Patents by Inventor Michael K. Bugenhagen

Michael K. Bugenhagen 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: 9800583
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for providing a secure domain name system (DNS) for machine to machine communications. In one embodiment, the method includes storing policy information for machine to machine communications in a global DNS registry database server. The method further includes communicating the policy information for machine to machine communications from the global DNS registry database server to a machine DNS registry server located in an Internet service provider (ISP) network, wherein a control signaling gateway located in the ISP network is configured to utilize the policy information for machine to machine communications to allow only registered controllers associated with a machine to communicate with the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Publication number: 20170295064
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for Internet service providers to enable enhanced user control over content delivery. In an aspect of certain embodiments, these tools can allow the customer to select, on a variety of different bases, whether content should be obtained from the Internet or from a lower-cost source, such as a metropolitan content delivery network (“CDN”) operated by the ISP or a private peering connection with a content source. Both of these options can, for example, avoid accessing content over the Internet and thus can reduce ISP delivery costs. In some embodiments, these cost reductions can be passed to the consumer in the way the ISP accounts for the content delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Publication number: 20170264570
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing virtual platform media access control (“MAC”) address—based layer 2 and layer 3 network switching. In some embodiments, a method might comprise receiving, at a network node in a network, a data packet having a header comprising a MAC destination address, and routing, with the network node, the data packet over open systems interconnection (“OSI”) model layer 3 or network layer of the network, based at least in part on the MAC destination address in the header of the data packet. The MAC destination address comprises a first portion comprising an organizationally unique identifier (“OUI”) and a second portion comprising an identifier for a destination network interface controller (“NIC”) and/or virtual NIC (“VNIC”), which might be associated either with the same service provider associated with the network node or the network or with a different service provider, content provider, and/or application provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Michael K. Bugenhagen, William R. Walker, Kevin M. McBride
  • Patent number: 9763122
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking a line rate utilization. An effective throughput is measured for a data stream during a time period. A number of frames in the data stream is counted during the time period. A line rate utilization is determined for the data stream utilizing the number of frames and a size of the frames in response to the time period ending. The line rate utilization is save for communication to one or more users. The line rate utilization is communicated to one or more users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9749399
    Abstract: A system and method for selecting a data delivery network. A determination is made of user information associated with a communication from a user. A determination is made of performance information for multiple data delivery networks. The data delivery network is selected for the communication from the multiple data delivery networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Morrill, Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9736230
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for Internet service providers to enable enhanced user control over content delivery. In an aspect of certain embodiments, these tools can allow the customer to select, on a variety of different bases, whether content should be obtained from the Internet or from a lower-cost source, such as a metropolitan content delivery network (“CDN”) operated by the ISP or a private peering connection with a content source. Both of these options can, for example, avoid accessing content over the Internet and thus can reduce ISP delivery costs. In some embodiments, these cost reductions can be passed to the consumer in the way the ISP accounts for the content delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9712445
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include system and method for routing communications over a communications network. In one embodiment, a determination is made as to whether to establish a communication along a communication path based on network performance information. The disclosed embodiments provide several alternatives for establishing the communication and improving communications along the communication path in response to a determination that at least one network node along the communication path is impaired or congested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Morrill, William L. Wiley, Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Publication number: 20170195190
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing model driven service state machine linkage functionality amongst different machines and/or networks. In some embodiments, a computing system of a first network associated with a first entity might establish a communication link with a node of a second network associated with a second entity. The computing system might determine whether there is a common network resource state schema between the two networks, and, if so, might identify available versions, then negotiate which version to use as common version. The computing system might retrieve network state information for the two networks, might generate a user interface that incorporates and presents the network state information for the two disparate networks consistent with the common version of the common schema, and might send the user interface to a user device of a user for display of the network state information of the two disparate networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9686033
    Abstract: A system and method for separating clock recovery for a pseudowire communication. An incoming signal is received for a pseudowire communication. The incoming signal is separated into a first signal and a second signal. Packets within the first signal are ordered in a first register. A clock signal is extracted from the second signal in a second register to generate a modified clock signal. A delay is incurred during generating of the modified clock signal. The first signal is communicated utilizing the modified clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9660917
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling communications networks. Network performance information is gathered from a first communications network using performance information packet data packets. A network operator of the first communications network is controlled from a secondary communications network using the performance information packet data packets. Changes to the network operator are implemented based on instructions included in the performance information packet data packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: James L. McNaughton, John M. Heinz, Michael K. Bugenhagen, William L. Wiley
  • Patent number: 9660761
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the connection of a first end-user device to a network includes determining the amount of bandwidth present, tracking the amount of bandwidth in use by different classes of traffic, and tracking performance of the connection to detect when a threshold crossing has been reached. The method also includes transmitting a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached. The method further includes changing the communications session between the first end-user device and the network in accordance with the received communication action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Publication number: 20170123839
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing a virtualization congestion control framework. In one aspect, a method might include a hypervisor assigning application resources of a virtual machine (“VM”), which operates on a host computing system, with maximum allowable settings to each software application to be executed on the VM. The hypervisor or an orchestrator might determine a running mode of the host computing system, and might execute the software application(s) using running mode attributes of the determined running mode. The hypervisor or the orchestrator might monitor application resource utilization, and, based on a determination that application resource utilization has changed, might modify allocation of application resources to each of the software application(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Publication number: 20170104757
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for providing a secure domain name system (DNS) for machine to machine communications. In one embodiment, the method includes storing policy information for machine to machine communications in a global DNS registry database server. The method further includes communicating the policy information for machine to machine communications from the global DNS registry database server to a machine DNS registry server located in an Internet service provider (ISP) network, wherein a control signaling gateway located in the ISP network is configured to utilize the policy information for machine to machine communications to allow only registered controllers associated with a machine to communicate with the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9621361
    Abstract: A pin-hole firewall network communications device that includes a first port configured to communicate data packets over a packet network and a first counter module in communication with the first port. A pin-hole firewall module may be in communication with the first counter module. A call control module may be in communication with the first counter module and the pin-hole firewall function. The call control module is configured to communicate with the pin-hole firewall module to alter the communication of data packets through a firewall pin-hole. A second counter module may be in communication with the pin-hole firewall function and the call control module. A second port may in communication with the second counter module and the packet network and be configured to communicate data packets over a second node segment of the packet network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Bugenhagen, William L. Wiley
  • Publication number: 20170097842
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing communications between two or more virtual machines (“VMs”) and client devices coupled to one or more ports. In some embodiments, an orchestration agent running on a host computing system might configure, using a VM-to-Port driver, a physical port of the host device to establish two or more virtual ports associated with the physical port, and might map, using the VM-to-Port driver, each of two or more VMs running on the host computing system with corresponding each of the two or more virtual ports. When a client device is communicatively coupled to the physical port, the orchestration agent might map, using the VM-to-Port driver, each of the two or more VMs with one or more functions of the client device via corresponding each of the two or more virtual ports associated with the physical port to which the client device is communicatively coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9602265
    Abstract: A system and method for handling communications requests. Network performance information of a communications network is gathered using PIP data packets to determine a status of a number of nodes of the communications network. Available bandwidth through connections of the communications network are determined based on the PIP data packets. The available bandwidth for a number of customers is allocated for new connections and utilized bandwidth through the connections as the utilized bandwidth changes across the communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: James L. McNaughton, John M. Heinz, Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9582305
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing a virtualization congestion control framework. In one aspect, a method might include a hypervisor assigning application resources of a virtual machine (“VM”), which operates on a host computing system, with maximum allowable settings to each software application to be executed on the VM. The hypervisor or an orchestrator might determine a running mode of the host computing system, and might execute the software application(s) using running mode attributes of the determined running mode. The hypervisor or the orchestrator might monitor application resource utilization, and, based on a determination that application resource utilization has changed, might modify allocation of application resources to each of the software application(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9571363
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for testing performance of network connections. In some cases, a method for testing performance of a network connection might comprise establishing a plurality of test points within one or more segments in the network connection. With a computer, performance of a selected segment of the network connection at one or more first test points may be tested. The selected segment might have a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The performance of one or more sub-segments of the selected segment at one or more second test points may also be tested with the computer. The computer may also determine an isolated performance of a particular one of the sub-segments based on the testing. In some instances, the method might further comprise determining, with the computer, that performance of the one or more sub-segments has affected performance of the network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 9560051
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for providing a secure domain name system (DNS) for machine to machine communications. In one embodiment, the method includes storing policy information for machine to machine communications in a global DNS registry database server. The method further includes communicating the policy information for machine to machine communications from the global DNS registry database server to a machine DNS registry server located in an Internet service provider (ISP) network, wherein a control signaling gateway located in the ISP network is configured to utilize the policy information for machine to machine communications to allow only registered controllers associated with a machine to communicate with the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Publication number: 20170026157
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing customer-based Internet of Things (“IoT”) functionality. Various methods, systems, and apparatuses might provide connectivity between a network interface device (“NID”) and each of one or more first user devices of a plurality of user devices associated with the customer premises and/or a user who is associated with the customer premises. At least one virtual network function (“VNF”) might be sent to each of the one or more first user devices. Each of the one or more first user devices might be mapped with each of one or more second user devices of the plurality of user devices associated with at least one of the customer premises or the user who is associated with the customer premises, and with each resource node of a plurality of resource nodes in communication with the NID, based at least in part on user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Michael K. Bugenhagen, Charles I. Cook