Patents by Inventor Robert Clouston

Robert Clouston 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: 6571272
    Abstract: A technique efficiently correlates information pertaining to host and physical unit (PU) entities of a data link switching (DLSW) network comprising multiple source-route-bridge subnetworks interconnected by DLSw routers in a multi-hop peer connection topology. A DLSw peer connection is established between a local DLSw router and its remote “peer” DLSw router over each IP cloud; each DLSw peer connection manifests as a DLSw circuit that is identified by, inter alia, a data link identifier comprising attachment addresses of the host and PU entities. The inventive technique efficiently correlates SNA-specific information relating to the host and PU entities with IP-specific information relating to the DLSw routers to draw the multi-hop network topology needed to assist in problem isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Ferguson, Robert Clouston, Anthony Talerico
  • Patent number: 6532241
    Abstract: A technique identifies a data session flowing through entities of a multi-protocol network based on information contained within a service request provided by a user of the network and without requiring knowledge of the protocols used by the session. A translation server translates the service request into session parameters for use by a correlation engine. The correlation engine creates at least one filter containing searching criteria pertaining to the session and passes the filter to at least one protocol server configured to obtain specific protocol-related information pertaining to the session. The protocol server searches a repository for information matching the filter and, if found, returns a list of sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Ferguson, Robert Clouston
  • Patent number: 6490618
    Abstract: A technique efficiently correlates information pertaining to entities of a mixed Advanced Peer to Peer Networking (APPN) and Data Link Switching (DLSW) computer network. The entities comprise System Network Architecture (SNA) host mainframe (“host”) and physical unit (PU) entities, along with DLSw and APPN/DLSw devices. The technique involves identifying a SNA session path as using Dependent Logical Unit Requester (DLUR) services of the APPN/DLSw device and thereafter obtaining media access control (MAC)/service access point (SAP) information needed to correlate the SNA session to the DLSw peer devices. The inventive technique then proceeds to efficiently correlate information relating to the DLUR and PU with information relating to the devices to draw the mixed network topology needed to assist in problem isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Ferguson, Robert Clouston, Anthony Talerico
  • Patent number: 6430595
    Abstract: A technique efficiently creates a database used to correlate information identifying data session traffic exchanged between entities of a computer network with information relating to multi-protocol intermediate devices configured to carry the session traffic throughout the network. The intermediate devices are preferably routers configured to carry System Network Architecture (SNA) session traffic between SNA entities comprising a host network connection and a physical unit (PU) station. The host network connection utilizes a channel-attached router for connectivity with a host computer. The technique allows a network management station (NMS) program to establish a NMS database by obtaining a PU name associated with an active SNA session without requiring a presence on or continual communication with a virtual telecommunication access method on the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Ferguson, Robert Clouston, Anthony Talerico