Patents by Inventor Pierre Pfister

Pierre Pfister 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: 20200099623
    Abstract: Techniques for communicating packets in a computer network are provided. At a network device, a first stream of packets is obtained from a packet processing node. A second stream of packets is obtained from a packet generating node. A counter is maintained that counts a number of the packets received from the second stream. An internal clock signal of the network device is obtained. A control signal is generated for pacing the first stream of packets based on the counter and the internal clock signal. The first stream of packets is provided to a packet consuming node based on the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Mohammed Joseph Hawari, Andre Jean-Marie Surcouf, Pierre Pfister
  • Patent number: 10536561
    Abstract: A content delivery node receives data packets carrying content from an upstream source of content, and writes segments of the received content directly to a memory buffer of a memory using direct memory access (DMA) data transfers. The node derives, for each segment, respective segment-specific metadata based on contents of the segment, and stores the respective segment-specific metadata in the memory. The node receives from multiple downstream client devices respective requests for the same content. Each request includes client-specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, William Mark Townsley, Yoann Louis Simon Desmouceaux, Guillaume Michel Ruty
  • Publication number: 20190394131
    Abstract: Stateless and reliable load balancing using segment routing and an available side-channel may be provided. First, a non-SYN packet associated with a connection may be received. The non-SYN packet may have first data contained in an available side-channel. Next an associated bucket may be retrieved based on a hash of second data in the non-SYN packet. The associated bucket may identify a plurality of servers. Then a one of the plurality of servers may be selected based on the first data contained in the available side-channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, William Mark Townsley, Benoît Pit-Claudel, Aloÿs Christophe Augustin, Yoann Desmouceaux
  • Patent number: 10511534
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology provide state-less load-balancing using sequence numbers to identify traffic flows. In some implementations, a process of the technology can include steps for receiving, by a load-balancer, a first packet from a source device including a request to access the service provided by a server coupled to the load-balancer, determining a load for each of the servers, wherein each server is associated with a unique set of sequence numbers, and forwarding the request to a target server selected based on its corresponding load, and wherein the request is configured to cause the target server to issue a reply to the source device. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, Yoann Desmouceaux, William Mark Townsley
  • Publication number: 20190379605
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a traffic analysis service obtains traffic characteristics of network traffic associated with a device in a network. The traffic analysis service uses a machine learning model to infer resource usage by the device based on the obtained traffic characteristics of the network traffic associated with the device. The traffic analysis service controls traffic flows in the network based on the inferred resource usage by the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, W. Mark Townsley, Enzo Fenoglio, Hugo Latapie, Yoann Desmouceaux
  • Patent number: 10506469
    Abstract: A user plane selection mechanism is provided that leverages an in-band load balancing scheme, e.g., Segment Routing Load Balancing (SRLB). Information in the form of segment identifiers (complemented by metadata) is passed to the components. As a result, the effective user plane function selection can be done in-band at the transport level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Guillaume Gottardi, William Mark Townsley, Eric Philippe Hamel, Yoann Desmouceaux, Pierre Pfister
  • Publication number: 20190357081
    Abstract: A user plane selection mechanism is provided that leverages an in-band load balancing scheme, e.g., Segment Routing Load Balancing (SRLB). Information in the form of segment identifiers (complemented by metadata) is passed to the components. As a result, the effective user plane function selection can be done in-band at the transport level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Guillaume Gottardi, William Mark Townsley, Eric Philippe Hamel, Yoann Desmouceaux, Pierre Pfister
  • Publication number: 20190310871
    Abstract: Techniques for zero-loss workload mobility with segment routing for virtual machines are presented. The techniques include receiving, by a virtual router, an electronic message destined for a first virtual machine running on a first physical machine and checking a first virtual machine state for the first virtual machine. In response to determining that it is associated with a running state indicating the first physical machine, inserting a segment routing header including an indication of the source virtual machine, the first physical machine, and the first virtual machine. In response to determining that it is associated with a migration state, inserting, by the virtual router, a segment routing header indicating the source virtual machine, an END.S for the first physical machine, the first virtual machine; and an END.SBUF for a second physical machine. The message is then routed based at least in part on the inserted segment routing header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Yoann Desmouceaux, Pierre Pfister, William Mark Townsley
  • Publication number: 20190312811
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology provide state-less load-balancing using sequence numbers to identify traffic flows. In some implementations, a process of the technology can include steps for receiving, by a load-balancer, a first packet from a source device including a request to access the service provided by a server coupled to the load-balancer, determining a load for each of the servers, wherein each server is associated with a unique set of sequence numbers, and forwarding the request to a target server selected based on its corresponding load, and wherein the request is configured to cause the target server to issue a reply to the source device. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, Yoann Desmouceaux, William Mark Townsley
  • Patent number: 10425339
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a splitting device in a computer network transmits to a combining device first and second portions of a data stream via first and second tunnels, respectively, where packets of the data stream indicate a time of transmission of the packets from the splitting device, a first and second transmission rate of the packets on a respective one of the first and second tunnels, and sequencing information of the packets within the data stream. The splitting device receives from the combining device a first and second receive rate of the packets for each of the first and second tunnels, respectively. In response to the first receive rate being less than the first transmission rate, the splitting device reduces the first transmission rate and increases the second transmission rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal Thubert, Pierre Pfister
  • Publication number: 20190288949
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for load balancing using segment routing and application monitoring. A method can involve receiving a packet including a request from a source device to an application associated with a virtual address in a network, mapping the request to a set of candidate servers hosting the application associated with the virtual address, and encoding the set of candidate servers as a list of segments in a segment routing header associated with the packet. The method can further involve determining that a first candidate server from the set of candidate servers is a next segment in the list of segments, encoding the first candidate server in a destination address field on a header of the packet, and forwarding the packet to the first candidate server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, William Mark Townsley, Yoann Desmouceaux, Jerome Tollet, Andre Surcouf
  • Patent number: 10320683
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for load balancing using segment routing and application monitoring. A method can involve receiving a packet including a request from a source device to an application associated with a virtual address in a network, mapping the request to a set of candidate servers hosting the application associated with the virtual address, and encoding the set of candidate servers as a list of segments in a segment routing header associated with the packet. The method can further involve determining that a first candidate server from the set of candidate servers is a next segment in the list of segments, encoding the first candidate server in a destination address field on a header of the packet, and forwarding the packet to the first candidate server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, William Mark Townsley, Yoann Desmouceaux, Jerome Tollet, Andre Surcouf
  • Publication number: 20190149468
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that modifies a bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) algorithm. The method includes receiving a packet at a node, wherein the packet includes a BIER header identifying a bitstring, the bitstring including a first bit indicating a first destination and a second bit indicating a second destination and forwarding the packet through one or more networks toward the first destination and the second destination based on the bitstring and a predetermined bit selection order. The predetermined bit selection order causes a sequential delivery of the packet to the first destination and the second destination. After the packet arrives at the first destination, the method includes setting the first bit to zero in the bitstring and forwarding the packet through the one or more networks toward the second destination according to the updated bitstring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, Mark Townsley, Yoann Desmouceaux
  • Publication number: 20190116246
    Abstract: A content delivery node receives data packets carrying content from an upstream source of content, and writes segments of the received content directly to a memory buffer of a memory using direct memory access (DMA) data transfers. The node derives, for each segment, respective segment-specific metadata based on contents of the segment, and stores the respective segment-specific metadata in the memory. The node receives from multiple downstream client devices respective requests for the same content. Each request includes client-specific information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, William Mark Townsley, Yoann Louis Simon Desmouceaux, Guillaume Michel Ruty
  • Publication number: 20190082204
    Abstract: Embodiments provide techniques for delivering a paced stream of video data packets. One embodiment includes receiving a data stream of video data packets formatted according to a Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standard. A desired rate of delivery for the video data packets at a gateway device is determined. Embodiments generate a padded data stream by inserting one or more pause frames in between the video data packets in the received data stream, based on the desired rate of delivery. The padded data stream is transmitted across a link to a network switch, to be transmitted to the gateway device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Andre SURCOUF, Mohammed HAWARI, Pierre PFISTER, Axel TALDIR
  • Publication number: 20190079788
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for controlling container execution. In some examples, a system can determine whether a block of a container image used in running a container is present in local storage at a host. If the block of the container image is present in the local storage at the host, then the system can use the block in the local storage to run the container at the host. If the block of the container image is absent from the local storage at the host, the system can fetch the block of the container image for the host from a container image storage node where the container image resides in its entirety. The system can use the block of the container image fetched from the container image storage node to run the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Guillaume Ruty, Pierre Pfister, Jerome Tollet, William Mark Townsley, Andre Jean-Marie Surcouf
  • Publication number: 20190075061
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for multi-destination TCP communications using bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). In some examples, a system can generate a TCP packet associated with a TCP session involving a set of destination devices, and encode an array of bits into the TCP packet to yield a TCP multicast packet. The array of bits can define the destination devices as destinations for the multicast packet. The system can transmit the TCP multicast packet towards the destination devices through a BIER domain. The system can receive acknowledgements from a first subset of the destination devices. Based on the acknowledgements, the system can determine that the first subset of the destination devices received the multicast packet and a second subset of the destination devices did not receive the multicast packet. The system can then retransmit the multicast packet to the second subset of the destination devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, Pascal Thubert, Victor Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10225187
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that modifies a bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) algorithm. The method includes receiving a packet at a node, wherein the packet includes a BIER header identifying a bitstring, the bitstring including a first bit indicating a first destination and a second bit indicating a second destination and forwarding the packet through one or more networks toward the first destination and the second destination based on the bitstring and a predetermined bit selection order. The predetermined bit selection order causes a sequential delivery of the packet to the first destination and the second destination. After the packet arrives at the first destination, the method includes setting the first bit to zero in the bitstring and forwarding the packet through the one or more networks toward the second destination according to the updated bitstring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, Mark Townsley, Yoann Desmouceaux
  • Patent number: 10135756
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for multi-destination TCP communications using bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). In some examples, a system can generate a TCP packet associated with a TCP session involving a set of destination devices, and encode an array of bits into the TCP packet to yield a TCP multicast packet. The array of bits can define the destination devices as destinations for the multicast packet. The system can transmit the TCP multicast packet towards the destination devices through a BIER domain. The system can receive acknowledgements from a first subset of the destination devices. Based on the acknowledgements, the system can determine that the first subset of the destination devices received the multicast packet and a second subset of the destination devices did not receive the multicast packet. The system can then retransmit the multicast packet to the second subset of the destination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, Pascal Thubert, Victor Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20180278521
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that modifies a bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) algorithm. The method includes receiving a packet at a node, wherein the packet includes a BIER header identifying a bitstring, the bitstring including a first bit indicating a first destination and a second bit indicating a second destination and forwarding the packet through one or more networks toward the first destination and the second destination based on the bitstring and a predetermined bit selection order. The predetermined bit selection order causes a sequential delivery of the packet to the first destination and the second destination. After the packet arrives at the first destination, the method includes setting the first bit to zero in the bitstring and forwarding the packet through the one or more networks toward the second destination according to the updated bitstring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Pierre Pfister, Mark Townsley, Yoann Desmouceaux