Patents by Inventor Robert O. Sharp

Robert O. Sharp 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: 20150234776
    Abstract: An embodiment may include circuitry to facilitate, at least in part, a first network interface controller (NIC) in a client to be capable of accessing, via a second NIC in a server that is remote from the client and in a manner that is independent of an operating system environment in the server, at least one command interface of another controller of the server. The command interface may include at least one controller command queue. Such accessing may include writing at least one queue element to the at least one command queue to command the another controller to perform at least one operation associated with the another controller. The another controller may perform the at least one operation in response, at least in part, to the at least one queue element. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Eliezer Tamir, Ben-Zion Friedman, Theodore L. Willke, Eliel Louzoun, Matthew R. Wilcox, Donald E. Wood, Steven B. McGowan, Robert O. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8996755
    Abstract: An embodiment may include circuitry to facilitate, at least in part, a first network interface controller (NIC) in a client to be capable of accessing, via a second NIC in a server that is remote from the client and in a manner that is independent of an operating system environment in the server, at least one command interface of another controller of the server. The command interface may include at least one controller command queue. Such accessing may include writing at least one queue element to the at least one command queue to command the another controller to perform at least one operation associated with the another controller. The another controller may perform the at least one operation in response, at least in part, to the at least one queue element. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Eliezer Tamir, Ben-Zion Friedman, Theodore L. Willke, Eliel Louzoun, Matthew R. Wilcox, Donald E. Wood, Steven B. McGowan, Robert O. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20150032835
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for supporting Send with Immediate Data messages using Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) and the Internet Wide Area RDMA Protocol (iWARP). iWARP logic in an RDMA Network Interface Controller (RNIC) is configured to generate different types of Send with Immediate Data messages, each including a header with a unique RDMA opcode identifying the type of Send with Immediate Data message, and send the message to an RDMA remote peer using iWARP implemented over an Ethernet network. The iWARP logic is further configured to process the Send with Immediate Data messages received from the RDMA remote peer. The Send with Immediate Data messages include a Send with Immediate Data message, a Send with Invalidate and Immediate Data message, a Send with Solicited Event (SE) and Immediate Data message, and a Send with Invalidate and SE and Immediate Data message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Donald E. Wood, Kenneth G. Keels
  • Publication number: 20150026286
    Abstract: Apparatus, method and system for supporting Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) Read V2 Request and Response messages using the Internet Wide Area RDMA Protocol (iWARP). iWARP logic in an RDMA Network Interface Controller (RNIC) is configured to generate a new RDMA Read V2 Request message and generate a new RDMA Read V2 Response message in response to a received RDMA Read V2 Request message, and send the messages to an RDMA remote peer using iWARP implemented over an Ethernet network. The iWARP logic is further configured to process RDMA Read V2 Response messages received from the RDMA remote peer, and to write data contained in the messages to appropriate locations using DMA transfers from buffers on the RNIC into system memory. In addition, the new semantics removes the need for extra operations to grant and revoke remote access rights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Donald E. Wood, Kenneth G. Keels
  • Publication number: 20140310369
    Abstract: Generally, this disclosure relates to a shared send queue in a networked system. A method, apparatus and system are configured to support a plurality of reliable communication channels using a shared send queue. The reliable communication channels are configured to carry messages from a host to a plurality of destinations and to ensure completed order of messages is related to a transmission order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Vadim Makhervaks, Robert O. Sharp, Brian Hausauer, Kenneth G. Keels, Donald E. Wood
  • Publication number: 20140223026
    Abstract: Generally, this disclosure relates to a method of flow control. The method may include determining a server load in response to a request from a client; selecting a type of credit based at least in part on server load; and sending a credit to the client based at least in part on server load, wherein server load corresponds to a utilization level of a server and wherein the credit corresponds to an amount of data that may be transferred between the server and the client and the credit is configured to decrease over time if the credit is unused by the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Eliezer Tamir, Phil C. Cayton, Ben-Zion Friedman, Robert O. Sharp, Donald E. Wood, Vadim Makhervaks
  • Publication number: 20140136646
    Abstract: An embodiment may include circuitry to facilitate, at least in part, a first network interface controller (NIC) in a client to be capable of accessing, via a second NIC in a server that is remote from the client and in a manner that is independent of an operating system environment in the server, at least one command interface of another controller of the server. The command interface may include at least one controller command queue. Such accessing may include writing at least one queue element to the at least one command queue to command the another controller to perform at least one operation associated with the another controller. The another controller may perform the at least one operation in response, at least in part, to the at least one queue element. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Eliezer Tamir, Ben-Zion Friedman, Theodore L. Willke, Eliel Louzoun, Matthew R. Wilcox, Donald E. Wood, Steven B. McGowan, Robert O. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8677031
    Abstract: An embodiment may include circuitry to facilitate, at least in part, a first network interface controller (NIC) in a client to be capable of accessing, via a second NIC in a server that is remote from the client and in a manner that is independent of an operating system environment in the server, at least one command interface of another controller of the server. The command interface may include at least one controller command queue. Such accessing may include writing at least one queue element to the at least one command queue to command the another controller to perform at least one operation associated with the another controller. The another controller may perform the at least one operation in response, at least in part, to the at least one queue element. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Eliezer Tamir, Ben-Zion Friedman, Theodore L. Willke, Eliel Louzoun, Matthew R. Wilcox, Donald E. Wood, Steven B. McGowan, Robert O. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20130262614
    Abstract: An embodiment may include circuitry that may write a message from a system memory in a host to a memory space in an input/output (I/O) controller in the host. A host operating system may reside, at least in part, in the system memory. The message may include both data and at least one descriptor associated with the data. The data may be included in the at least one descriptor. The circuitry also may signal the I/O controller that the writing has occurred. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Vadim Makhervaks, Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, Steen K. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8489778
    Abstract: A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Intel-NE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, John S. Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20130110959
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a method includes partitioning a plurality of remote direct memory access context objects among a plurality of virtual functions, establishing a remote direct memory access connection between a first of the plurality of virtual functions, and migrating the remote direct memory access connection from the first of the plurality of virtual functions to a second of the plurality of virtual functions without disconnecting from the remote peer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: ROBERT O. SHARP, Kenneth G. Keels
  • Publication number: 20120311063
    Abstract: A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, John S. Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20120254480
    Abstract: An embodiment may include circuitry to facilitate, at least in part, a first network interface controller (NIC) in a client to be capable of accessing, via a second NIC in a server that is remote from the client and in a manner that is independent of an operating system environment in the server, at least one command interface of another controller of the server. The command interface may include at least one controller command queue. Such accessing may include writing at least one queue element to the at least one command queue to command the another controller to perform at least one operation associated with the another controller. The another controller may perform the at least one operation in response, at least in part, to the at least one queue element. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Eliezer Tamir, Ben-Zion Friedman, Theodore L. Willke, Eliel Louzoun, Matthew R. Wilcox, Donald E. Wood, Steven B. McGowan, Robert O. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8271694
    Abstract: A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Intel-Ne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, John S. Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20110314194
    Abstract: A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, John S. Lacombe
  • Patent number: 8078743
    Abstract: A computer system such as a server pipelines RNIC interface (RI) management/control operations such as memory registration operations to hide from network applications the latency in performing RDMA work requests caused in part by delays in processing the memory registration operations and the time required to execute the registration operations themselves. A separate QP-like structure, called a control QP (CQP), interfaces with a control processor (CP) to form a control path pipeline, separate from the transaction pipeline, which is designated to handle all control path traffic associated with the processing of RI control operations. This includes memory registration operations (MR OPs), as well as the creation and destruction of traditional QPs for processing RDMA transactions. Once the MR OP has been queued in the control path pipeline of the adapter, a pending bit is set which is associated with the MR OP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Intel-NE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, Eric Rose
  • Patent number: 8032664
    Abstract: A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Intel-Ne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, John S. Lacombe
  • Publication number: 20100332694
    Abstract: A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, John S. Lacombe
  • Patent number: 7849232
    Abstract: A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Intel-NE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert O. Sharp, Kenneth G. Keels, Brian S. Hausauer, John S. Lacombe
  • Patent number: 6516352
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically switching between different physical layer devices (PHYs) in a network interface. The system comprises a network interface in a network device, e.g., a network card in a computer system which includes a first PHY device and a second PHY device. The first PHY device is coupled to a first transmission medium (such as fiber-optic cable) which requires a continuous connection to the computer system when active. For a SERDES device, this continuous connection is required because the PHY needs constant access to its physical coding sublayer (PCS), which is located external to the PHY. The second PHY device is coupled to a second transmission medium (such as copper cable) which does not require this continuous connection. This second PHY may be, for example, a G/MII device, which includes the PCS internally. The network interface card further includes a link switching unit, a physical layer interface unit, and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Booth, Nestor A. Fesas, Jr., Robert O. Sharp, William Kass