Patents by Inventor Robert James Drost

Robert James Drost 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: 10581734
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing network switching. A network device operating system (ndOS) program includes instructions for exchanging switching policy regarding switching network packets in a plurality of ndOS devices having ndOS programs. The first ndOS program is executed in a first ndOS device, and the switching policy is exchanged with other ndOS programs via multicast messages. Further, the ndOS program includes instructions for exchanging resource control messages with the other ndOS devices to implement service level agreements in the switching fabric, where the ndOS switching devices cooperate to enforce the service level agreements. Further yet, the ndOS program includes instructions for receiving changes to the switching policy, and instructions for propagating the received changes to the switching policy via message exchange between the ndOS programs. The ndOS devices are managed as a single logical switch that spans the plurality of ndOS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 10404622
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for networking communications. One embodiment of a system includes a switch module having one or more ports with a communications interface of a first type and a switch fabric. The system also includes a switch controller that is in communication with the switch module, the switch controller having a first network operating system (ndOS) for controlling packet switching policy in the switch module. The system further includes a server that executes a hypervisor for processing one or more virtual machines. The sever includes a communication interface of the first type for communicating with the switch module, one or more processors, a second ndOS, and one or more virtual network interface cards (VNIC) for communicating with the switch module via the communication interface of the first type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 10225080
    Abstract: Quantum networking systems and methods for routing entangled photons pairs are described herein. One quantum networking system includes entangled photon sources which generate entangled photons; optical output ports; a reconfigurable switching network connecting to the entangled photon sources and the output ports, which include a regular repeating structure of optical crossbar switches and interconnections for selectively routing individual ones of entangled photons pairs input to the network to and amongst the outputs; and a control module. The control module is configured to receive a request for entangled photons at the output ports; execute a routing algorithm to determine the state of the switches in the reconfigurable switching network to satisfy the request; and generate and transmit control signals to the switching network in order to set the states of the switches according to the executed routing algorithm. The reconfigurable switching network may be a Beneš or a banyan-type network architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert James Drost, Terrence Joseph Moore, Michael Brodsky
  • Patent number: 10135714
    Abstract: One networking device includes a switch module, a server, and a switch controller. The switch module has ports with a communications interface of a first type (CI1) and ports with a communications interface of a second type (CI2). The server, coupled to the switch module via a first CI2 coupling, includes a virtual CI1 driver, which provides a CI1 interface in the server, defined to exchange CI1 packets with the switch module via the first CI2 coupling. The virtual CI1 driver includes a first network device operating system (ndOS) program. The switch controller, in communication with the switch module via a second CI2 coupling, includes a second ndOS program controlling, in the switch module, a packet switching policy defining the switching of packets through the switch module or switch controller. The first and second ndOS programs exchange control messages to maintain a network policy for the switch fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 10075396
    Abstract: Methods and systems for switching a network packet at a switching device are provided. One method includes operations for receiving a packet having a media access control (MAC) address, and for switching the packet by a switch fabric if the MAC address is present in one or more memories associated with the switch fabric. The method also includes operation for switching the packet by a network device operating system (ndOS) if the MAC address is absent from the one or more memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Publication number: 20180152295
    Abstract: Quantum networking systems and methods for routing entangled photons pairs are described herein. One quantum networking system includes entangled photon sources which generate entangled photons; optical output ports; a reconfigurable switching network connecting to the entangled photon sources and the output ports, which include a regular repeating structure of optical crossbar switches and interconnections for selectively routing individual ones of entangled photons pairs input to the network to and amongst the outputs; and a control module. The control module is configured to receive a request for entangled photons at the output ports; execute a routing algorithm to determine the state of the switches in the reconfigurable switching network to satisfy the request; and generate and transmit control signals to the switching network in order to set the states of the switches according to the executed routing algorithm. The reconfigurable switching network may be a Beneš or a banyan-type network architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Robert James Drost, Terrence Joseph Moore, Michael Brodsky
  • Patent number: 9819607
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer programs are presented for managing network traffic. A network switch includes a switch fabric and a resource coherency and analytics engine (RCAE) coupled to the switch fabric. The RCAE includes one or more virtualizable resource groups (VRGs) for managing network traffic flow across a plurality of network switches on the network. Further, the RCAE is operable to add network entities to each VRG, add flows to each VRG, and add other VRGs to each VRG. A virtualizable resource control list (VRCL), associated with each VRG, identifies which network entities in the VRG can communicate with each other, which network entities in the VRG can communicate with network entities in other VRGs, and a guaranteed bandwidth for the VRG associated with the VRCL. Furthermore, the RCAE is operable to exchange messages with other RCAEs in other network switches to implement traffic policies defined by each VRCL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Garima Tripathi
  • Patent number: 9819608
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer programs are presented for managing network traffic. A network switch includes a switch fabric and a resource coherency and analytics engine (RCAE) coupled to the switch fabric. The RCAE includes one or more virtualizable resource groups (VRGs) for managing network traffic flow across a plurality of network switches on the network. Further, the RCAE is operable to add network entities to each VRG, add flows to each VRG, and add other VRGs to each VRG. A virtualizable resource control list (VRCL), associated with each VRG, identifies which network entities in the VRG can communicate with each other, which network entities in the VRG can communicate with network entities in other VRGs, and a guaranteed bandwidth for the VRG associated with the VRCL. Furthermore, the RCAE is operable to exchange messages with other RCAEs in other network switches to implement traffic policies defined by each VRCL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Garima Tripathi
  • Publication number: 20170302595
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for networking communications. One embodiment of a system includes a switch module having one or more ports with a communications interface of a first type and a switch fabric. The system also includes a switch controller that is in communication with the switch module, the switch controller having a first network operating system (ndOS) for controlling packet switching policy in the switch module. The system further includes a server that executes a hypervisor for processing one or more virtual machines. The sever includes a communication interface of the first type for communicating with the switch module, one or more processors, a second ndOS, and one or more virtual network interface cards (VNIC) for communicating with the switch module via the communication interface of the first type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Publication number: 20170279690
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing network switching. A network device operating system (ndOS) program includes instructions for exchanging switching policy regarding switching network packets in a plurality of ndOS devices having ndOS programs. The first ndOS program is executed in a first ndOS device, and the switching policy is exchanged with other ndOS programs via multicast messages. Further, the ndOS program includes instructions for exchanging resource control messages with the other ndOS devices to implement service level agreements in the switching fabric, where the ndOS switching devices cooperate to enforce the service level agreements. Further yet, the ndOS program includes instructions for receiving changes to the switching policy, and instructions for propagating the received changes to the switching policy via message exchange between the ndOS programs. The ndOS devices are managed as a single logical switch that spans the plurality of ndOS devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 9749251
    Abstract: Systems are presented for processing packets in a network switch. One network device includes a processor, an Ethernet switch, a PCIe switch, and a packet processor. The processor is for executing a controller program, and the Ethernet switch is for switching packets among a ports. Further, the PCIe switch is coupled to the processor and the Ethernet switch, and the packet processor, coupled to the Ethernet switch and the PCIe switch, is operable to modify an application header of an incoming packet and send the incoming packet to one of the ports. The controller program is operable to configure the Ethernet switch and the packet processor to define processing of packets. The controller program is operable to send a first configuration rule to the Ethernet switch, the first configuration rule defining that packets of a network flow requiring header modification be forwarded to the packet processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 9742697
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for a switching server. One switching server includes a server, a switch module coupled to the server, and a switch controller coupled to the server and to the switch module. The server includes a processor executing an operating system that includes a network driver, and the network driver includes a first network device operating system (ndOS) program. Further, the switch module includes a switch fabric and input/output ports. The switch controller includes a processor and non-volatile storage, where the processor is configured to execute a second ndOS program. The first and second ndOS programs implement a global networking policy for a plurality of devices executing ndOS programs, the global networking policy including a definition for switching incoming packets through the plurality of devices executing the ndOS programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 9729469
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for networking communications. One method includes an operation for receiving a packet in a first format by a virtual driver providing a communications interface of a first type (CI1), the first format being for CI1. Further, the method includes an operation for encapsulating the packet in a second format by a processor, the second format being for a communications interface of a second type (CI2) different from CI1. In addition, the method includes an operation for sending the encapsulated packet in the second format to a switch module. The switch module includes a switch fabric, one or more CI1 ports, and one or more CI2 ports, and the switch module transforms the packet back to the first format to send the packet in the first format to a CI1 network via one of the CI1 ports in the switch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Publication number: 20170208004
    Abstract: One networking device includes a switch module, a server, and a switch controller. The switch module has ports with a communications interface of a first type (CI1) and ports with a communications interface of a second type (CI2). The server, coupled to the switch module via a first CI2 coupling, includes a virtual CI1 driver, which provides a CI1 interface in the server, defined to exchange CI1 packets with the switch module via the first CI2 coupling. The virtual CI1 driver includes a first network device operating system (ndOS) program. The switch controller, in communication with the switch module via a second CI2 coupling, includes a second ndOS program controlling, in the switch module, a packet switching policy defining the switching of packets through the switch module or switch controller. The first and second ndOS programs exchange control messages to maintain a network policy for the switch fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 9680714
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing network switching. A network device operating system (ndOS) program includes instructions for exchanging switching policy regarding switching network packets in a plurality of ndOS devices having ndOS programs. The first ndOS program is executed in a first ndOS device, and the switching policy is exchanged with other ndOS programs via multicast messages. Further, the ndOS program includes instructions for exchanging resource control messages with the other ndOS devices to implement service level agreements in the switching fabric, where the ndOS switching devices cooperate to enforce the service level agreements. Further yet, the ndOS program includes instructions for receiving changes to the switching policy, and instructions for propagating the received changes to the switching policy via message exchange between the ndOS programs. The ndOS devices are managed as a single logical switch that spans the plurality of ndOS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Publication number: 20170155600
    Abstract: Methods and systems for switching a network packet at a switching device are provided. One method includes operations for receiving a packet having a media access control (MAC) address, and for switching the packet by a switch fabric if the MAC address is present in one or more memories associated with the switch fabric. The method also includes operation for switching the packet by a network device operating system (ndOS) if the MAC address is absent from the one or more memories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 9621482
    Abstract: One networking device includes a switch module, a server, and a switch controller. The switch module has ports with a communications interface of a first type (CI1) and ports with a communications interface of a second type (CI2). The server, coupled to the switch module via a first CI2 coupling, includes a virtual CI1 driver, which provides a CI1 interface in the server, defined to exchange CI1 packets with the switch module via the first CI2 coupling. The virtual CI1 driver includes a first network device operating system (ndOS) program. The switch controller, in communication with the switch module via a second CI2 coupling, includes a second ndOS program controlling, in the switch module, a packet switching policy defining the switching of packets through the switch module or switch controller. The first and second ndOS programs exchange control messages to maintain a network policy for the switch fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Patent number: 9608937
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for switching a network packet. One method includes operations for receiving a packet having a media access control (MAC) address, and for switching the packet by a first packet switching device (PSD) when the MAC address is present in a first memory. Further, the method includes operations for transferring the packet to a second PSD when the MAC address is absent from the first memory and present in a second memory associated with the second PSD, and for transferring the packet to a third PSD when the MAC address is absent from the first memory and the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Pluribus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Publication number: 20160241491
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for a switching server. One switching server includes a server, a switch module coupled to the server, and a switch controller coupled to the server and to the switch module. The server includes a processor executing an operating system that includes a network driver, and the network driver includes a first network device operating system (ndOS) program. Further, the switch module includes a switch fabric and input/output ports. The switch controller includes a processor and non-volatile storage, where the processor is configured to execute a second ndOS program. The first and second ndOS programs implement a global networking policy for a plurality of devices executing ndOS programs, the global networking policy including a definition for switching incoming packets through the plurality of devices executing the ndOS programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang
  • Publication number: 20160234080
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing network switching. A network device operating system (ndOS) program includes instructions for exchanging switching policy regarding switching network packets in a plurality of ndOS devices having ndOS programs. The first ndOS program is executed in a first ndOS device, and the switching policy is exchanged with other ndOS programs via multicast messages. Further, the ndOS program includes instructions for exchanging resource control messages with the other ndOS devices to implement service level agreements in the switching fabric, where the ndOS switching devices cooperate to enforce the service level agreements. Further yet, the ndOS program includes instructions for receiving changes to the switching policy, and instructions for propagating the received changes to the switching policy via message exchange between the ndOS programs. The ndOS devices are managed as a single logical switch that spans the plurality of ndOS devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Sunay Tripathi, Robert James Drost, Chih-Kong Ken Yang