{
  "patent_number": "US 9661085",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Managing External Network Hardware as if It Were Inside the Switch",
  "original_title": "Federated management of intelligent service modules",
  "summary": "A method for managing external network service hardware by treating it as part of the main switch's internal system using a virtual connection.",
  "what_it_does": "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.",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2015-08-12",
  "granted": "2017-05-23",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Brocade Communications Systems LLC",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/brocade-communications-systems-llc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Bruce L. Younglove",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/bruce-l-younglove"
    },
    {
      "name": "Corey R. Hill",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/corey-r-hill"
    },
    {
      "name": "Joseph I. Chamdani",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/joseph-i-chamdani"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gurumurthy D. Ramkumar",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/gurumurthy-d-ramkumar"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 1,
  "tags": [
    "telecommunications",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "semiconductors"
  ],
  "abstract": "Intelligent services are provided in a storage network using intelligent service modules that can be cabled to a switch external to the switch chassis and yet be managed as part of the switch's logical domain. Data and management communications between the intelligent service module and the core switch are provided through a “soft-backplane” implemented using in-band communications through cabling attached between the switch and the intelligent service module rather than through a hardwired backplane within the chassis. Management communications from management software is directed to the switch, which handles the management functions relating to the intelligent service module or forwards the management requests to the intelligent service module for processing.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9661085/facebook-audience-network",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9661085/facebook-audience-network/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US9661085",
  "relatedPatents": []
}