Patents by Inventor Lance G. Dice

Lance G. Dice 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: 12621119
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring time synchronization in a network. The system includes a time signal source to provide a common time signal to multiple configurable communication devices and a network controller in a control plane, in communication with the multiple configurable communication devices. The network controller is configured to receive time signal source information and to receive device configuration information for a first configurable communication device. The network controller is also configured to determine settings for time signal distribution and to transmit the settings to the multiple configurable communication devices to cause the first configurable communication device to transmit the time signal from the time signal source in a data plane for consumption by the multiple configurable communication devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett Smith, Lance G. Dice, Jason A. Dearien, Robert Meine, Daniel B. Rippon
  • Publication number: 20240146497
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring time synchronization in a network. The system includes a time signal source to provide a common time signal to multiple configurable communication devices and a network controller in a control plane, in communication with the multiple configurable communication devices. The network controller is configured to receive time signal source information and to receive device configuration information for a first configurable communication device. The network controller is also configured to determine settings for time signal distribution and to transmit the settings to the multiple configurable communication devices to cause the first configurable communication device to transmit the time signal from the time signal source in a data plane for consumption by the multiple configurable communication devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett Smith, Lance G. Dice, Jason A. Dearien, Robert Meine, Daniel B. Rippon
  • Publication number: 20240146649
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring communication of a communication network in accordance with a configuration file from the hosts that are on the network. The system may include a network controller that receives a configuration file and determines a configuration of the data plane in accordance with information in the configuration file. The network controller may generate communication flows and send instructions to programmable network devices to implement communication among data consuming/producing devices in accordance with the configuration file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance G. Dice, Rhett Smith, Jason A. Dearien, Robert Meine, Daniel B. Rippon
  • Patent number: 11418432
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for automating the configuration of a software defined network (“SDN”). In one embodiment, a system may include a first communication host and a second communication host configured to transmit information to the first communication host. A network may provide communication between the first communication host and the second communication host using a plurality of network devices. An SDN controller in communication with the network may include an approved service subsystem to match the communication with an approved service. The SDN controller may also include an analysis subsystem configured to identify a communication flow corresponding to information transmitted by the second communication host to the first communication host. A traffic routing subsystem of the SDN controller may create the communication flow identified by the analysis subsystem between the second communication host and the first communication host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Belussi, Rhett Smith, Kylan T. Robinson, Lance G. Dice, Glenn C. Bethmann