Patents by Inventor Robert Tufford

Robert Tufford 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: 7539183
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system (100, 200) including a VMEbus network (102) and a switched fabric network (104) wherein the VMEbus network (102) and the switched fabric network (104) operate concurrently within the multi-service platform system (100, 200). Multi-service platform system (100, 200) can include a payload module (106) with a first switched fabric connector (210) in a P0 mechanical envelope (218) that is designed to interface with a corresponding first switched fabric connector (212) in the J0 mechanical envelope (220) on a backplane (204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Network Power - Embedded Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060126612
    Abstract: In a computer network (100), a method transporting a PCI Express packet (235) from an initiator PCI Express node (202) over an IP packet network (210) to a receiver PCI Express node (204), can include the initiator PCI Express node creating the PCI Express packet and reading a global PCI Express destination address (352) of the PCI Express packet. The initiator PCI Express node can map the global PCI Express destination address to a receiver PCI Express node IP address (242). The PCI Express packet can be encapsulated in an IP packet (236). The IP packet with the encapsulated PCI Express packet can be communicated over an IP packet network (210) to receiver PCI Express node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060112211
    Abstract: A method of transporting a PCI Express packet (135) from an initiator PCI Express domain (102) over a VMEbus network (110) to a receiver PCI Express domain (104), can include the initiator PCI Express domain creating the PCI Express packet, while a PCI Express-to-VMEbus encapsulation module (103) reads a first PCI Express destination address (250) of the PCI Express packet. The first PCI Express destination address is mapped to a receiver PCI Express domain VMEbus address (242). The PCI Express packet is encapsulated in a data field (282) of a VMEbus write transaction (236) by the PCI Express-to-VMEbus encapsulation module. The VMEbus write transaction is communicated to the receiver PCI Express domain over the VMEbus network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060109845
    Abstract: A method of transporting a RapidIO packet (135) from an initiator RapidIO domain (102) over an IP packet network (110) to a receiver RapidIO domain (104) can include the initiator RapidIO domain creating the RapidIO packet and reading a destination domain ID (483) of the RapidIO packet, where the destination domain ID corresponds to the receiver RapidIO domain. The destination domain ID is mapped to a receiver RapidIO domain IP address (473). The RapidIO packet is encapsulated in an IP packet (436) and the IP packet is communicated to the receiver RapidIO domain over the IP packet network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060112186
    Abstract: A method of communicating a VMEbus transfer (235) from an initiator VMEbus domain (202) over an IP packet network (210) to a responder VMEbus domain (204) can include the initiator VMEbus domain creating the VMEbus transfer and reading a VMEbus destination address (452) of the VMEbus transfer. The VMEbus destination address can be mapped to a responder VMEbus domain IP address and the VMEbus transfer encapsulated in an IP packet (236). The IP packet can be communicated to the responder VMEbus domain over the IP packet network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060090025
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system (100, 200, 300) includes a computer chassis (101, 201, 301) having a plurality of 9U slots (207), a backplane (104) integrated in the computer chassis, a switched fabric (106) on the backplane. At least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network are coincident with the switched fabric on the backplane. A payload module (102) having a 9U form factor is coupled to interface with one of the plurality of 9U slots, where the payload module is communicatively coupled with the backplane using the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network. At least one multi-gigabit connector (118) is coupled to a rear edge (119) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload module to the backplane, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Tufford, Jeffrey Harris, Douglas Sandy
  • Publication number: 20060087824
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system (100, 200, 300, 400) includes a computer chassis (101, 201, 301, 401) having a plurality of 3U slots (205), a backplane (104) integrated in the computer chassis, a switched fabric (106) on the backplane. At least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network are coincident with the switched fabric on the backplane. A payload module (102) having a 3U form factor is coupled to interface with one of the plurality of 3U slots, where the payload module is communicatively coupled with the backplane using the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network. At least one multi-gigabit connector (118) is coupled to a rear edge (119) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload module to the backplane, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060072545
    Abstract: A payload module (202) includes a payload subunit (212) coupled to the payload module, where the payload module has one of a 3U form factor, a 6U form factor and a 9U form factor. At least one multi-gigabit connector (218) is coupled to a rear edge (219) of the payload module and to the payload subunit, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload subunit to a backplane (204), where the backplane includes a switched fabric (206) coincident with at least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload subunit through the at least one multi-gigabit connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Tufford, Jeffrey Harris, Douglas Sandy
  • Publication number: 20060061959
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system (100) includes a computer chassis (101), a backplane (104) integrated in the computer chassis, a switched fabric (106) on the backplane. At least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network are coincident with the switched fabric on the backplane. A payload module (102) has one of a 3 U form factor, a 6 U form factor and a 9 U form factor, where the payload module is communicatively coupled with the backplane using the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network. At least one multi-gigabit connector (118) is coupled to a rear edge (119) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload module to the backplane, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Jeffrey Harris, Douglas Sandy, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060061960
    Abstract: A switch module includes a board (114) having one of a 3U form factor and a 9U form factor, and a central switching resource (116) coupled to the board, where the central switching resource is coupled to operate a switched fabric (106) on a backplane (104), where the switched fabric operates coincident with at least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network on the backplane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Tufford, Jeffrey Harris, Douglas Sandy
  • Publication number: 20060062226
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system, includes a backplane (104), a switched fabric (106) on the backplane, and at least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network coincident with the switched fabric on the backplane. A payload module (102) has one of a 3U form factor, a 6U form factor and a 9U form factor, where the payload module is communicatively coupled with the backplane using the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network. At least one multi-gigabit connector (118) is coupled to a rear edge (119) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload module to the backplane, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector. A switched fabric link coupling payload module and a rear transition module (175) operates using a switched fabric protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Jeffrey Harris, Douglas Sandy, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060062212
    Abstract: A switched fabric mezzanine storage module (560) includes a storage module (562) and a switched fabric connector (563) coupled to the storage module. The storage module is coupled to directly communicate with a switched fabric (506), where the switched fabric storage mezzanine module is coupled to a payload module (502) having one of a 3U form factor, a 6U form factor and a 9U form factor. The payload module can include at least one multi-gigabit connector (518) coupled to a rear edge (519) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface with a backplane (504). The backplane includes the switched fabric coincident with at least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network, where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled to the storage module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060062245
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system, includes a backplane (104), a switched fabric (106) on the backplane, and at least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network coincident with the switched fabric on the backplane. A payload module (102) has one of a 3U form factor, a 6U form factor and a 9U form factor, where the payload module is communicatively coupled with the backplane using the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network. At least one multi-gigabit connector (118) is coupled to a rear edge (119) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload module to the backplane, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector. A storage module (112, 113) is coupled to the payload module, where the storage module is coupled to communicate with the switched fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060062227
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system, includes a backplane (104), a switched fabric (106) on the backplane, and at least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network coincident with the switched fabric on the backplane. A payload module (102) has one of a 6U form factor and a 9U form factor, where the payload module is communicatively coupled with the backplane using the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network. At least one multi-gigabit connector (118) is coupled to a rear edge (119) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload module to the backplane, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector. At least one of a payload subunit (112) and an I/O element (105) are coupled to the payload module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Tufford, Jeffrey Harris, Douglas Sandy
  • Publication number: 20060062213
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system, includes a backplane (104), a switched fabric (106) on the backplane, and at least one of a VMEbus network and a PCI network coincident with the switched fabric on the backplane. A payload module (102) has one of a 3U form factor, a 6U form factor and a 9U form factor, where the payload module is communicatively coupled with the backplane using the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network. At least one multi-gigabit connector (118) is coupled to a rear edge (119) of the payload module, where the at least one multi-gigabit connector is coupled to communicatively interface the payload module to the backplane, and where the switched fabric and at least one of the VMEbus network and the PCI network are communicatively coupled with the payload module through the at least one multi-gigabit connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Jeffrey Harris, Douglas Sandy, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060036794
    Abstract: A hot-swappable power module (414) includes a power supply (540) and a switched fabric connector (527) coupled to communicatively interface with a switched fabric (406), where the switched fabric operates concurrently with a VMEbus network (408) on a backplane (404) of a computer chassis (412), where the hot-swappable power module is coupled to interface with and supply power to the computer chassis, where the hot-swappable power module has a 3U form factor (529), and where at least one of coupling and decoupling the hot swappable power module to the computer chassis fails to disrupt power to the computer chassis. Hot-swappable power module (414) can also include a switched fabric data unit (542) coupled to the power supply and the switched fabric connector, wherein the switched fabric data unit is coupled to communicate with the switched fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Publication number: 20060036793
    Abstract: A stacked 3U payload module unit (207) includes a base module (220), where the base module has a 3U form factor (229), and where the base module is coupled to directly communicate with a switched fabric (106) on a backplane (104) of a computer chassis (112), where the backplane comprises the switched fabric and a VMEbus network (108) operating concurrently. Stacked 3U payload module unit (207) can also include a stacking module (222) coupled to the base module, wherein the stacking module has the 3U form factor, wherein the stacking module is communicatively coupled to the base module through a stacking switched fabric connector (209), and wherein the stacking module is communicatively coupled to the switched fabric via the base module and the stacking switched fabric connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas Sandy, Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Patent number: 6985991
    Abstract: In a computer system, a bridge element enabled module (102) includes a bridge element (106) that communicates with a communications network using a protocol (130) selected from a group of protocols (105) including an 2eSST protocol (480).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Harris, Robert Tufford, Malcolm Rush
  • Publication number: 20050281254
    Abstract: A multi-service platform system (100) includes a VXS backplane (104), a switched fabric (106) operating on the VXS backplane, a parallel bus (108) operating coincident with the switched fabric on the VXS backplane, a VXS payload module (102) coupled to the VXS backplane, and a storage module (110) coupled to the VXS payload module, wherein the storage module is coupled to communicate with the switched fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Jeffrey Harris, Robert Tufford
  • Patent number: D736575
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Tufford, Karen Tufford