David Lee Brewer

US Patent:

7035206, Apr 25, 2006

Filed:

May 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849102

Inventors:

David Brewer - Anaheim CA, US
Karl M. Henson - Rancho Santa Margarita CA, US
Hossein Hashemi - Mission Viejo CA, US
David Baldwin - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

Emulex Design & Manufacturing Corporation - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

G01R 31/08

US Classification:

370222, 225245, 225463, 225522, 714 4

Abstract:

A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

US Patent:

61011665, Aug 8, 2000

Filed:

May 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/071288

Inventors:

David Baldwin - Irvine CA
David Brewer - Anaheim CA

Assignee:

Emulex Corporation - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

G01R 3108
H04J 314

US Classification:

370222

Abstract:

A hub port in a hub of a loop network which automatically bypasses a node port which is generating a particular loop failure initialization sequence. The hub port contains a detection circuit which enables the hub port to detect loop failure initialization data received from its attached node port. Upon detecting such data from an attached node port, the hub port replaces such data with buffer data to be passed to the next hub port. Upon detecting the completion of a loop failure initialization sequence from an attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode. The hub port no longer passes on output from its attached node port and instead forwards along the internal hub link data received from the previous hub port in the hub loop. The bypass is maintained until the hub port receives a primitive sequence indicating the recovery of the attached node port. The hub port periodically sends at least one recovery sequence to the node port.

US Patent:

6167026, Dec 26, 2000

Filed:

May 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/071431

Inventors:

David Brewer - Anaheim CA
Hossein Hashemi - Mission Viejo CA
Karl M. Henson - Rancho Santa Margarita CA

Assignee:

Emulex Corporation - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

H04J 314

US Classification:

370222

Abstract:

In a loop network system, a method and apparatus for automatic bypass of a node port associated with a hub port when the node port generates a number of errors beyond a threshold level. In one aspect, a programmable error control circuit provides this automatic bypass. The tolerance level is set through programmable parameters including a number of errors as well as a time interval to evaluate the number of errors detected. After a node port has been bypassed by the error control circuit, the error control circuit continues to monitor the error generation of the node port. When that error generation has reached an acceptable tolerance level, the error control circuit automatically reinserts the node port into the loop. The error control circuit provides statistical reporting on the number of errors as well as the number of bypasses generated at a particular hub port.

US Patent:

62157752, Apr 10, 2001

Filed:

Oct 22, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/177550

Inventors:

David Baldwin - Irvine CA
Karl M. Henson - Margarita CA
David Brewer - Anaheim CA

Assignee:

Emulex Corporation - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

H04L 1228

US Classification:

370258

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for implementing a technique for inserting and removing a node in a network loop. In a preferred implementation, a hub port includes a detect element which monitors data from the node and from an upstream node. The detect element sets a first flag when a primitive is received at the port, and sets a second flag when a primitive which is a frame termination primitive is received at the port. A frame termination generator generates frame termination primitives and a buffer data generator generates buffer data. A switching element has a control input, an output, and a plurality of data inputs. One data input is connected to each of an output of the node, the upstream node, the frame termination generator, and the buffer data generator. A control element is connected to the detect element and the control input of the switching element. The control element selects, according to the first flag and the second flag, one of the data inputs of the switching element to connect to the output of the switching element to be output by the port to a downstream node.

US Patent:

62262696, May 1, 2001

Filed:

May 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/071930

Inventors:

David Brewer - Anaheim CA
David Baldwin - Irvine CA
Karl M. Henson - Rancho Santa Margarita CA

Assignee:

Emulex Corporation - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

H04L 1226

US Classification:

370245

Abstract:

A hub port in a hub of a loop network which detects and replaces invalid data and invalid control signals in the datastream of the loop. The hub port detects invalid data and invalid control signals or primitives received from an attached node port and substitutes buffer data or valid primitives. The hub port substitutes buffer data or primitives which have correct running disparity for the datastream at the point of substitution. In another implementation, an error detection device is included in a loop network and monitors the datastream of the loop network. The error detection device detects invalid data and invalid control signals or primitives received from an upstream node in the loop and substitutes buffer data or valid primitives. The error detection device substitutes buffer data or primitives which have correct running disparity for the datastream at the point of substitution.

US Patent:

6201787, Mar 13, 2001

Filed:

Sep 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/398520

Inventors:

David Baldwin - Irvine CA
David Brewer - Anaheim CA

Assignee:

Emulex Corporation - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

G01R 3108
H04J 314

US Classification:

370222

Abstract:

A hub port in a hub of a loop network which automatically bypasses a node port which is generating a particular loop failure initialization sequence. The hub port contains a detection circuit which enables the hub port to detect loop failure initialization data received from its attached node port. Upon detecting such data from an attached node port, the hub port replaces such data with buffer data to be passed to the next hub port. Upon detecting the completion of a loop failure initialization sequence from an attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode. The hub port no longer passes on output from its attached node port and instead forwards along the internal hub link data received from the previous hub port in the hub loop. The bypass is maintained until the hub port receives a primitive sequence indicating the recovery of the attached node port. The hub port periodically sends at least one recovery sequence to the node port.

US Patent:

61886688, Feb 13, 2001

Filed:

May 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/071678

Inventors:

David Brewer - Anaheim CA
Karl M. Henson - Rancho Santa Margarita CA
Hossein Hashemi - Mission Viejo CA
David Baldwin - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Emulex Corporation - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

G01R 3108
H04J 314

US Classification:

370222

Abstract:

A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.