Managing External Network Hardware as if It Were Inside the Switch
A method for managing external network service hardware by treating it as part of the main switch's internal system using a virtual connection.
Original patent title: “Federated management of intelligent service modules”
A method for managing external network service hardware by treating it as part of the main switch's internal system using a virtual connection. Granted to Brocade Communications Systems LLC in 2017 with 23 claims and 1 forward citation.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to connect specialized network hardware (an intelligent service module) to a main network switch using standard cables, while still allowing the switch to control that hardware as if it were plugged directly into the switch's internal backplane. Instead of needing a physical, hardwired connection inside the switch chassis, the system uses 'in-band' communication, meaning management data travels over the same cables used for network traffic. The switch acts as a traffic controller, receiving management requests, reading the routing information inside those requests, and forwarding them to the correct external module. This allows network administrators to scale their services by adding external modules without needing to replace the entire switch chassis.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover management of hardware that is physically integrated inside the switch chassis.
- Does not cover systems that rely on a dedicated, non-networked management cable (out-of-band) for control.
- Does not cover hardware that is not part of the same logical domain as the switch.
- Does not cover wireless or non-cabled communication between the switch and the service module.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation is the 'soft-backplane,' which uses standard network packet routing (IP forwarding) to simulate a physical, internal connection between the switch and an external device, effectively extending the switch's reach over existing cabling.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Data center storage area networks (SANs)
Modular enterprise network switches
External network security appliances managed by a central core switch
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In large data centers, physical space and power inside a switch chassis are limited. This technology allows companies to offload complex tasks like encryption, deep packet inspection, or load balancing to external boxes while keeping the management simple. It helps engineers maintain a unified view of their network infrastructure even as they add specialized, modular hardware to handle increasing traffic demands.
Filed
August 12, 2015
Granted
May 23, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Brocade Communications Systems, which was acquired by Broadcom, historically focused on these types of storage networking solutions. Modern data center infrastructure providers continue to use modular architectures that allow for external service blades or appliances to be managed via centralized software-defined networking (SDN) controllers.
Market impact
This patent reflects a shift toward disaggregated network hardware, where the control plane is separated from the physical chassis. It helped enable the 'modular' data center trend, allowing operators to upgrade specific service capabilities without replacing core switching fabric, which reduces capital expenditure and hardware waste.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to connect specialized network hardware (an intelligent service module) to a main network switch using standard cables, while still allowing the switch to control that hardware as if it were plugged directly into the switch's internal backplane. Instead of needing a physical, hardwired connection inside the switch chassis, the system uses 'in-band' communication, meaning management data travels over the same cables used for network traffic. The switch acts as a traffic controller, receiving management requests, reading the routing information inside those requests, and forwarding them to the correct external module. This allows network administrators to scale their services by adding external modules without needing to replace the entire switch chassis.
The clever bit
The innovation is the 'soft-backplane,' which uses standard network packet routing (IP forwarding) to simulate a physical, internal connection between the switch and an external device, effectively extending the switch's reach over existing cabling.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover management of hardware that is physically integrated inside the switch chassis.
- Does not cover systems that rely on a dedicated, non-networked management cable (out-of-band) for control.
- Does not cover hardware that is not part of the same logical domain as the switch.
- Does not cover wireless or non-cabled communication between the switch and the service module.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$68K – $218K
Midpoint $137K · 9.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Younglove, B. L., Hill, C. R., Chamdani, J. I., & Ramkumar, G. D. (2017). Managing External Network Hardware as if It Were Inside the Switch (U.S. Patent No. 9,661,085). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9661085/facebook-audience-network
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Managing External Network Hardware as if It Were Inside the Switch cover?
A method for managing external network service hardware by treating it as part of the main switch's internal system using a virtual connection.
Who owns patent US 9661085?
Brocade Communications Systems LLC owns this patent, granted in 2017.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 23, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9661085 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
In large data centers, physical space and power inside a switch chassis are limited. This technology allows companies to offload complex tasks like encryption, deep packet inspection, or load balancing to external boxes while keeping the management simple. It helps engineers maintain a unified view of their network infrastructure even as they add specialized, modular hardware to handle increasing traffic demands.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover management of hardware that is physically integrated inside the switch chassis.
Patent monitoring