Distributed Switching Patents (Class 370/396)
  • Patent number: 9796534
    Abstract: A sensor device which is used to provide a control device with at least one operating parameter of an oscillating conveyor, the control device being used to control a drive device for exciting oscillation of an oscillating rail on the basis of the operating parameter, the sensor device including at least one sensor element for recording the operating parameter or at least one measured value from which the operating parameter can be determined, the sensor device including at least one communication device for wirelessly transmitting the operating parameter to the control device and an energy supply device for supplying the sensor device with operating energy, the energy supply device being used to convert a vibration generated by the drive device and/or electromagnetic radiation into the operating energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AFAG HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Klaus Bott, Izudin Mesan, Sebastian Mojrzisch, Jens Twiefel, Jorg Wallascheck
  • Patent number: 9794084
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a virtual local area network. The method includes determining a global virtual local area network for transmitting a data frame in response to receiving the data frame at a first switch, encapsulating the data frame based at least in part on said determination and transmitting it to at least one second switch over the determined global virtual local area network. The data frame is received at the second switch and an identifier of the global virtual local area network is obtained according to the data frame. Based at least in part on the identifier of the global virtual local area network, it is determined that which local virtual local area network served by the second switch the de-capsulated data frame can be sent to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Ge, Hang Liu, Yue Zhang, Kai Zheng
  • Patent number: 9774521
    Abstract: A method of communicating between a source node and a target node includes, for each of a plurality of paths between the target node and the source node, determining a total number of intermediary nodes and an expected data rate. The method also includes identifying each of the plurality of paths for which the total number of intermediary nodes is equal to or below a ceiling number as a first group of paths and identifying each of the plurality of paths for which the expected data rate is equal to or exceeds a threshold data rate as a second group of paths. A preferred path is used to communicate between the target node and the source node, the preferred path being included in the first group of paths and the second group of paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Fanara
  • Patent number: 9760505
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for network interface controller emulation. In one example, a method of operating a storage subsystem coupled with a host includes emulating, to a main processing system on the host, a network connection through an emulated network interface controller (NIC) to a storage volume. The method further includes receiving, over a bus between the main processing system and the storage subsystem, a data request originated by the main processing system and directed to the emulated NIC that requests access to the storage volume. The method also includes providing the main processing system with the access to the storage volume via the emulated NIC as if the storage volume were accessible over the network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Squires, Curtis Bruner
  • Patent number: 9742583
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of data retransmission in coordination service transmission and access network gateway thereof. Wherein, the method includes: in coordination service transmission, access network gateway receives the service data requested by the coordination terminal, caches the data and transmits it to the corresponding destination terminal; the access network gateway executes retransmission strategy, and when decides data retransmission is needed, retransmits the cached data to the corresponding destination terminal. The access network gateway is used to receive the service data requested by the coordination terminal, to cache the data and transmit it to the corresponding destination terminal, to retransmit the cached data to the corresponding destination terminal when data retransmission is needed. Using the present invention, to the problem of service data retransmission in coordination service transmission, the service data transmission efficiency is effectively improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aifang Sun, Jingwei He, Chong Gao, Zhihao Ling, Zhifei Zhang, Xuewen Qi, Jianfu Cao, Yifeng Yuan
  • Patent number: 9723579
    Abstract: A traffic data integration method includes: obtaining, by using a computer, pieces of frame data having a same data pattern between first and second traffic data collected respectively by first and second capture devices that capture, as traffic data, frame data communicated by a node in a network; performing, by using the computer, a time correction process by which a time of each piece of frame data in the first and second traffic data is corrected so that capturing times of pieces of obtained frame data are identical; using, by using the computer, frame data for which a same data pattern does not appear repeatedly in a same capture device, as frame data for performing the time correction process; and restricting, by using the computer, a time difference of frame data used when the time correction process is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Koutarou Chihara, Harutaka Tanaka, Wataru Nakamura, Takao Shikama
  • Patent number: 9710195
    Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk containing a plurality of storage segments, and each segment providing a specific class of service (CoS) for storage. Each vdisk stores files with data and meta data distributed among its storage segments. A storage system includes a memory having multiple classes of service. The system includes an interface for storing a file as blocks of data associated with a class of service in the memory. The interface chooses the class of service for a block on a block by block basis for storage. A file system for storing a file. A file system for storing includes a plurality of vdisks. A method for storing a file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Avere Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Kazar
  • Patent number: 9699090
    Abstract: A transfer device in a network including a plurality of control devices includes a network connection device, memory, and a processor. The network connection device communicates a target packet as a target of a transferring process. The memory stores a transfer rule received by the network connection device from a determination device as a control device for determining a transfer rule indicating a method of a process performed by the transfer device. The processor judges whether or not disable information indicating that the transfer rule is not to be acquired from the determination device when a transfer rule applicable to the target packet is not stored in the memory is included in the target packet. When the disable information is included, the processor outputs the target packet to the network connection device without requesting the transfer rule. The network connection device transmits the target packet to another transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Sho Shimizu, Toshio Soumiya
  • Patent number: 9632872
    Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module monitoring processing status of a plurality of pending dispersed storage network (DSN) access requests, where less than a desired number of DS units have favorably responded to a set of access requests. The method continues with the DS processing module interpreting the processing status of the plurality of pending DSN access requests to detect a processing anomaly. The method continues with the DS processing module reprioritizing further processing of at least one of the plurality of pending DSN access requests having the processing anomaly and another one or more of the plurality of pending DSN access requests. The method continues with the DS processing module sending notice of the reprioritized further processing to one or more DS units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Greg Dhuse, Ilya Volvovski, Andrew Baptist
  • Patent number: 9602465
    Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining NAT session management on a multi-core device are disclosed. A first core of the multi-core device that is intermediary between a plurality of clients and a plurality of servers may insert a NAT session into a local outbound session table stored in a memory of the first core. The first core may determine that a second core of the multi-core device will serve as a receiving core for a response to the request from the server to the client. The first core may insert the NAT session into a global session table responsive to determining that the second core will serve as the receiving core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishant Kumar Jain, Sameer Bagepalli Ramesh
  • Patent number: 9538345
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for performing load balancing and message routing by a device intermediary to a plurality of short message peer to peer (SMPP) clients and a plurality of SMPP servers. The device can receive a request from an SMPP client to establish an SMPP session, replace a first sequence identifier in the request with a second sequence identifier generated by the device, and store a mapping of the second sequence identifier to the first sequence identifier. The device can select an SMPP server to forward the request with the second sequence identifier and receive a response from the SMPP server with the second sequence identifier. The device can identify, from the mapping, the first sequence identifier and the connection to the SMPP client using the second sequence identifier to forward the SMPP response with the first sequence identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CITRIX SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Sudish Kumar Sah, Mukesh Kumar, Rajesh Joshi
  • Patent number: 9537785
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for link aggregation group (LAG) link allocation are disclosed. According to one method for indirect LAG link allocation, the method includes status information associated with a LAG. The method also includes at a first network node, utilizing the status information to set path identifiers in packets for controlling LAG allocation. The method further includes at a second network node separate from the first network node, receiving the packets and allocating LAG links to the packets based on the path identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IXIA
    Inventor: Matthew R. Bergeron
  • Patent number: 9509549
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to extend routing rules from external services. A request is received to modify a specified rule in a network element of a network. The specified rule governs disposition of a network flow specific to an application. The request is received via a communications channel configured to expose an application programming interface (API) to the application. The request is interpreted at a network abstraction layer of the network element. The request is converted into a command at a service implementation layer of the network element. The command is executed to modify the specified rule in the network element, responsive to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard M. Pruss, John Edward McDowall, Jan Medved
  • Patent number: 9503326
    Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus including a setting unit configured to set a network configuration by assigning a network connection to between each of a plurality of network switches and each of a plurality of nodes based on disposition of the network switches and the nodes in a network having the network switches and the nodes, and a notification control unit configured to notify the network switches and the nodes of the set network configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9497660
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for providing a service, a service broker, and a policy and charging rules function apparatus. The method includes: receiving a service request; determining, according to the service request, at least one AF associated with the service; determining QoS requirement information of each AF; sending a QoS authorization request to a PCRF, where the QoS authorization request carries the QoS requirement information of each AF; receiving an authorization success answer sent by the PCRF so as to provide the service through the at least one AF, where the authorization success answer carries authorization to the QoS requirement information of each AF. According to the method and the apparatus in the embodiments of the present invention, QoS requests are controlled by using an SB in centralized mode so that the development and operation costs can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiuyan Xia
  • Patent number: 9450895
    Abstract: Messaging policies can be dynamically updated based on operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAMP) data generated by data plane entities of a messaging network. For example existing messaging policies may be dynamically modified based on OAMP data generated by message brokers and/or network elements (e.g., queues). As another example, new messaging policies may be dynamically created based on the OAMP data. As another example, an updated set of messaging policies may be selected from a pool of policies based on the OAMP data. Dynamically updating messaging policies can be achieved using information model processing frameworks, such as the next generation directory enabled networks (DEN-ng) model. Various events may trigger the creation of new messaging policies and metrics, such as adding new data plane entities and/or network elements to the network, receiving new messaging instructions, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Charles Strassner
  • Patent number: 9444675
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques performed in a network comprising a plurality of network nodes each configured to apply one or more service functions to traffic that passes the respective network nodes in a service path. At a network node, an indication is received of a failure or degradation of one or more service functions or applications applied to traffic at the network node. Data descriptive of the failure or degradation is generated. A previous service hop network node at which a service function or application was applied to traffic in the service path is determined. The data descriptive of the failure or degradation is communicated to the previous service hop network node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Guichard, Carlos M. Pignataro, David Ward, Paul Quinn, Surendra Kumar
  • Patent number: 9419919
    Abstract: Techniques for configuring a virtual network device are provided. Embodiments identify a network device profile specifying a virtual link teaming domain. Upon receiving a network message advertising the virtual link teaming domain from a peer network device of the two or more network devices, on a plurality of links of the first network device, the plurality of links are teamed, based on the virtual link teaming domain, to create a first link bundle. Embodiments advertise a virtual link teaming identifier to a neighboring network device of the first network device. Here, the neighboring network device is configured to use the virtual link teaming identifier to bundle links between the neighboring network device and the virtual network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ankur Goyal, Manuwela Kanade, Shivaranjani Sankara Krishnan, Anand Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 9405487
    Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk containing a plurality of storage segments, and each segment providing a specific class of service (CoS) for storage. Each vdisk stores files with data and meta data distributed among its storage segments. A storage system includes a memory having multiple classes of service. The system includes an interface for storing a file as blocks of data associated with a class of service in the memory. The interface chooses the class of service for a block on a block by block basis for storage. A file system for storing a file. A file system for storing includes a plurality of vdisks. A method for storing a file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Avere Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Kazar
  • Patent number: 9389806
    Abstract: A storage system comprises a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk containing a plurality of storage segments, and each segment providing a specific class of service (CoS). Each vdisk stores files with data and meta data distributed among its storage segments. A storage system includes a memory having multiple classes of service. The system includes an interface for storing a file as blocks of data associated with a class of service in the memory. The interface chooses the class of service for a block on a block by block basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Avere Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Kazar
  • Patent number: 9330056
    Abstract: Direct memory transfer of data from the memory of a server to a memory of a switch. A server identifies a block of data in the memory of the server and a corresponding memory address space in the server. The server identifies a block of memory in the switch. The block of memory is at least the same size of the block of data. The switch comprises a network protocol. The server transfers the block of data into the block of memory. Based on the network protocol, the switch maps a network relationship. The mapping indicates a target server for the transferred block of data to be transmitted to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Casimer M DeCusatis, Rajaram B. Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 9300591
    Abstract: Disclosed is a network communication switch that facilitates reliable communication of high priority traffic over lower priority traffic across all ingress and egress ports. The network communication switch may monitor the frame storage buffer regardless of egress port, and when the frame storage buffer reaches a predetermined level, the switch may discard lower priority frames from the most congested port. When the frame storage buffer reaches a second predetermined level, the switch may discard lower priority frames before they are stored according to egress port. The network communication switch may further monitor ingress frames for priority, and assign priority to frames according to pre-assigned priority, ingress port, and/or frame contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Manodev J. Rajasekaran, David M. Rector, Damian Sanchez Moreno, M. Wesley Kunzler, Srinivas Achanta, Jerry J. Bennett, Ian C. Ender
  • Patent number: 9258211
    Abstract: Techniques are described for forwarding packets in a VPLS using multi-homing PE routers configured in an “active-active” link topology. As described herein, a PE router receives a packet from a multi-homed VPLS customer site, and processes the packet to determine a portion of a MAC domain to which the packet corresponds. When the packet is determined to correspond to a portion associated with the PE router, the PE router forwards the packet to the destination in accordance with forwarding protocols executing on the PE router. When the packet is determined to correspond to a portion associated with a second PE router, the PE router forwards the packet to the second PE router via a pseudowire that is external to the VPLS domain, and the second PE router forwards the packet to the destination in accordance with forwarding protocols executing on the second PE router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Safaa S. Hasan
  • Patent number: 9231888
    Abstract: A system and method can rout traffic between distinct subnets in a network environment. A router that connects the distinct subnets, such as InfiniBand (IB) subnets, can receive a list of destinations that the router is responsible for routing one or more packets to. Then, the router can generate a random number based on a source local identifier (LID) and a destination LID associated with the one or more packets, and use a modulo based hash to select one router port from a plurality of output router ports of the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bartosz Bogdanski, Bjørn Dag Johnsen
  • Patent number: 9197552
    Abstract: A packet is received at an ingress port of a network device. Based on forwarding information in the packet, an adjacency point is generated using a forwarding information database. If the packet is a routed packet, the adjacency pointer is used as an index to an entry in a media access control (MAC) table that identifies an egress port for the packet. If the packet is not a routed packet, a search is performed in the MAC table to locate an entry in the MAC table that identifies an egress port for the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Edsall, Alessandro Fulli, Putu Harry Subagio, Chih-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 9176899
    Abstract: Direct memory transfer of data from the memory of a server to a memory of a switch. A server identifies a block of data in the memory of the server and a corresponding memory address space in the server. The server identifies a block of memory in the switch. The block of memory is at least the same size of the block of data. The switch comprises a network protocol. The server transfers the block of data into the block of memory. Based on the network protocol, the switch maps a network relationship. The mapping indicates a target server for the transferred block of data to be transmitted to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Casimer M. DeCusatis, Rajaram B. Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 9167616
    Abstract: A system, method and mobile device for initiating a voice call from the mobile device is provided. An expiration time is determined based on a time reference synchronized with a mobile call server. The mobile device transmits to the mobile call server a session initiation protocol (SIP) call initiation request including a destination number and the expiration time. A second call initiation request to a secondary contact number is initiated to establish the voice call to the destination number, when a response to the SIP call initiation request is not received from the mobile call server prior to the expiration time enabling reliable establishment of the voice call when the first attempt is unsuccessful. The mobile device does not have to wait on the mobile call server to determine a call failure and ensure that subsequent call initiation by the mobile device does not result in a call establishment collision with the mobile call server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Elizarov, Ximing Zeng, Christopher Edward Prest
  • Patent number: 9161079
    Abstract: An information processing method combining television viewing and shopping generally includes (i) storing commercial information in a business server, (ii) broadcasting a television program according to a television program schedule from a broadcast server to a television server thereby enabling viewing of the television program by a consumer, (iii) storing the television program schedule in one of the television server and the personal server, (iv) transmitting an information request from one of the television server and the personal server to the business server, the information request including an identification of the television program and a timestamp, (v) transmitting a portion of the commercial information to one of the personal server and the television server, wherein the commercial information portion is related to the television program and the timestamp, and (vi) displaying items of the commercial information portion and a means for purchase of said items to the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventor: Ryan Justin Ekedal
  • Patent number: 9094640
    Abstract: A terminal and method for outputting information are provided. The method includes the terminal performing a broadcast-related operation, outputting information having an output amount while performing the broadcast-related operation and subsequently outputting an amount of the information that was not output during the broadcast related operation when the broadcast-related operation is completed. Therefore, it is possible to fully provide useful information to the user during a wait time generated in connection with a broadcast mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: In Hwan Kim, Chang Soo Kim, Kwang Hyo Son
  • Patent number: 9092380
    Abstract: A system for communicating and exchanging information between two or more parties, and method to accomplish same. The system and method includes a controlling third party. The system includes the use of a global computer network to which said parties are connected and a server. One of the parties can be a coordinator with control over software run by the server that controls and limits the nature and frequency of the communication and exchange of information between or among the parties. Parties can “connect” to the system via any one or more of the following: cell phones, telephones, computers, personal digital assistants, iPhones, audio devices such as mp3 players and/or iPods, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: Norberto Menendez
  • Patent number: 9083553
    Abstract: Particular embodiments may enable setup and signaling of co-routed and non co-routed label switched paths (LSPs) of a bidirectional packet traffic engineering (TE) tunnel in an unambiguous manner with respect to provisioning of the LSPs/tunnel. A head-end node may set up the bidirectional packet TE tunnel by computing a forward (and possibly a reverse) direction LSP, and then signal the bidirectional TE tunnel utilizing, e.g., extensions to an associated Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) signaling method. The extensions to the associated RSVP signaling method include a plurality of additional Association Types of an Extended Association object carried in a RSVP Path message transmitted by the head-end node to the tail-end node over the forward direction LSP, wherein the additional Association Types explicitly identify the provisioning of the forward and reverse direction LSPs as co-routed or non co-routed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Gandhi, Muthurajah Sivabalan
  • Patent number: 9078018
    Abstract: A system and method for routing an output signal comprising at least one channel carrying a selected program to the user selecting the selected program. Based on information relating to the user, a server inserts or substitutes, or both, remotely from the user's premises, programming other than the selected program into the channel carrying the selected program. The system transmits the other programming to the user, in addition to or in place of the selected program, for the duration of the other programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NORTHVU INC.
    Inventor: Ross A. Jeffery
  • Patent number: 9042383
    Abstract: A universal network interface controller (UNIC) is provided for interfacing a host computer to a switch fabric, a packet network, or both. The UNIC includes ingress transmit logic designed to transmit switch fabric data in memory associated with the host computer to a switch fabric. The UNIC further includes egress receive logic designed to receive switch fabric data from the switch fabric to store the received switch fabric data in the host memory associated with the host computer. As an option, the ingress transmit logic may be further designed to transmit packet network data in memory associated with the host computer to a packet network, such as Ethernet, and the egress receive logic may be further designed to receive the packet network data from the packet network and to store the received switch fabric data and the received packet network data in the host memory associated with the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ariel Hendel, Martin Lund, Nicholas Ilyadis
  • Patent number: 9031082
    Abstract: Communications in a network with dynamic topology is provided in which data is carried by software agents which operate autonomously and independently of global network information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Fabrice T P Saffre
  • Patent number: 9008087
    Abstract: A control system that includes several controllers for managing several switching elements. A first controller receives a request to modify a data tuple stored in a network information base (NIB) storage of the first controller that stores data for managing a set of switching elements. The first controller determines whether the received request to modify should be processed by the first controller. When the received request should be modified by the first controller, the first controller modifies the set of data in the NIB storage. The first controller updates a request list that is propagated between the controllers to disseminate requests to modify different data tuples that are stored in the NIB storages of the different controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Andrew Lambeth, Jeremy Stribling, Teemu Koponen
  • Patent number: 9008102
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing virtual network services provided to a network. Network services may be provided to a client network having a first network fabric at a self-contained network services system implementing a number of redundant instances of a network service application. The self-contained network services system may have a second network fabric. The second network fabric may be adapted to distribute network service tasks received from the client network which are associated with the network service application among the redundant instances of the network service application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Manish Vachharajani, John Giacomoni
  • Patent number: 9007903
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network system that includes several non-edge switching elements that are each for forwarding network data to other non-edge switching elements. The network system includes several edge switching elements that are each for (1) coupling to a set of network hosts and (2) forwarding network data to the non-edge switching elements and to the set of network hosts. Each of the non-edge switching elements of the several non-edge switching elements is further for forwarding network data to the several edge switching elements. The network system includes a set of network controllers for (1) receiving a definition of a logical switching element that couples to the sets of network hosts and (2) managing the several edge switching elements by configuring the several edge switching elements to forward network data between the sets of network hosts based on the definition of the logical switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: Teemu Koponen, Martin Casado
  • Patent number: 8965205
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to deploy fiber optic based access networks are disclosed. An example access network comprises a first fiber optic cable segment to couple an optical access head-end to a first pedestal and to transport user data, a second fiber optic cable segment to couple the first pedestal to a second pedestal and to transport a first portion of the user data to the second pedestal, a drop cable segment to couple the first pedestal to a customer premises and to transport a second portion of the user data to the customer premises, and a switch at the first pedestal to route the first portion of the user data between the first and second fiber optic cable segments and to route the second portion of the user data between the first fiber optic cable segment and the drop cable segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Thomas Anschutz
  • Patent number: 8964732
    Abstract: An Autonomous System domain comprising a topology transparent zone comprising a plurality of topology transparent zone nodes at least some of which are topology transparent zone edge nodes, wherein the topology transparent zone nodes are interconnected with one another via a plurality of internal links, and a plurality of neighboring external nodes connected to the topology transparent zone edge nodes via a plurality of external links, wherein no link state advertisements (LSAs) describing the internal links are distributed to the neighboring external nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Renwei Li, Huaimo Chen
  • Patent number: 8964598
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network architecture that includes several lower level managed switching elements for forwarding network data to several of network hosts. The network architecture includes a set of higher level managed switching elements. The several lower level managed switching elements and the set of higher level managed switching elements implement several logical datapath sets. Communication channels are established among the several lower level managed switching elements and the set of higher level managed switching elements based on a mesh topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Casado, Keith E. Amidon, Teemu Koponen, W. Andrew Lambeth
  • Patent number: 8964735
    Abstract: In one embodiment a method includes receiving a packet including a destination media access control (MAC) address field having a MAC address of a hypervisor and a destination Internet protocol (IP) address field having an IP address of a virtual machine (VM) coupled to the hypervisor. The method further determines a MAC address of the VM using the IP address of the VM and applies the VM MAC address to the destination MAC address field of the packet to forward the packet to the VM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rackspace US, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Ackley
  • Patent number: 8959215
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a robust scaling-out of network functionality by providing a software layer, called the network hypervisor, that sits between the network forwarding functions (i.e., the forwarding plane) and the network control interfaces (i.e., the control plane). The network hypervisor of some embodiments provides a logical abstraction of the network's forwarding functionality, so that network operators make their control decisions in terms of this abstraction, independent of the details of the underlying networking hardware. The network hypervisor of some embodiments may then “compile” commands placed against this abstraction into configurations of the underlying hardware. Accordingly, in some embodiments, there are two design challenges: (1) the choice of the network abstraction, and (2) the technology needed to compile the logical “abstract” controls into low-level configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: Teemu Koponen, Martin Casado, Paul S. Ingram, W. Andrew Lambeth, Peter J. Balland, III, Keith E. Amidon, Daniel J. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 8957791
    Abstract: An aircraft interface apparatus for providing communication between an aircraft system and a device for use on an aircraft comprises a first communication means for providing communication with the aircraft system, and a second communication means for providing communication with the device, wherein the aircraft system uses a first data format and the device uses a second data format, and the apparatus further comprises: —an interface processing resource that is configured to receive data in a first format from the device and, in response, to output data in the second format to the aircraft system and/or to receive data in the second format from the device and, in response, to output data in the first format to the aircraft system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Bluebox Avionics Limited
    Inventors: James Macrae, Murray Skelton
  • Patent number: 8958427
    Abstract: A distributed switch may include a hierarchy with one or more levels of surrogate sub-switches (and surrogate bridge elements) that enable the distributed switch to scale bandwidth based on the size of the membership of a multicast group. Moreover, each surrogate may optimize the hierarchy according to one or more optimization criteria. For example, each surrogate in the hierarchy may have the necessary information to ensure that if the next surrogate in the hierarchy is unavailable, the data may be routed to a backup surrogate. The selected hierarchy may be further optimized by skipping surrogates (or a surrogate level) such that the data intended for a skipped surrogate is sent to a surrogate in a lower-level of the hierarchy. This may better utilize the connection interfaces in the transmitting sub-switches and eliminate any unnecessary surrogate-to-surrogate transfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Basso, Todd A. Greenfield, Bruce M. Walk
  • Patent number: 8958298
    Abstract: A novel method for logically routing a packet between a source machine that is in a first logical domain and a destination machine that is in a second logical domain is described. The method configures a managed switching element as a second-level managed switching element. The method configures a router in a host that includes the second-level managed switching element. The method communicatively couples the second-level managed switching element with the router. The method causes the router to route a packet when the router receives a packet from the first logical domain that is addressed to the second logical domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Pankaj Thakkar, Jesse E. Gross, IV, Justin Pettit, Keith E. Amidon, Daniel J. Wendlandt, Teemu Koponen, Martin Casado
  • Patent number: 8953597
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured to communicate with a path computation client (PCC) and compute a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) path across an autonomous system (AS) domain. Also included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining a computation request for a P2MP path across a plurality of AS domains, attempting to calculate the P2MP path across the AS domains, thereby generating a computed path or a failure reason, and transmitting a reply comprising the computed path or an indication of the failure reason. Included is a method comprising exchanging a request message and a reply message about a P2MP path across an AS domain between a PCC and a PCE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technolgies, Inc.
    Inventors: Huaimo Chen, Qianglin Quintin Zhao, Hua Autumn Liu
  • Patent number: 8953619
    Abstract: A distributed switch may include a hierarchy with one or more levels of surrogate sub-switches (and surrogate bridge elements) that enable the distributed switch to scale bandwidth based on the size of the membership of a multicast group. Moreover, each surrogate may optimize the hierarchy according to one or more optimization criteria. For example, each surrogate in the hierarchy may have the necessary information to ensure that if the next surrogate in the hierarchy is unavailable, the data may be routed to a backup surrogate. The selected hierarchy may be further optimized by skipping surrogates (or a surrogate level) such that the data intended for a skipped surrogate is sent to a surrogate in a lower-level of the hierarchy. This may better utilize the connection interfaces in the transmitting sub-switches and eliminate any unnecessary surrogate-to-surrogate transfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Basso, Todd A. Greenfield, Bruce M. Walk
  • Patent number: 8948183
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented to collect raw data from a plurality of servers and nodes on a network. A Distributed Enterprise Collection Bus (DECB) architecture is employed at various points on a network. The DECB comprises a collector unit that is protocol agnostic, an orchestration unit, a rule database, a filtering unit, and a distribution unit. Packets of raw data such as Call Detail Records (CDRs) generated by switching centers are received, and distributed to relevant destinations. Relevant destinations include data warehouses, mediation, analytics, etc. The goal is to alleviate collection and filtration duties of the source and destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert Wayne Lott
  • Patent number: 8948050
    Abstract: The control node, on the basis of the connection information between the distribution nodes and the load information of the distribution nodes, determines a distribution node of the distribution destination to which one of a plurality of distribution nodes subsequently distributes the data, and the data type which is distributed to the distribution node of the distribution destination. The control node distributes node information which specifies the distribution node of the determined distribution destination and type information which specifies the determined data type. The distribution node receives the node information and the type information distributed from the control node. The distribution node, when it receives the data distributed from the other distribution nodes, selects the data of the type specified by the type information from the received data. The distribution node transmits the data of the selected type to the distribution node specified by the node information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazumine Matoba
  • Patent number: 8937862
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending a configuration signal to a virtual network switch module within a control plane of a communications network. The configuration signal is configured to define a first network rule at the virtual network switch module. The method also includes configuring a packet forwarding module such that the packet forwarding module implements a second network rule, and receiving status information from the virtual network switch module and status information from the packet forwarding module. The status information is received via the control plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunes Aybay, Pradeep Sindhu, Anjan Venkatramani