US6308239B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interface switching apparatus and switching control method
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1997-11-05
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Granted: 2001-10-23
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Expires: 2017-11-05
Abstract
Abstract In order to share a device among a plurality of hosts, a switching section is adapted to select one of the hosts by switching and connect it to the device by a serial interface. The switching section can be controlled from the particular host through at least an interface cable. When the switching section switches the host to be connected with the device, power continues to be supplied to the device. Further, a connection recognition protocol to be transmitted from the device when beginning to supply power to the device is transmitted from the switching section. In this way, a quick switching operation free of protocol contradictions is made possible without causing any hardware resetting of the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideyuki Osakada
- 👤 Ryuichi Hattori
- 👤 Yukihiro Seki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4004; G06F13/4022; G06F2213/00; G06F2213/40; G06F2213/4004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A switching control method for a switch having a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts with a device through a single route, said switch including a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential signal lines as an interface for connecting said hosts and said device, said method performed in said switch and comprising the steps of: receiving a control command for switching the route through said serial interface from one of said hosts; controlling the switching of said serial interface based on said control command; in a case of detecting depression of a manual change-over switch capable of switching a connection route of said serial interface arbitrarily, determining the switching command from said one of said hosts with a predetermined priority; and switching the route between said one of said hosts and said device in accordance with said priority upon said detection of a depression of a manual change-over switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A switching control method for a switch having a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts with a device through a single route, said switch including a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential signal lines as an interface for connecting said hosts and said device, said method performed in said switch and comprising the steps of: receiving a control command for switching the route through said serial interface from one of said hosts; controlling the switching of said serial interface based on said control command; in a case of detecting depression of a manual change-over switch capable of switching a connection route of said serial interface arbitrarily, determining the switching command from said one of said hosts with a predetermined priority; and switching the route between said one of said hosts and said device in accordance with said priority upon said detection of a depression of a manual change-over switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
A switching control method for a switch having a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, said switch including a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential signal lines as an interface for connecting said hosts and said device, said method performed in said switch and comprising the steps of: checking a power supply line at said interface of one of said plurality of hosts to which said single route is to be switched; and invalidating, when it is determined in said checking step that a voltage sufficient for operating said device is not being supplied to said power supply line, a command for switching said single route to said one of said plurality of hosts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A switching control method for a switch having a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, said switch including a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential signal lines as an interface for connecting said hosts and said device, said method performed in said switch and comprising the steps of: checking a power supply line at said interface of one of said plurality of hosts to which said single route is to be switched; and invalidating, when it is determined in said checking step that a voltage sufficient for operating said device is not being supplied to said power supply line, a command for switching said single route to said one of said plurality of hosts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching control method according to claim 2 , wherein a USB (Universal Serial Bus) is applied to said serial interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
A switching control method for a switch having a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, said switch including a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential signal lines as an interface for connecting said hosts and said device, said method performed in said switch and comprising the steps of: determining validity of said plurality of hosts connected thereto; invalidating switching to any of said plurality of hosts recognized as an invalid connection: providing a system for outputting a switching control signal for said switch; producing said switching control signal from said system; and switching an interface other than the serial interface based on said switching control signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
A switching control method for a switch having a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, said switch including a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential signal lines as an interface for connecting said hosts and said device, said method performed in said switch and comprising the steps of: determining validity of said plurality of hosts connected thereto; invalidating switching to any of said plurality of hosts recognized as an invalid connection: providing a system for outputting a switching control signal for said switch; producing said switching control signal from said system; and switching an interface other than the serial interface based on said switching control signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching control method according to claim 4 , wherein a USB (Universal Serial Bus) is applied to said serial interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A switch including a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, comprising: a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential lines as a connection interface between said plurality of hosts, said device and said switch; and switching means for checking a power supply line at said interface of one of said plurality of hosts to which said single route is to be switched, and for invalidating, when it is determined by said checking that a voltage sufficient for operating said device is not being supplied to said power supply line, a command for switching said single route to said on of said plurality of hosts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A switch including a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, comprising: a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential lines as a connection interface between said plurality of hosts, said device and said switch; and switching means for checking a power supply line at said interface of one of said plurality of hosts to which said single route is to be switched, and for invalidating, when it is determined by said checking that a voltage sufficient for operating said device is not being supplied to said power supply line, a command for switching said single route to said on of said plurality of hosts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A switch including a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, comprising: a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential lines as a connection interface between said plurality of hosts, said device and said switch; switching means for determining validity of the host connected thereto and for invalidating a command for switching to one of said hosts a connection which has been recognized as invalid; a system for outputting a switching control signal for said switch; and interface switching means for switching an interface other than said serial interface based on said switching control signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A switch including a serial interface for selectively connecting one of a plurality of hosts to a device through a single route, comprising: a dynamic insertion and removal serial interface having a power supply and at least a pair of differential lines as a connection interface between said plurality of hosts, said device and said switch; switching means for determining validity of the host connected thereto and for invalidating a command for switching to one of said hosts a connection which has been recognized as invalid; a system for outputting a switching control signal for said switch; and interface switching means for switching an interface other than said serial interface based on said switching control signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-22 | 2005-04-23 | 2005-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-22 | 2009-04-23 | 2009-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-22 | 2013-04-23 | 2013-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |