Patents by Inventor Michael Watford

Michael Watford 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: 20240069003
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for characterizing and communicating carbon dioxide presence in a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore including collecting fluid from the wellbore at a wellhead, analyzing the fluid for the presence, concentration, or both of the carbon dioxide using an instrument connected to a line collecting the fluid from the wellhead, and communicating the instrument analysis information within 24 hours of analyzing the fluid. Some embodiments may control the introduction of carbon dioxide into the formation. An apparatus and methods for monitoring the presence of carbon dioxide in a fluid produced from a wellbore including continuously collecting and conditioning a sample line from a wellbore, analyzing the sample line with an instrument at the wellsite, recording information from the analyzing continuously over time, and controlling the collecting, conditioning, analyzing, and recording with a process control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Patina IP LLC
    Inventors: John Jeffrey Pechiney, Jason Michael Watford
  • Publication number: 20230296018
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for characterizing and communicating chemical tracer presence in a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore including collecting fluid from the wellbore at a wellhead, analyzing the fluid for the presence or concentration or both of the tracer using a gas chromatograph connected to a line collecting the fluid from the wellhead, and communicating the gas chromatograph analysis information within 24 hours of analyzing the fluid. In some embodiments, the tracing chemical is a perfluorocarbon. In some embodiments, the collecting fluid is continuous. Some embodiments condition a flow of fluid. Some embodiments control the collecting, analyzing, and communicating using a controller that may include an autonomous system that includes a multiplex valve that controls for multiple inputs. The multiple inputs may include time, wellhead identity, calibration, signals from the gas chromatograph or the controller, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jason Michael Watford, John Jeffrey Pechiney
  • Patent number: 10951508
    Abstract: Systems and methods of end-to-end data path integrity validation of a service with a data path at Layer 1 and Layer 2 implemented by a network element include, responsive to initiation of a test, messaging between network elements in the data path to coordinate defect and statistics collection at each of the network elements in the data path; receiving results for the defect and statistics collection from each of the network elements in the data path; and summarizing the received results to form a consolidated report for the test across all of the network elements in the data path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Ross Caird, Michael Watford
  • Patent number: 10567352
    Abstract: Systems and methods for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption implemented by a first network element communicatively coupled to a second network element include encrypting a Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) signal based on a first encryption key with encryption applied to a 64b/66b bit stream associated with the FlexE signal at one or more of a FlexE client layer and a FlexE shim layer; switching to a second encryption key at a predetermined point in the FlexE signal; and encrypting the FlexE signal with the second encryption key subsequent to the switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Gareau, Timothy L. Norman, Marc W. Leclair, Michael Watford
  • Patent number: 10396972
    Abstract: An optical system supporting timing synchronization, alignment and deskewing across optical modules includes a plurality of optical devices each providing an Optical Tributary Signal (OTSi) which are part of an Optical Tributary Signal Group (OTSiG); and a management communication mechanism between the plurality of optical devices, wherein each of the plurality of optical devices are timing synchronized using the management communication mechanism and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) messaging. Each of the plurality of optical devices can include delay circuitry configured to deskew an associated OTSi with respect to other OTSi signals in the OTSiG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Gareau, Daniel Claude Perras, Michael Watford
  • Publication number: 20190260570
    Abstract: An optical system supporting timing synchronization, alignment and deskewing across optical modules includes a plurality of optical devices each providing an Optical Tributary Signal (OTSi) which are part of an Optical Tributary Signal Group (OTSiG); and a management communication mechanism between the plurality of optical devices, wherein each of the plurality of optical devices are timing synchronized using the management communication mechanism and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) messaging. Each of the plurality of optical devices can include delay circuitry configured to deskew an associated OTSi with respect to other OTSi signals in the OTSiG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Sebastien Gareau, Daniel Claude Perras, Michael Watford
  • Publication number: 20190215261
    Abstract: Systems and methods of end-to-end data path integrity validation of a service with a data path at Layer 1 and Layer 2 implemented by a network element include, responsive to initiation of a test, messaging between network elements in the data path to coordinate defect and statistics collection at each of the network elements in the data path; receiving results for the defect and statistics collection from each of the network elements in the data path; and summarizing the received results to form a consolidated report for the test across all of the network elements in the data path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Ross CAIRD, Michael WATFORD
  • Publication number: 20190173856
    Abstract: Systems and methods for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption implemented by a first network element communicatively coupled to a second network element include encrypting a Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) signal based on a first encryption key with encryption applied to a 64b/66b bit stream associated with the FlexE signal at one or more of a FlexE client layer and a FlexE shim layer; switching to a second encryption key at a predetermined point in the FlexE signal; and encrypting the FlexE signal with the second encryption key subsequent to the switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Sebastien Gareau, Timothy L. Norman, Marc W. Leclair, Michael Watford
  • Patent number: 10193688
    Abstract: Systems and methods for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption implemented by a first network element communicatively coupled to a second network element include utilizing an encryption messaging channel to establish an authenticated session and exchanging one or more encryption keys with a second network element; encrypting a signal, based on the one or more encryption keys; and transmitting the encrypted signal to the second network element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Gareau, Timothy L. Norman, Marc W. Leclair, Michael Watford
  • Patent number: 9768870
    Abstract: A method includes automatically detecting an association between members based on their relationship to one another; sharing topology and cluster information between the members; and determining roles for each member, based on the topology and cluster information and rules, wherein the roles are used to automatically provision at least one resource on each member, without user intervention. A method of configuring network devices sharing a pool of available resources is also described, wherein the network devices have management connectivity between one another through a plurality of point-to-point connections. The method includes, after a point-to-point connection in the management connectivity is formed based on cabling of associated network devices, determining a resource index number for each of the associated network devices; and uniquely assigning the resources from the pool to each of the network devices based on their respective resource index number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Miedema, Michael Watford, Xiaoqing Hu, Ross Caird, Rodd Lamarche, Zenon Slodki
  • Publication number: 20170171163
    Abstract: Systems and methods for Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) encryption implemented by a first network element communicatively coupled to a second network element include utilizing an encryption messaging channel to establish an authenticated session and exchanging one or more encryption keys with a second network element; encrypting a signal, based on the one or more encryption keys; and transmitting the encrypted signal to the second network element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Sebastien Gareau, Timothy L. Norman, Marc W. Leclair, Michael Watford
  • Publication number: 20160248510
    Abstract: A method includes automatically detecting an association between members based on their relationship to one another; sharing topology and cluster information between the members; and determining roles for each member, based on the topology and cluster information and rules, wherein the roles are used to automatically provision at least one resource on each member, without user intervention. A method of configuring network devices sharing a pool of available resources is also described, wherein the network devices have management connectivity between one another through a plurality of point-to-point connections. The method includes, after a point-to-point connection in the management connectivity is formed based on cabling of associated network devices, determining a resource index number for each of the associated network devices; and uniquely assigning the resources from the pool to each of the network devices based on their respective resource index number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: CIENA CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. MIEDEMA, Michael WATFORD, Xiaoqing HU, Ross CAIRD, Rodd LAMARCHE, Zenon SLODKI
  • Patent number: 8879904
    Abstract: An optical network and method of protection switching between first and second transceivers where dispersion compensation is effected electrically in the transmitters. The method includes detecting, at the second transceiver, a signal failure of a signal transmitted from the first transceiver and, upon detecting the signal failure, signaling the first transceiver to change its compensation function. The signaling can be done by encoding overhead bits in a signal transmitted from the second to the first transceiver. Another method of protection switching includes both transceivers toggling alternate reception paths upon detecting a signal failure and changing their dispersion compensation function to that of their respective alternate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP
    Inventors: James Harley, Gerard Swinkels, Michael Watford
  • Patent number: 8787147
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides protection systems and methods for Ethernet ports. In particular, the present invention may provide a form of facility protection for any two facilities, located on any two cards. The facilities are provisioned as a protected pair and using automatic ITU-T Y.1731 control frames for control. In an exemplary embodiment, provisioning includes creation of an L2 protection service and associating it to a pair of facilities. One facility is identified as a working facility and the other as a protection facility. Under normal conditions (i.e., no facility fault), the working facility is in an active state and not conditioning while the protection facility is in a standby state and transmitting conditioning to subtending equipment. If a facility fault is detected at the working facility, then the working facility transmits condition Remote Fault (RF) and the protection facility removes it's transmit conditioning and becomes the active facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Ross Caird, Michael Watford, Onder Yazar, Marc Holness
  • Patent number: 8761602
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling the flow of video over Ethernet (VoE) traffic in a network are disclosed. The method can include originating the VoE traffic from an add node in the network. A first control signal can be received from a first drop node in the network containing a drop port configured to receive the VoE traffic. The add node can determined if the first drop node contains the drop port based on the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Ross Caird, Michael Watford, David Diep
  • Patent number: 8682179
    Abstract: A method of protection switching between first and second transceivers where dispersion compensation is effected electrically in the transmitters. The method includes detecting, at the second transceiver, a signal failure of a signal transmitted from the first transceiver and, upon detecting the signal failure, signalling the first transceiver to change its compensation function. The signalling can be done by encoding overhead bits in a signal transmitted from the second to the first transceiver. Another method of protection switching includes both transceivers toggling alternate reception paths upon detecting a signal failure and changing their dispersion compensation function to that of their respective alternate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP
    Inventors: James Harley, Gerard Swinkels, Michael Watford
  • Patent number: 8667374
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides video transmission systems and methods with video data flows transmitted over a Carrier Ethernet Network at Layer 2 with redundancy in order to provide hitless protection switching and uninterrupted video service delivery, such as during periods of asymmetric congestion or hard network failures. In an exemplary embodiment, the video transmission systems and methods provide the redundancy in a manner similar to 1+1 linear protection with hit-less protection switching. In another exemplary embodiment, the video transmission systems and methods provide encapsulated video signals over Ethernet using standardized Carrier Ethernet frames with additional sequencing information. Optionally, the video transmission systems and methods may also include packet-based forward error correction information for additional resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Watford, Ross Caird
  • Publication number: 20130132789
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides video transmission systems and methods with video data flows transmitted over a Carrier Ethernet Network at Layer 2 with redundancy in order to provide hitless protection switching and uninterrupted video service delivery, such as during periods of asymmetric congestion or hard network failures. In an exemplary embodiment, the video transmission systems and methods provide the redundancy in a manner similar to 1+1 linear protection with hit-less protection switching. In another exemplary embodiment, the video transmission systems and methods provide encapsulated video signals over Ethernet using standardized Carrier Ethernet frames with additional sequencing information. Optionally, the video transmission systems and methods may also include packet-based forward error correction information for additional resiliency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: CIENA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael WATFORD, Ross CAIRD
  • Publication number: 20130028601
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling the flow of video over Ethernet (VoE) traffic in a network are disclosed. The method can include originating the VoE traffic from an add node in the network. A first control signal can be received from a first drop node in the network containing a drop port configured to receive the VoE traffic. The add node can determined if the first drop node contains the drop port based on the first control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Ross Caird, Michael Watford, David Diep
  • Publication number: 20120092985
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides protection systems and methods for Ethernet ports. In particular, the present invention may provide a form of facility protection for any two facilities, located on any two cards. The facilities are provisioned as a protected pair and using automatic ITU-T Y.1731 control frames for control. In an exemplary embodiment, provisioning includes creation of an L2 protection service and associating it to a pair of facilities. One facility is identified as a working facility and the other as a protection facility. Under normal conditions (i.e., no facility fault), the working facility is in an active state and not conditioning while the protection facility is in a standby state and transmitting conditioning to subtending equipment. If a facility fault is detected at the working facility, then the working facility transmits condition Remote Fault (RF) and the protection facility removes it's transmit conditioning and becomes the active facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Ross Caird, Michael Watford, Onder Yazar, Marc Holness