Patents by Inventor William J. Armstrong
William J. Armstrong 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).
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Patent number: 11918482Abstract: An expandable interbody implant adapted for insertion at least into a disc space, between two adjacent vertebrae of a spine. An upper member and a lower member are pivotally connected at least by a drive link. A bone graft storage portion packed with a selected volume of bone growth material. A translational wall is provided between the bone graft storage portion and a trailing end of the implant. An actuator engages the bone graft storage portion, pushing it forward into engagement with the drive link, which pivots upward, moving the upper member upward away from the lower member. Upward movement of the upper member raises the translational wall to a position to assist in retention of the selected volume bone graft material within the hollow portion of the bone graft storage portion. Upward rotation of the drive link brings a face thereof into contact with a front of the bone graft storage portion, thereby retaining near constant volume of the bone graft material.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.Inventors: Anthony J. Melkent, William D. Armstrong, Stanley T. Palmatier
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Patent number: 11095571Abstract: IEEE 802.1Q and Enhanced Transmission Selection provide only eight different traffic classes that may be used to control bandwidth in a particular physical connection (or link). Instead of relying only on these eight traffic classes to manage bandwidth, the embodiments discussed herein disclose using an Enhanced Transmission Selection scheduler that permits a network device to set the bandwidth for an individual virtual LAN. Allocating bandwidth in a port based on a virtual LAN ID permits a network device to allocate bandwidth to, e.g., millions of unique virtual LANs. Thus, this technique may increase the granular control of the network fabric and its performance.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Claude Basso, Chih-Jen Chang, Mircea Gusat, Cyriel J. Minkenberg, Fredy D. Neeser, Kenneth M. Valk
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Publication number: 20180145926Abstract: IEEE 802.1Q and Enhanced Transmission Selection provide only eight different traffic classes that may be used to control bandwidth in a particular physical connection (or link). Instead of relying only on these eight traffic classes to manage bandwidth, the embodiments discussed herein disclose using an Enhanced Transmission Selection scheduler that permits a network device to set the bandwidth for an individual virtual LAN. Allocating bandwidth in a port based on a virtual LAN ID permits a network device to allocate bandwidth to, e.g., millions of unique virtual LANs. Thus, this technique may increase the granular control of the network fabric and its performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: William J. ARMSTRONG, Claude BASSO, Chih-Jen CHANG, Mircea GUSAT, Cyriel J. MINKENBERG, Fredy D. NEESER, Kenneth M. VALK
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Patent number: 9917747Abstract: A system and method performs packet analysis in a distributed communication network. Packet processors tap into data packet flow at various points in the distributed network. The packet processors processes data packets from the packet flow and select a set of packets using a packet signature function and packet selection criteria. A packet record is created by each packet processor and sent to other packet processors in the distributed network. The other packet processors add data to the packet record for the same set of packets. The packet records are analyzed to gather comparative data to identify problems in the network.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, David R. Engebretsen
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Patent number: 9860188Abstract: IEEE 802.1Q and Enhanced Transmission Selection provide only eight different traffic classes that may be used to control bandwidth in a particular physical connection (or link). Instead of relying only on these eight traffic classes to manage bandwidth, the embodiments discussed herein disclose using an Enhanced Transmission Selection scheduler that permits a network device to set the bandwidth for an individual virtual LAN. Allocating bandwidth in a port based on a virtual LAN ID permits a network device to allocate bandwidth to, e.g., millions of unique virtual LANs. Thus, this technique may increase the granular control of the network fabric and its performance.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: William J. Armstrong, Claude Basso, Chih-Jen Chang, Mircea Gusat, Cyriel J. Minkenberg, Fredy D. Neeser, Kenneth M. Valk
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Patent number: 9621479Abstract: IEEE 802.1Q and Enhanced Transmission Selection provide only eight different traffic classes that may be used to control bandwidth in a particular physical connection (or link). Instead of relying only on these eight traffic classes to manage bandwidth, the embodiments discussed herein disclose using an Enhanced Transmission Selection scheduler that permits a network device to set the bandwidth for an individual virtual LAN. Allocating bandwidth in a port based on a virtual LAN ID permits a network device to allocate bandwidth to, e.g., millions of unique virtual LANs. Thus, this technique may increase the granular control of the network fabric and its performance.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: William J. Armstrong, Claude Basso, Chih-jen Chang, Mircea Gusat, Cyriel J. Minkenberg, Fredy D. Neeser, Kenneth M. Walk
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Publication number: 20170093665Abstract: A system and method performs packet analysis in a distributed communication network. Packet processors tap into data packet flow at various points in the distributed network. The packet processors processes data packets from the packet flow and select a set of packets using a packet signature function and packet selection criteria. A packet record is created by each packet processor and sent to other packet processors in the distributed network. The other packet processors add data to the packet record for the same set of packets. The packet records are analyzed to gather comparative data to identify problems in the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2015Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: William J. Armstrong, David R. Engebretsen
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Patent number: 9344376Abstract: A data handling system network includes a data handling system that is communicatively coupled to a switch by a network. The data handling system includes one or more logical partitions. Each logical partition includes a plurality of virtual switches and a plurality of virtual network interface cards. Each virtual network interface card is associated with a particular virtual switch and includes a plurality of QoS queues. The switch includes one or more switch partitions. Each switch partition includes a plurality of QoS queues that are associated with the QoS queues of the virtual network interface card. A packet is received with the virtual switch and the virtual switch sets and associates a QoS priority flag with the received packet. The virtual switch forwards the packet to a QoS queue comprised within the virtual network interface card based upon the QoS priority flag.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.Inventors: William J. Armstrong, Vinit Jain, Jeffrey J. Lynch, Nilanjan Mukherjee
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Patent number: 9317453Abstract: A method in a data processing system is provided for processing a service request of a client partition. The method includes: obtaining by a service partition of the data processing system the service request from the client partition, wherein both the client and service partitions execute above a hypervisor of the data processing system; and processing the service request by the service partition utilizing a processor quantum assigned to the client partition and donated by the client partition to the service partition. The client partition controls scheduling of the service partition by queuing the service request at the client partition until the client partition decides to proceed with execution of the service request by the service partition. In one implementation, the service partition is a partition adjunct of the data processing system, which utilizes donated virtual address space of the client partition.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: William J. Armstrong, Orran Y. Krieger, Michal Ostrowski, Randal C. Swanberg
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Patent number: 9231870Abstract: A network fabric may divide a physical connection into a plurality of VLANs as defined by IEEE 802.1Q. Moreover, many network fabrics use Priority Flow Control to identify and segregate network traffic based on different traffic classes or priorities. Current routing protocols define only eight traffic classes. In contrast, a network fabric may contain thousands of unique VLANs. When network congestion occurs, network devices (e.g., switches, bridges, routers, servers, etc.) can negotiate to pause the network traffic associated with one of the different traffic classes. Pausing the data packets associated with a single traffic class may also stop the data packets associated with thousands of VLANs. The embodiments disclosed herein permit a network fabric to individually pause VLANs rather than entire traffic classes.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Claude Basso, Chih-Jen Chang, Mircea Gusat, Jeffrey J. Lynch, Cyriel J. Minkenberg, Kenneth M. Valk
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Patent number: 9148369Abstract: Techniques are provided for packet routing in a distributed network switch. The distributed network switch includes multiple switch modules operatively connected to one another, and each switch module includes multiple bridge elements and a management controller. In one embodiment, a shared interface routing (SIR) framework is provided that includes an analysis and bifurcation layer, at least one packet interface, and an analysis assist layer. A packet is received over a first logical network and via a physical port, the packet being destined for at least a first application executing on the management controller. The analysis assist layer analyzes the packet to determine a reason code to assign to the packet. The analysis and bifurcation layer then analyzes the packet based at least in part on the reason code.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Claude Basso, Josep Cors, David R. Engebretsen, Paul E. Movall, Eric Thiemann, Colin B. Verrilli, Bruce M. Walk
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Patent number: 9148368Abstract: Techniques are provided for packet routing in a distributed network switch. The distributed network switch includes multiple switch modules operatively connected to one another, and each switch module includes multiple bridge elements and a management controller. In one embodiment, a shared interface routing (SIR) framework is provided that includes an analysis and bifurcation layer, at least one packet interface, and an analysis assist layer. A packet is received over a first logical network and via a physical port, the packet being destined for at least a first application executing on the management controller. The analysis assist layer analyzes the packet to determine a reason code to assign to the packet. The analysis and bifurcation layer then analyzes the packet based at least in part on the reason code.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Claude Basso, Josep Cors, David R. Engebretsen, Paul E. Movall, Eric Thiemann, Colin B. Verrilli, Bruce M. Walk
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Patent number: 9092297Abstract: A firmware update process for a self-virtualizing IO resource such as an SRIOV adapter is incorporated into a platform firmware update process to systematically update the resource firmware in a manner that is for the most part transparent to the logical partitions sharing the adapter. In particular, resource firmware associated with a self-virtualizing IO resource is bundled with firmware for at least one adjunct partition associated with that self-virtualizing IO resource within a common firmware image so that, upon restart of the adjunct partition to use the updated firmware image, the resource firmware is also updated, with a logical partition that uses the self-virtualizing IO resource maintained in an active state during the restart, and without requiring the self-virtualizing IO resource to be deconfigured from the logical partition.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Charles S. Graham, Andrew T. Koch, Kyle A. Lucke, Naresh Nayer, Randal C. Swanberg
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Patent number: 9083644Abstract: Techniques are provided for packet routing in a distributed network switch. The distributed network switch includes multiple switch modules operatively connected to one another, and each switch module includes multiple bridge elements and a management controller. In one embodiment, a shared interface routing (SIR) framework is provided that includes an analysis and bifurcation layer and at least one packet interface. A packet is received over a first logical network and via a physical port, the packet being destined for at least a first application executing on the management controller. The analysis and bifurcation layer analyzes the packet and sends the packet to the packet interface, which then routes the packet to the first application.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Josep Cors, David R. Engebretsen, Paul E. Movall, Eric G. Thiemann
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Patent number: 9077659Abstract: Techniques are provided for packet routing in a distributed network switch. The distributed network switch includes multiple switch modules operatively connected to one another, and each switch module includes multiple bridge elements and a management controller. In one embodiment, a shared interface routing (SIR) framework is provided that includes an analysis and bifurcation layer and at least one packet interface. A packet is received over a first logical network and via a physical port, the packet being destined for at least a first application executing on the management controller. The analysis and bifurcation layer analyzes the packet and sends the packet to the packet interface, which then routes the packet to the first application.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Josep Cors, David R. Engebretsen, Paul E. Movall, Eric G. Thiemann
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Patent number: 9077636Abstract: A network fabric may divide a physical connection into a plurality of VLANs as defined by IEEE 802.1Q. Moreover, many network fabrics use Priority Flow Control to identify and segregate network traffic based on different traffic classes or priorities. Current routing protocols define only eight traffic classes. In contrast, a network fabric may contain thousands of unique VLANs. When network congestion occurs, network devices (e.g., switches, bridges, routers, servers, etc.) can negotiate to pause the network traffic associated with one of the different traffic classes. Pausing the data packets associated with a single traffic class may also stop the data packets associated with thousands of VLANs. The embodiments disclosed herein permit a network fabric to individually pause VLANs rather than entire traffic classes.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, Claude Basso, Chih-jen Chang, Mircea Gusat, Jeffrey J. Lynch, Cyriel J. Minkenberg, Kenneth M. Walk
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Publication number: 20150110124Abstract: A data handling system network includes a data handling system that is communicatively coupled to a switch by a network. The data handling system includes one or more logical partitions. Each logical partition includes a plurality of virtual switches and a plurality of virtual network interface cards. Each virtual network interface card is associated with a particular virtual switch and includes a plurality of QoS queues. The switch includes one or more switch partitions. Each switch partition includes a plurality of QoS queues that are associated with the QoS queues of the virtual network interface card. A packet is received with the virtual switch and the virtual switch sets and associates a QoS priority flag with the received packet. The virtual switch forwards the packet to a QoS queue comprised within the virtual network interface card based upon the QoS priority flag.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: William J. Armstrong, Vinit Jain, Jeffrey J. Lynch, Nilanjan Mukherjee
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Patent number: 8948000Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards, switch modules and a management controller. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards and the switch modules may be operatively connected to the midplane. The switch modules may be configured to switch network traffic for the one or more server cards. The management controller may be configured to manage the switch modules via the fabric interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, James A. O'Connor, Pravin S. Patel, Steven M. Tri
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Patent number: 8880938Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Hollan, James E. Hughes, Bradley D. McCredie, James A. O'Connor, Steven M. Tri
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Patent number: 8880937Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William J. Armstrong, John M. Borkenhagen, Martin J. Crippen, Dhruv M. Desai, David R. Engebretsen, Philip R. Hillier, III, William G. Holland, James E. Hughes, Bradley D. McCredie, James A. O'Connor, Steven M. Tri