Patents by Inventor Michael Andra BALLARD

Michael Andra BALLARD 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: 20240106711
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a TOR switch is mounted in a rack. The TOR switch is connected to a network fabric of a data center. A lock is used to control physical access to the rack. A request to physically access the rack is received from a computing device (e.g., a badge implementing a security token, or a mobile device). The request includes authentication credentials. The computing device is then authenticated. In response to authenticating the computing device, the lock is configured to provide physical access to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Patent number: 11838182
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a TOR switch is mounted in a rack. The TOR switch is connected to a network fabric of a data center. A lock is used to control physical access to the rack. A request to physically access the rack is received from a computing device (e.g., a badge implementing a security token, or a mobile device). The request includes authentication credentials. The computing device is then authenticated. In response to authenticating the computing device, the lock is configured to provide physical access to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Cyxtera Data Centers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Publication number: 20230033884
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a TOR switch is mounted in a rack. The TOR switch is connected to a network fabric of a data center. A lock is used to control physical access to the rack. A request to physically access the rack is received from a computing device (e.g., a badge implementing a security token, or a mobile device). The request includes authentication credentials. The computing device is then authenticated. In response to authenticating the computing device, the lock is configured to provide physical access to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Publication number: 20220417182
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a client device of a user is used to select various network service options. The service options correspond to services that can be provided to computing equipment of the user that is mounted in various racks of the data center. In response to receiving the selection of one or more service options, the network fabric of the data center is configured to connect the computing equipment to the selected services. In one approach, the network fabric is configured by creating and/or configuring one or more virtual networks to provide the connection to the services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Patent number: 11496365
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a TOR switch is mounted in a rack. The TOR switch is connected to a network fabric of a data center. A lock is used to control physical access to the rack. A request to physically access the rack is received from a computing device (e.g., a badge implementing a security token, or a mobile device). The request includes authentication credentials. The computing device is then authenticated. In response to authenticating the computing device, the lock is configured to provide physical access to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cyxtera Data Centers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Publication number: 20220321503
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a respective rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the respective rack. A request is received, from a client device via a portal of the data center, to provide IP connectivity to one or more computing devices mounted in a rack. IP addresses are assigned that correspond to the IP connectivity. A virtual network is created in a network fabric of the data center. The created virtual network is associated with the assigned IP addresses. One or more of the TOR switches are configured to connect one or more ports of each respective TOR switch to the created virtual network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Patent number: 11431654
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a client device of a user is used to select various network service options. The service options correspond to services that can be provided to computing equipment of the user that is mounted in various racks of the data center. In response to receiving the selection of one or more service options, the network fabric of the data center is configured to connect the computing equipment to the selected services. In one approach, the network fabric is configured by creating and/or configuring one or more virtual networks to provide the connection to the services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cyxtera Data Centers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Patent number: 11374880
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a respective rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the respective rack. A request is received, from a client device via a portal of the data center, to provide IP connectivity to one or more computing devices mounted in a rack. IP addresses are assigned that correspond to the IP connectivity. A virtual network is created in a network fabric of the data center. The created virtual network is associated with the assigned IP addresses. One or more of the TOR switches are configured to connect one or more ports of each respective TOR switch to the created virtual network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Cyxtera Data Centers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Publication number: 20200396181
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a client device of a user is used to select various network service options. The service options correspond to services that can be provided to computing equipment of the user that is mounted in various racks of the data center. In response to receiving the selection of one or more service options, the network fabric of the data center is configured to connect the computing equipment to the selected services. In one approach, the network fabric is configured by creating and/or configuring one or more virtual networks to provide the connection to the services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Anthony LOCHHEAD, Manikandan SUBRAMANIAN, David HESS, Michael Andra BALLARD, Adam Scott WAYNE