Patents by Inventor Stephen Craig Connors

Stephen Craig Connors 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: 11902086
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method useful for implementing high availability (HA) enhancements to a computer network, comprising the steps of: providing a first edge device of a local area network (LAN); providing a second edge device of the LAN; providing a gateway system to the LAN from a wide area network; detecting that an HA cable between the first edge device and the second edge device is disconnected; establishing a network connection between the gateway system and the second edge device; with the gateway system: determining that the first edge device is active and passing network traffic, implementing a network tunneling protocol with second edge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Nitin Kumar Ananda
  • Publication number: 20240048408
    Abstract: In one aspect, A computerized method of a gateway distributing routes learned through routing protocols (RP) into a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) includes the step of providing a first gateway that receives a route over a routing protocol. The method includes the step of with the first gateway, redistributing the route to one or more peer routers as a BGP route based on one or more specified criteria. The method includes the step of setting a gateway precedence based on the redistribution of the route to the one or more peer routers as the BGP route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Thomas Harold Speeter, Vipin Kumar
  • Patent number: 11804988
    Abstract: In one aspect, A computerized method of a gateway distributing routes learned through routing protocols (RP) into a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) includes the step of providing a first gateway that receives a route over a routing protocol. The method includes the step of with the first gateway, redistributing the route to one or more peer routers as a BGP route based on one or more specified criteria. The method includes the step of setting a gateway precedence based on the redistribution of the route to the one or more peer routers as the BGP route. The method includes the step of, based on the gateway precedence, setting a second gateway to automatically redistribute the route with different priorities to influence steering of traffic to a preferred gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Thomas Harold Speeter, Vipin Kumar
  • Publication number: 20230308421
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized system useful for implementing a virtual private network (VPN) including an edge device that automatically establishes an Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) tunnel alongside an unsecure Multipath Protocol (MP) tunnel with a gateway device in preparation for a transmission of a secure traffic communication. The edge device has a list of local subnets. The edge device sends the list of local subnets to the gateway during an initial MP tunnel establishment handshake message exchange between the edge device and the gateway device. Each subnet includes an indication of whether the subnet is reachable over the VPN. A gateway device that automatically establishes the IPsec tunnel alongside the unsecure MP tunnel with the edge device. An enterprise datacenter server that comprises an orchestrator module that receives a toggle the VPN command and enables the VPN on the orchestrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukudan, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Patent number: 11722925
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for quantifying quality of several service classes provided by a link between first and second forwarding nodes in a wide area network (WAN). At a first forwarding node, the method computes and stores first and second path quality metric (PQM) values based on packets sent from the second forwarding node for the first and second service classes. The different service classes in some embodiments are associated with different quality of service (QoS) guarantees that the WAN offers to the packets. In some embodiments, the computed PQM value for each service class quantifies the QoS provided to packets processed through the service class. In some embodiments, the first forwarding node adjusts the first and second PQM values as it processes more packets associated with the first and second service classes. The first forwarding node also periodically forwards to the second forwarding node the first and second PQM values that it maintains for the first and second service classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jegadish Devadoss, Kartik Kamdar, Stephen Craig Connors, Satheesh Kumar Rajendran, Ram Kumar Manoharan
  • Patent number: 11689959
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for quantifying quality of several service classes provided by a link between first and second forwarding nodes in a wide area network (WAN). At a first forwarding node, the method computes and stores first and second path quality metric (PQM) values based on packets sent from the second forwarding node for the first and second service classes. The different service classes in some embodiments are associated with different quality of service (QoS) guarantees that the WAN offers to the packets. In some embodiments, the computed PQM value for each service class quantifies the QoS provided to packets processed through the service class. In some embodiments, the first forwarding node adjusts the first and second PQM values as it processes more packets associated with the first and second service classes. The first forwarding node also periodically forwards to the second forwarding node the first and second PQM values that it maintains for the first and second service classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jegadish Devadoss, Kartik Kamdar, Stephen Craig Connors, Satheesh Kumar Rajendran, Ram Kumar Manoharan
  • Patent number: 11677720
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized system useful for implementing a virtual private network (VPN) including an edge device that automatically establishes an Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) tunnel alongside an unsecure Multipath Protocol (MP) tunnel with a gateway device in preparation for a transmission of a secure traffic communication. The edge device has a list of local subnets. The edge device sends the list of local subnets to the gateway during an initial MP tunnel establishment handshake message exchange between the edge device and the gateway device. Each subnet includes an indication of whether the subnet is reachable over the VPN. A gateway device that automatically establishes the IPsec tunnel alongside the unsecure MP tunnel with the edge device. An enterprise datacenter server that comprises an orchestrator module that receives a toggle the VPN command and enables the VPN on the orchestrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Publication number: 20230121871
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized method includes the step of providing process monitor in a Gateway. The method includes the step of, with the process monitor, launching a Gateway Daemon (GWD). The GWD runs a GWD process that implements a Network Address Translation (NAT) process. The NAT process includes receiving a set of data packets from one or more Edge devices and forwarding the set of data packets to a public Internet. The method includes the step of receiving another set of data packets from the public Internet and forwarding the other set of data packets to the one or more Edge devices. The method includes the step of launching a Network Address Translation daemon (NATD). The method includes the step of detecting that the GWD process is interrupted; moving the NAT process to the NATD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Patent number: 11611507
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for maintaining a virtual network that spans at least one cloud datacenter separate from multi-machine edge nodes of an entity. This method configures a gateway in the cloud datacenter to establish secure connections with several edge devices at several multi-machine edge nodes (e.g., branch offices, datacenters, etc.) in order to establish the virtual network. The method configures the gateway to assess quality of connection links with different edge devices, and to terminate a secure connection with a particular edge device for a duration of time after the assessed quality of the connection link to the particular edge device is worse than a threshold value. In some embodiments, the gateway is configured to distribute routes to edge devices at the edge nodes, and to forgo distributing any route to the particular edge device along the connection link for the duration of time when the assessed quality of the connection link is worse than (e.g., less than) a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Navaneeth Krishnan Ramaswamy, Gopa Kumar, Stephen Craig Connors
  • Patent number: 11606712
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for quantifying quality of several service classes provided by a link between first and second forwarding nodes in a wide area network (WAN). At a first forwarding node, the method computes and stores first and second path quality metric (PQM) values based on packets sent from the second forwarding node for the first and second service classes. The different service classes in some embodiments are associated with different quality of service (QoS) guarantees that the WAN offers to the packets. In some embodiments, the computed PQM value for each service class quantifies the QoS provided to packets processed through the service class. In some embodiments, the first forwarding node adjusts the first and second PQM values as it processes more packets associated with the first and second service classes. The first forwarding node also periodically forwards to the second forwarding node the first and second PQM values that it maintains for the first and second service classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jegadish Devadoss, Kartik Kamdar, Stephen Craig Connors, Satheesh Kumar Rajendran, Ram Kumar Manoharan
  • Publication number: 20230006929
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized method of an application routing service includes the step of using a deep-packet inspection (DPI) technique on a first network flow to identify an applications The method includes the step of storing an Internet-protocol (IP) address and a port number used by the application and an identity of the application in a databases The method includes the step of detecting a second network flow. The method includes the step of identifying the IP address and the port number of the application in the second network flow. The method includes the step of looking up the IP address and the port number in the database. The method includes the step of identifying the application based on the IP address and the port number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Sunil Mukundan, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Patent number: 11533248
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized method includes the step of providing process monitor in a Gateway. The method includes the step of, with the process monitor, launching a Gateway Daemon (GWD). The GWD runs a GWD process that implements a Network Address Translation (NAT) process. The NAT process includes receiving a set of data packets from one or more Edge devices and forwarding the set of data packets to a public Internet. The method includes the step of receiving another set of data packets from the public Internet and forwarding the other set of data packets to the one or more Edge devices. The method includes the step of launching a Network Address Translation daemon (NATD). The method includes the step of detecting that the GWD process is interrupted; moving the NAT process to the NATD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Publication number: 20220337553
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized system useful for implementing a cloud-based multipath routing protocol to an Internet endpoint includes an edge device that provides an entry point into an entity's core network. The entity's core network includes a set of resources to be reliably accessed. The computerized system includes a cloud-edge device instantiated in a public-cloud computing platform. The cloud-edge device joins a same virtual routing and forwarding table as the edge device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Alex Kompel, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Publication number: 20220294701
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized method useful for connecting to a multipath hub in a cluster includes the step of, with a gateway in a same network as the cluster, receiving, from a branch edge, a request to connect to a logical identifier (ID) of the multipath hub. The gateway recognizes a logical ID representing a cluster. The gateway determines a least-loaded edge in the cluster to be the multipath hub. The gateway returns a connectivity information for the multipath hub. The branch edge configures a tunnel to the multipath hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Nitin Kumar Ananda
  • Patent number: 11444872
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized method of an application routing service includes the step of using a deep-packet inspection (DPI) technique on a first network flow to identify an application. The method includes the step of storing an Internet-protocol (IP) address and a port number used by the application and an identity of the application in a database. The method includes the step of detecting a second network flow. The method includes the step of identifying the IP address and the port number of the application in the second network flow. The method includes the step of looking up the IP address and the port number in the database. The method includes the step of identifying the application based on the IP address and the port number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Sunil Mukundan, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Patent number: 11438789
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for quantifying quality of several service classes provided by a link between first and second forwarding nodes in a wide area network (WAN). At a first forwarding node, the method computes and stores first and second path quality metric (PQM) values based on packets sent from the second forwarding node for the first and second service classes. The different service classes in some embodiments are associated with different quality of service (QoS) guarantees that the WAN offers to the packets. In some embodiments, the computed PQM value for each service class quantifies the QoS provided to packets processed through the service class. In some embodiments, the first forwarding node adjusts the first and second PQM values as it processes more packets associated with the first and second service classes. The first forwarding node also periodically forwards to the second forwarding node the first and second PQM values that it maintains for the first and second service classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jegadish Devadoss, Kartik Kamdar, Stephen Craig Connors, Satheesh Kumar Rajendran, Ram Kumar Manoharan
  • Patent number: 11418997
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for quantifying quality of several service classes provided by a link between first and second forwarding nodes in a wide area network (WAN). At a first forwarding node, the method computes and stores first and second path quality metric (PQM) values based on packets sent from the second forwarding node for the first and second service classes. The different service classes in some embodiments are associated with different quality of service (QoS) guarantees that the WAN offers to the packets. In some embodiments, the computed PQM value for each service class quantifies the QoS provided to packets processed through the service class. In some embodiments, the first forwarding node adjusts the first and second PQM values as it processes more packets associated with the first and second service classes. The first forwarding node also periodically forwards to the second forwarding node the first and second PQM values that it maintains for the first and second service classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Jegadish Devadoss, Kartik Kamdar, Stephen Craig Connors, Satheesh Kumar Rajendran, Ram Kumar Manoharan
  • Patent number: 11374904
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized system useful for implementing a cloud-based multipath routing protocol to an Internet endpoint includes an edge device that provides an entry point into an entity's core network. The entity's core network includes a set of resources to be reliably accessed. The computerized system includes a cloud-edge device instantiated in a public-cloud computing platform. The cloud-edge device joins a same virtual routing and forwarding table as the edge device. The cloud-edge device receives a set of sources and destinations of network traffic that are permitted to access the edge device and the set of resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Alex Kompel, Thomas Harold Speeter
  • Patent number: 11349722
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized method useful for connecting to a multipath hub in a cluster includes the step of, with a gateway in a same network as the cluster, receiving, from a branch edge, a request to connect to a logical identifier (ID) of the multipath hub. The gateway recognizes a logical ID representing a cluster. The gateway determines a least-loaded edge in the cluster to be the multipath hub. The gateway returns a connectivity information for the multipath hub. The branch edge configures a tunnel to the multipath hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Nitin Kumar Ananda
  • Patent number: 11323307
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-networking method useful for implementing dynamic high-availability (HA) mode based on current wide area network (WAN) connectivity, comprising the steps of: providing a first edge device of a local area network (LAN) with the WAN; providing a second edge device of the LAN with the WAN; and synchronizing a state of plurality of links with the WAN that are connected to the first edge device and the second edge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Ramachandra Mayya, Parag Pritam Thakore, Stephen Craig Connors, Steven Michael Woo, Sunil Mukundan, Nitin Kumar Ananda