Stephen E Norton

US Patent:

7031311, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

Jul 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/911304

Inventors:

Patrick J. MeLampy - Pepperell MA, US
Ephraim W. Dobbins - Windham NH, US
Stephen E. Norton - Merrimac MA, US
Robert F. Penfield - Concord MA, US

Assignee:

Acme Packet, Inc. - Burlington MA

International Classification:

H04L 12/28

US Classification:

370392, 370401

Abstract:

A system and method for providing rapid rerouting of real-time transport protocol (RTP) multi-media flows is disclosed. Generally, a first endpoint is connected to a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint comprises a transceiver, software stored within the first endpoint defining functions to be performed by the first endpoint, and a processor configured by the software. The processor is configured to perform the steps of, performing flow processing on a data packet received at a first endpoint, from a second endpoint, removing a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) tag from the data packet, translating a source address and destination address of the data packet, and determining a forwarding destination if more than one destination address of the data packet is provided.

US Patent:

7536546, May 19, 2009

Filed:

Aug 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/941229

Inventors:

Patrick J. MeLampy - Pepperell MA, US
Ephraim W. Dobbins - Windham NH, US
Stephen E. Norton - Merrimac MA, US
Robert F. Penfield - Concord MA, US

Assignee:

Acme Packet, Inc. - Burlington MA

International Classification:

H04L 9/00
H04L 29/06

US Classification:

713162, 370412

Abstract:

A system for providing encryption for the rerouting of multi-media data flow packets is disclosed. Generally, a first endpoint is connected to a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint comprises a transceiver, encryption software stored within the first endpoint defining functions to be performed by the first endpoint, and a processor. The processor is configured by the encryption software to perform the steps of: assigning a sequence number to a first multi-media data flow packet received by a first endpoint, wherein the first multi-media data flow packet is within a series of multi-media data flow packets; pseudo-randomly shuffling the sequence number of the first multi-media data flow packet; and, transmitting the pseudo-randomly shuffled sequence number to a second endpoint. These steps may be performed by a programmed controller, or other hardware, instead of, or in addition to, being performed in accordance with software.

US Patent:

7633943, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Mar 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/368922

Inventors:

Patrick J. MeLampy - Papperell MA, US
Ephraim W. Dobbins - Windham NH, US
Stephen E. Norton - Merrimac MA, US
Robert F. Penfield - Concord MA, US

Assignee:

Acme Packet, Inc. - Burlington MA

International Classification:

H04L 12/28

US Classification:

370392, 370401

Abstract:

A system and method for providing rapid rerouting of real-time transport protocol (RTP) multi-media flows is disclosed. Generally, a first endpoint is connected to a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint comprises a transceiver, software stored within the first endpoint defining functions to be performed by the first endpoint, and a processor configured by the software. The processor is configured to perform the steps of, performing flow processing on a data packet received at a first endpoint, from a second endpoint, removing a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) tag from the data packet, translating a source address and destination address of the data packet, and determining a forwarding destination if more than one destination address of the data packet is provided.

US Patent:

7764679, Jul 27, 2010

Filed:

Dec 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/616771

Inventors:

Patrick John MeLampy - Pepperell MA, US
Ephraim W. Dobbins - Windham NH, US
Stephen E. Norton - Merrimac MA, US
Robert F. Penfield - Concord MA, US

Assignee:

Acme Packet, Inc. - Burlington MA

International Classification:

H04L 12/28

US Classification:

370389, 370392, 370401

Abstract:

Systems and methods for determining lost packets for real-time transport protocol (RTP) data flows is disclosed. Generally, a first endpoint is connected to a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint comprises a transceiver, software stored within the first endpoint defining functions to be performed by the first endpoint, and a processor. The processor is configured by the software to perform the steps of determining a sequence number of a received RTP data packet within said RTP data flow, storing said determined sequence number, calculating whether said determined sequence number sequentially falls within a predetermined numerical order, and if said sequence number of said received RTP data packet does not sequentially fall within said numerical order, storing said sequence number as a missed RTP data packet.

US Patent:

7778268, Aug 17, 2010

Filed:

Sep 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/522122

Inventors:

Mohiuddin M. Khan - Lowell MA, US
Stephen Norton - Merrimac MA, US

Assignee:

Acme Packet, Inc. - Burlington MA

International Classification:

H04J 3/17

US Classification:

370435, 370220, 370244

Abstract:

Systems and methods for redundancy in a network device are disclosed. An exemplary network device comprises: a plurality of data forwarding elements (DFEs); and a redundant control plane. The redundant control plane comprises: an active control processor for configuring forwarding operation of each of the DFEs; an active layer-2 switch coupled to the active control processor and to each of the DFEs; a standby control processor; and a standby layer-2 switch coupled to the standby control processor and to each of the DFEs. The active control processor is programmed in a full-mesh so that the active control processor is in communication with each of the DFEs. The standby control processor is programmed in a full-mesh so that the standby control processor is in communication with each of the DFEs.

US Patent:

7362707, Apr 22, 2008

Filed:

Jul 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/911256

Inventors:

Patrick J. MeLampy - Pepperell MA, US
Ephraim W. Dobbins - Windham NH, US
Stephen E. Norton - Merrimac MA, US
Robert F. Penfield - Concord MA, US

Assignee:

Acme Packet, Inc. - Burlington MA

International Classification:

H04L 12/26

US Classification:

370235, 370252

Abstract:

A system and method for determining flow quality statistics for real-time transport protocol (RTP) data flows is disclosed. Generally, a first endpoint is connected to a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint comprises a transceiver, software stored within the first endpoint defining functions to be performed by the first endpoint, and a processor. The processor is configured by the software to perform the steps of, determining latency for the RTP data flows, determining jitter for the RTP data flows, and/or determining lost packets for the RTP data flows. Latency is determined by the first endpoint transmitting a test data packet to the second endpoint; the second endpoint looping the test data packet back to the first endpoint; comparing when the test data packet was received by the first endpoint to when the test data packet was sent to the second endpoint, to determine a round trip time; and, dividing the round trip time in two, resulting in the latency. Jitter is determined by beginning a timer when a first data packet of an RTP data flow is received by the first endpoint; stopping the timer when a second data packet of the RTP data flow is received by the first endpoint; and, adding measured time from the beginning of the timer to the stopping of the timer to an aggregate to obtain the jitter for the RTP data flow. Lost packets are determined by determining a sequence number of a received RTP data packet within the RTP data flow; storing the determined sequence number; calculating whether the determined sequence number sequentially falls within a numerical order; and, if the sequence number of the received RTP data packet does not sequentially fall within the numerical order, storing the sequence number as a missed RTP data packet.