Method for selectively activating and deactivating devices having same first address and different extended addresses

Claim 1

A method for transferring signals and data, wherein the signals and data are transferred under the control of a host computer between the host computer and first and second peripheral devices, wherein the signals and data are transferred over a bus coupling the first and second peripheral devices to the host computer, wherein the first and second peripheral devices are initially inactive, and wherein the first and second peripheral devices have a same first address, comprising the steps of: the host computer initially activating the first peripheral device by transmitting over the bus (1) the first address of the first peripheral device and (2) a signal that matches a first number stored as an extended address of the first peripheral device, wherein the second peripheral device remains inactive; after the first peripheral device is activated, the host computer sending a command over the bus to the first address of the first peripheral device, wherein the first peripheral device executes the command without the host computer sending the extended address of the first peripheral device, and wherein the second peripheral device remains inactive; the host computer both activating the second peripheral device and deactivating the first peripheral device by transmitting over the bus a second number as an extended address, wherein the second number is the extended address of the second peripheral device, and wherein the second number is different from the first number; after the second peripheral device is activated, the host computer sending a command over the bus to the first address of the second peripheral device, wherein the second peripheral device executes the command without the host computer sending the extended address of the second peripheral device, and wherein the first peripheral device remains inactive.

Claim 2

A method for transferring signals and data, wherein the signals and data are transferred under the control of a host computer between the host computer and first and second peripheral devices, wherein the signals and data are transferred over a bus coupling the first and second peripheral devices to the host computer, wherein the first and second peripheral devices are initially inactive, and wherein the first and second peripheral devices have a same first address, comprising the steps of: the host computer initially activating the first peripheral device by transmitting over the bus (1) the first address of the first peripheral device and (2) a signal that matches a first number stored as an extended address of the first peripheral device, wherein the second peripheral device remains inactive; after the first peripheral device is activated, the host computer sending a command over the bus to the first address of the first peripheral device, wherein the first peripheral device executes the command without the host computer sending the extended address of the first peripheral device, and wherein the second peripheral device remains inactive; the host computer both activating the second peripheral device and deactivating the first peripheral device by transmitting over the bus a second number as an extended address, wherein the second number is the extended address of the second peripheral device, and wherein the second number is different from the first number; after the second peripheral device is activated, the host computer sending a command over the bus to the first address of the second peripheral device, wherein the second peripheral device executes the command without the host computer sending the extended address of the second peripheral device, and wherein the first peripheral device remains inactive.