Hewlett-packard Company

Chelsio Communications, Inc.

Nortel Networks Corporation

Shenze Chen

Manu Thapar

Asgeir Thor Eiriksson

Patricio Kaplan

George E Smith

Norival R Figueira

An interface device is associated with a local device. The interface device is configured to process payload data messages among the local device and peer devices. The payload data messages encapsulated according to a particular protocol. In at least one of the local device and the interface device, configuration messages are generated. The configuration messages are communicated among the local device and the interface device, the configuration messages associated with configuring the operation of the local device and the interface device with respect to the payload data messages.

Method for using a protocol language to avoid separate channels for control messages involving encapsulated payload data messages

A host station and a scatter gather engine (SGE) station communicate with each other. In the host station, a host generation indication is maintained. In the SGE station, an SGE generation indication is maintained. Information, including the host generation indication maintained in the host station, is written into an entry of a data structure in a memory associated with the host station. In the SGE station, information is received from each of at least one of the entries of the data structure. The received information is processed, including comparing the SGE generation indication maintained in the SGE station to the host generation indication in the entry to determine whether the information in that entry includes valid information.

Scalable direct memory access using validation of host and scatter gather engine (SGE) generation indications

A method and apparatus are provided for making admission decisions in a packet switched network, such as a Differentiated Services (DiffServ) Packet Network. According to one aspect of the present invention, admission control decisions are based upon local information. An average premium service bandwidth utilized on an output link of a network device during a predetermined window of time is calculated. A determination regarding whether to accept or reject a request for a premium service flow involving the output link is made based upon the request, a total premium service bandwidth available on the output link, the average premium service bandwidth, and bandwidth request information associated with one or more flows that have been admitted within a predetermined holding time interval. According to another aspect of the present invention, multicast flows are supported. A measure of utilized premium service bandwidth is calculated for each of the output links of a multicast-capable network device. A request for premium service bandwidth for a multicast session is forwarded onto those of the output links specified by a multicast routing protocol which have sufficient premium service bandwidth available to accommodate the request based upon the total premium service bandwidth available on the output link, the measure of utilized premium service bandwidth on the output link, and the request. For each of the output links associated with the multicast session, a link state is maintained. The link state indicates the current state of a state machine that determines the behavior of the multicast-capable network device for the corresponding output link of the multicast session. Multicast packets that are subsequently received are forwarded according to the link states associated with the output links.

Providing admission control and network quality of service with a distributed bandwidth broker

A disk control mechanism for controlling the operations of a movable arm disk drive. The disk control mechanism contains a disk access scheduler which accepts disk access requests having a deadline and a disk location. The disk access scheduler further consists of a queue data structure for storing the requests. The queue contains a predefinded window that contains a certain number of requests with deadlines to expire sooner than all other requests. The request that is most soon to expire, the most urgent request, is located at the head of the queue. The disk access scheduler contains logic to determine whether the most urgent request has a deadline to expire sooner than tolerated by a set threshold, and in such cases the disk access scheduler schedules for service the most urgent request prior to any other request, otherwise it scans towards the most urgent request and schedules requests with a disk location between the current arm location and the most urgent request.

Deadline driven disk scheduler method and apparatus with thresholded

A method of storing video programs, such as movies, for video-on-demand access includes forming a hierarchy for the movies based upon anticipated frequencies of access. Typically, more than one magnetic disk is used to store the video programs, with each disk being partitioned into concentric annular zones. In one embodiment, there is a direct correspondence between the hierarchy and the assignment of video programs to the annular zones. The movies that are anticipated to have the highest frequency of video-on-demand access are placed in the radially outermost zone until it is filled. The next highest video program is then recorded in the next zone. This pattern is followed until the radially innermost zone is filled. In a second embodiment, the same pattern is followed, but with the movies within the outer zones being strategically located within those zones in order to potentially reduce seek time. In a third embodiment, the highest rated video program in the hierarchy is located in a zone somewhat inwardly from the radially outermost zone, again attempting to provide a grouping that reduces seek time. In a last embodiment, the highest rated video programs in the hierarchy are recorded in the outermost zone, but the remaining video programs are recorded in a random fashion. This last embodiment trades some of the high bandwidth benefit at outer zones for the benefit of ease of implementation.

Zone bit recording enhanced video data layout

A method for layout of digitized media, movies, especially on discs, whereby storage capacity and bandwidth are optimized and near video on demand is accomplished. Several embodiments are taught, including request stimulated near video on demand model which employs the inventive layout strategy taught.

Digital layout method suitable for near video on demand system

The present invention is an apparatus and method for using the dual port feature of Fibre Channel to allow multiple computer hosts to simultaneously access a cluster of memory units that are Fibre Channel arbitrated. Typical multiple host access schemes require an expensive Fibre Channel switch and do not allow simultaneous accessing. The dual port feature of Fibre Channel devices provides for fault tolerance and redundancy, but can be used for the present invention.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Shenze Chen