packets of data are concurrently sent to and from the main storage. The operation of certain channel functions are also transferred to the control unit so that each command does not require a command response or an end notification response. Finally by certain commands are combined with the associated data of one or more of the data packets. In one embodiment of the present invention, an optical fabric is also in processing communication with said channels and control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott, Robert J. Dugan, John R. Flanagan, Giles R. Frazier, Catherine C. Huang, Louis W. Ricci
  • Patent number: 6330585
    Abstract: This invention relates to concept of transferring information in a program storage device and a computer program device readable by a digital processing apparatus and a program means on the program storage device and including instructions executable by the digital processing apparatus for performing method steps for transferring of information in a network computing system. The method steps include: sending packets of data consecutively to and from said main storage; transferring execution of certain channel functions to said control unit so that certain commands can be combined with said data packets in one sequence; and sending only one start data command and only one end command notification before and after a plurality of data packets is transferred respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott
  • Patent number: 6298398
    Abstract: The present invention provides checking on information units sent and received as packets over fiber channel networks by providing check bits on the header information and separate check bits on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Elliott, Daniel F. Casper, Louis W. Ricci, Brent C. Beardsley, Catherine C. Huang
  • Patent number: 6240446
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of transferring information in a network computing system environment. At first multiple packets of data are concurrently received data from an information transfer interface mechanism capable of coupling to a plurality of input-output devices. At the same time data is stored concurrently including multiple packets of data in a main storage element in processing communication to the interface mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott
  • Patent number: 6230218
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus for transferring information in a network computing system environment. The apparatus comprises of a main storage and an information transfer interface mechanism in processing communication with the main storage. The interface mechanism is capable of coupling to a plurality of input/output devices. The apparatus also comprises of means for transferring a packet of data between the interface mechanism and the main storage and means for concurrently transferring and processing a plurality of other packets of data between the interface mechanism and said main storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott
  • Patent number: 6185631
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a computer program product for use with a computer system having a main storage device in processing communication with an information transfer interface mechanism capable of coupling to a plurality of input/output devices. The computer program device comprises of a data storage element included in the main storage device having a computer usable medium with computer readable program means for receiving and retrieving data and computer readable code means for concurrently receiving multiple packets of data from said interface mechanism. It also includes computer readable code means for concurrently storing multiple packets of data concurrently in said data storage element as well as computer readable code means for storage and retrieval of multiple packets of data concurrently between said interface mechanism and said data storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Casper, Joseph C. Elliott
  • Patent number: 5450073
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the powering-on and powering-off of control units in a data processing system having a plurality of channels, a plurality of control units, and a communications network of links for linking the channels to the control units. Each control unit includes a power-control table for recording power-control allegiance of the control unit to the channels. Where a control unit receives a power-on command from a channel, it records the identity of the channel in its power-control table. When a channel orders a control unit to power-off, the control unit checks to see if it owes power-control allegiance to the ordering channel. If it does, the control unit deletes the identity from its power-control table. The control unit will not power-off unless its power-control table is empty, indicating that it does not owe allegiance to any other channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Brown, Joseph C. Elliott, Bernhard Laubli, Kenneth R. Lynch, William F. Micka
  • Patent number: 5423006
    Abstract: A computer I/O system which includes a dynamic switch having a plurality of ports and a plurality of link-level facilities, with each link-level facility being attached to an individual one of the ports. Whenever the state of a port or its attached link-level facility is changed in such a way that the attached link-level facility's ability to communicate with another link-level facility might be affected, this fact is recognized by a dynamic switch control unit which causes a state change notification (SCN) frame to be transmitted to all other link-level facilities which might be affected. The link-level facilities receiving such a state change notification then determine if any of the associations or potential associations with the link-level facility which caused the state change notification are affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Brown, Joseph C. Elliott, Karl H. Hoppe, Kenneth R. Lynch, Martin W. Sachs
  • Patent number: 5420988
    Abstract: A mechanism for establishing a logical relationship between a channel and a control unit, called a logical channel path, in a computer input/output system wherein a dynamic switch is provided between the channel and the control unit. The disclosed logical path mechanism provides for the sharing of the same physical path by one or more channels to one or more control units. The initialization procedure disclosed identifies each sharing channel to each control unit configured to that channel for identifying the physical path to that channel in an input/output system wherein a switch between the channels and the control units provides a multipoint topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph C. Elliott
  • Patent number: 5414851
    Abstract: Provides a method for increasing the connectivity of I/O resources to a multiplicity of operating systems (OSs) running in different resource partitions of a computer electronic complex (CEC) to obtain sharing of the I/O resources among the OSs of the CEC, including channels, subchannels (devices), and control units (CUs). The invention provides image identifiers (IIDs) for assigning resources to the different OSs. Each shared I/O resource has a sharing set of control blocks (CBs) in which a respective CB is assigned to (and located by) a respective IID of one of the OSs. Each of the CBs in a sharing set provides a different image of the same I/O resource. The different CB images are independently set to different states by I/O operations for the different OSs, so that the OSs can independently share the same I/O resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank W. Brice, Jr., Joseph C. Elliott, Kenneth J. Fredericks, Robert E. Galbraith, Marten J. Halma, Roger E. Hough, Suzanne M. John, Paul A. Malinowski, Allan S. Meritt, Kenneth J. Oakes, John C. Rathjen, Jr., Martin W. Sachs, David E. Stucki, Leslie W. Wyman
  • Patent number: 5392425
    Abstract: Retrying a command from a CCW in a data processing I/O system having a channel connected to a control unit in which the channel detects an error condition and requests the control unit to retry the current command of an I/O operation. The control unit then determines if the requested retry can be accomplished, and, if it can, sends a response back to the channel requesting the channel to initiate a retry. After receiving the response, the channel checks to determine if conditions are still present which allow a retry, and if they are, executes the current command to perform the retry. If the control unit determines that a retry cannot be accomplished, the control unit has the option to perform a unit check procedure. If the control unit determines that neither a retry nor a unit check can be accomplished, the control unit has the option to perform a selective reset function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Elliott, Kenneth R. Lynch, Martin W. Sachs, John H. Sorg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5377337
    Abstract: Provides a software-to-software interface and a software-to-hardware interface between software users and a hardware ADM facility (ADMF) in a data processing system. Such software user presents only virtual addresses to the software-to-software interface in a MSB list. The user list defines virtual address spaces, including a "hiperspace", in a manner that represents physical backing media as different random-access electronic storages, such main storage (MS) and expanded storage (ES). The real data transfers are within or between the backing storages. The user list is transformed into an ADM operation block (AOB), which is assigned an ADM UCB in a UCB queue which is associated with an ADM subchannel. The software-to-hardware interface generates an ORB, containing the AOB address, as an operand of a SSCB instruction which is executed to queue the associated subchannel onto one of plural co-processor queues in the ADMF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Antognini, Glen A. Brent, Thomas E. Cook, Thomas J. Dewkett, Joseph C. Elliott, Francis E. Johnson, Casper A. Scalzi, Kenneth R. Veraska, Joseph A. Williams, Harry M. Yudenfriend