Patents by Inventor Ronghua Zhang

Ronghua Zhang 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: 11296984
    Abstract: For a managed network, some embodiments provide a method for a set of service nodes in an active-active service node cluster in conjunction with a host computer hosting a destination data compute node (DCN) to improve the efficiency of directing a return data message to a service node storing state information for the flow to which the data message belongs. A primary service node in some embodiments receives a data message in a particular data message flow addressed to a destination DCN, performs a service on the data message and forwards the data message, along with information identifying the primary service node, to a host computer on which the destination DCN executes. The host computer generates an entry in a reverse forwarding table including identifying information for the particular data message flow and the primary service node to use to forward data messages in the particular data message flow to the primary service node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Mani Kancherla, Ronghua Zhang
  • Patent number: 11283731
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for handling failure at one of several peer centralized components of a logical router. At a first one of the peer centralized components of the logical router, the method detects that a second one of the peer centralized components has failed. In response to the detection, the method automatically identifies a network layer address of the failed second peer. The method assumes responsibility for data traffic to the failed peer by broadcasting a message on a logical switch that connects all of the peer centralized components and a distributed component of the logical router. The message instructs recipients to associate the identified network layer address with a data link layer address of the first peer centralized component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Sreeram Ravinoothala, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 11252024
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a managed network for implementing a logical network for a tenant. The managed network includes a first set of host machines and a second set of host machines. The first set of host machines is for hosting virtual machines (VMs) for the logical network. Each of the first set of host machines operates a managed forwarding element that implements a first logical router for the tenant logical network and a second logical router to which the first logical router connects. The implementation of the second logical router is for processing packets entering and exiting the tenant logical network. The second set of host machines is for hosting L3 gateways for the second logical router. The L3 gateways connect the tenant logical network to at least one external network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Neginhal, Ronghua Zhang
  • Patent number: 11206192
    Abstract: A novel method for troubleshooting a logical network is provided. The logical network has logical forwarding elements operating inside virtual network forwarding engines. The method receives a source identifier and a destination identifier that correspond to nodes in the logical network. The method then retrieves a set of network data from a virtual network forwarding engine and identifies a path in the logical network by traversing the logical network according to the retrieved set of network data. This traversal starts at an initial network node that is identified by the source identifier and continues through a set of next-hop network nodes that are each identified based on the destination identifier. At least some of the network nodes are logical ports associated with logical forwarding elements implemented by the virtual network forwarding engine. The method then reports the set of traversed logical nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Xinhua Hong, Ronghua Zhang, David J. Leroy, Yong Wang, Jia Yu
  • Publication number: 20210377186
    Abstract: A novel design of a gateway that handles traffic in and out of a network by using a datapath daemon is provided. The datapath daemon is a run-to-completion process that performs various data-plane packet-processing operations at the edge of the network. The datapath daemon dispatches packets to other processes or processing threads outside of the daemon by utilizing a user space network stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Yong Wang, Teemu Koponen, Jia Yu, Xinhua Hong
  • Publication number: 20210281508
    Abstract: For a managed network including multiple host machines implementing multiple logical networks, some embodiments provide a method that reduces the memory and traffic load required to implement the multiple logical networks. The method generates configuration data for each of multiple host machines including (i) data to configure a host machine to implement a set of logical forwarding elements that belong to a set of routing domains and (ii) identifiers for each routing domain in the set of routing domains. The method then receives data regarding tunnels endpoints operating on each of the host machines and an association with the routing identifiers sent to the host machines. The method then generates a routing domain tunnel endpoint list for each routing domain based on the data received from each of the host machines including a list of the tunnel endpoints associated with the routing domain which the host machines can use to facilitate packet processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Caixia Jiang, Jianjun Shen, Pankaj Thakkar, Anupam Chanda, Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Vicky Liu, Da Wan, Frank Pan, Hua Wang, Donghai Han
  • Publication number: 20210258254
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network system. The network system includes a first set of host machines for hosting virtual machines that connect to each other through a logical network. The first set of host machines includes managed forwarding elements for forwarding data between the host machines. The network system includes a second set of host machines for hosting virtualized containers that operate as gateways for forwarding data between the virtual machines and an external network. At least one of the virtualized containers peers with at least one physical router in the external network in order to advertise addresses of the virtual machines to the physical router.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Ariel Tubaltsev, Ronghua Zhang, Benjamin C. Basler, Serge Maskalik, Rajiv Ramanathan, David J. Leroy, Srinivas Neginhal, Kai-Wei Fan, Ansis Atteka
  • Patent number: 11095574
    Abstract: A novel design of a gateway that handles traffic in and out of a network by using a datapath daemon is provided. The datapath daemon is a run-to-completion process that performs various data-plane packet-processing operations at the edge of the network. The datapath daemon dispatches packets to other processes or processing threads outside of the daemon by utilizing a user space network stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Yong Wang, Teemu Koponen, Jia Yu, Xinhua Hong
  • Publication number: 20210215489
    Abstract: Camera based localization performed to determine a current pose of an autonomous vehicle without the aid of depth sensors such as LiDAR. The vehicle comprises an imaging system configured to capture image frames depicting portions of the surrounding area. Based on an initial pose of the vehicle, edgels corresponding to three-dimensional locations are loaded and mapped to corresponding edge pixels of the captured image frame. A pose of the vehicle is optimized based upon the determined correspondences by identifying a transformation that minimizes a distance between the edgels and their corresponding edge pixels. The determined transformation can be applied to the initial pose to determine an updated pose of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Lin Yang
  • Publication number: 20210200572
    Abstract: A controller of a network control system for configuring several middlebox instances is described. The middlebox instances implement a middlebox in a distributed manner in several hosts. The controller configures a first middlebox instance to obtain status of a set of servers and disseminate the obtained status to a second middlebox instance. The controller configures the second middlebox instance to use the status to select a server from the set of servers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Teemu Koponen, Pankaj Thakkar, Martin Casado
  • Publication number: 20210191750
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a logical middlebox in a hosting system that includes a set of nodes. The logical middlebox is part of a logical network that includes a set of logical forwarding elements that connect a set of end machines. The method receives a set of configuration data for the logical middlebox. The method uses a stored set of tables describing physical locations of the end machines to identify a set of nodes at which to implement the logical middlebox. The method provides the logical middlebox configuration for distribution to the identified nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Teemu Koponen, Pankaj Thakkar, Amar Padmanabhan, Martin Casado
  • Publication number: 20210184898
    Abstract: A network system that includes a first set of network hosts in a first domain and a second set of network hosts in a second domain. Within each of the domains, the system includes several edge switching elements (SEs) that each couple to the network hosts and forward network data to and from the set of network hosts. Within the first domain, the system includes (i) an interior SE that couples to a particular edge SE in order to receive network data for forwarding from the edge SE when the edge SE does not recognize a destination location of the network data and (ii) an interconnection SE that couples to the interior SE, the edge SE, and the second domain through an external network. When the edge SE receives network data with a destination address in the second domain, it forwards the network data directly to the interconnection SE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Teemu Koponen, Martin Casado, Pankaj Thakkar, Ronghua Zhang, Daniel J. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 11025543
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network system. The network system includes a first set of host machines for hosting virtual machines that connect to each other through a logical network. The first set of host machines includes managed forwarding elements for forwarding data between the host machines. The network system includes a second set of host machines for hosting virtualized containers that operate as gateways for forwarding data between the virtual machines and an external network. At least one of the virtualized containers peers with at least one physical router in the external network in order to advertise addresses of the virtual machines to the physical router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ariel Tubaltsev, Ronghua Zhang, Benjamin C Basler, Serge Maskalik, Rajiv Ramanathan, David J Leroy, Srinivas Neginhal, Kai-Wei Fan, Ansis Atteka
  • Publication number: 20210149708
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system for implementing a logical network that includes a set of end machines, a first logical middlebox, and a second logical middlebox connected by a set of logical forwarding elements. The system includes a set of nodes. Each of several nodes includes (i) a virtual machine for implementing an end machine of the logical network, (ii) a managed switching element for implementing the set of logical forwarding elements of the logical network, and (iii) a middlebox element for implementing the first logical middlebox of the logical network. The system includes a physical middlebox appliance for implementing the second logical middlebox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Teemu Koponen, Ronghua Zhang, Pankaj Thakkar, Martin Casado
  • Publication number: 20210144090
    Abstract: For a network controller for managing hosts in a network, a method for configuring a host to resolve network addresses is described. The method configures an address resolution module in a host to resolve a network address. The method configures a managed forwarding element in the host to (1) avoid sending a request to resolve the network address to another host by using the address resolution module to resolve the network address and (2) forward packets using the resolved network address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Teemu Koponen, Pankaj Thakkar
  • Patent number: 11005753
    Abstract: For a managed network including multiple host machines implementing multiple logical networks, some embodiments provide a method that reduces the memory and traffic load required to implement the multiple logical networks. The method generates configuration data for each of multiple host machines including (i) data to configure a host machine to implement a set of logical forwarding elements that belong to a set of routing domains and (ii) identifiers for each routing domain in the set of routing domains. The method then receives data regarding tunnels endpoints operating on each of the host machines and an association with the routing identifiers sent to the host machines. The method then generates a routing domain tunnel endpoint list for each routing domain based on the data received from each of the host machines including a list of the tunnel endpoints associated with the routing domain which the host machines can use to facilitate packet processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Caixia Jiang, Jianjun Shen, Pankaj Thakkar, Anupam Chanda, Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Vicky Liu, Da Wan, Frank Pan, Hua Wang, Donghai Han
  • Patent number: 10977067
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine readable medium of a first middlebox element of several middlebox elements to implement a middlebox instance in a distributed manner in several hosts. The non-transitory machine readable medium stores a set of instructions for receiving (1) configuration data for configuring the middlebox instance to implement a middlebox in a logical network and (2) a particular identifier associated with the middlebox in the logical network. The non-transitory machine readable medium stores a set of instructions for generating (1) a set of rules to process packets for the middlebox in the logical network and (2) an internal identifier associated with the set of rules. The non-transitory machine readable medium stores a set of instructions for associating the particular identifier with the internal identifier for later processing of packets having the particular identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Amar Padmanabhan, Teemu Koponen, Ronghua Zhang, Pankaj Thakkar, Bruce Davie, Martin Casado
  • Patent number: 10962366
    Abstract: As an autonomous vehicle moves through a local area, pairwise alignment may be performed to calculate changes in the pose of the vehicle between different points in time. The vehicle comprises an imaging system configured to capture image frames depicting a portion of the surrounding area. Features are identified from the captured image frames, and a 3-D location is determined for each identified feature. The features of different image frames corresponding to different points in time are analyzed to determine a transformation in the pose of the vehicle during the time period between the image frames. The determined poses of the vehicle are used to generate an HD map of the local area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: DEEPMAP INC.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Chen Chen, Di Zeng, Mark Damon Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10949248
    Abstract: A controller of a network control system for configuring several middlebox instances is described. The middlebox instances implement a middlebox in a distributed manner in several hosts. The controller configures a first middlebox instance to obtain status of a set of servers and disseminate the obtained status to a second middlebox instance. The controller configures the second middlebox instance to use the status to select a server from the set of servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Teemu Koponen, Pankaj Thakkar, Martin Casado
  • Patent number: 10951584
    Abstract: For a managed network, some embodiments provide a method for a set of service nodes in an active-active service node cluster in conjunction with a host computer hosting a destination data compute node (DCN) to improve the efficiency of directing a data message to a service node storing state information for the flow to which the data message belongs. a first service node receives a data message in a particular data message flow for which it does not maintain state information. The first service node then identifies a second service node to process the data message and forwards the data message to the second service node. The second service node sends state information for the particular data message flow to the first service node, for the first service node to use to process subsequent data messages in the particular data message flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Mani Kancherla, Ronghua Zhang