US6600739B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for switching among a plurality of universal serial bus host devices
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 1999-06-07
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Granted: 2003-07-29
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Expires: 2019-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A switching device and method for selecting among a plurality of hosts on a bus, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB). The switching device includes a first hub to be coupled to first host controller and a second hub to be coupled to second host controller. A first selection device is to be coupled to a first peripheral device and the first and second hub devices. The first selection device is to selectively couple the first peripheral device to one of the first and second host devices in response to a selection signal. A second selection device is to be coupled to a second peripheral device and the first and second hub devices. The second selection device is to selectively couple the second peripheral device to one of the first and second host controllers in response to the selection signal. The selection signal is generated in response to one of the host controllers. During the switching process among the host controllers and peripheral devices, a cable disconnect and reconnect between the host controllers and peripheral devices is emulated.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith M. Evans
- 👤 Kevin P. Grundy
- 👤 Craig B. Owens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4004; G06F13/4022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A switching device, comprising: a first hub device coupled to a first host device; a second hub device coupled to a second host device; a first selection device coupled to a first peripheral device and the first and second hub devices, the first selection device to selectively couple the first peripheral device to one of the first and second host devices in response to a selection signal; and a second selection device coupled to a second peripheral device and the first and second hub devices, the second selection device to selectively couple the second peripheral device to said one of the first and second host devices in response to the selection signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A switching device, comprising: a first hub device coupled to a first host device; a second hub device coupled to a second host device; a first selection device coupled to a first peripheral device and the first and second hub devices, the first selection device to selectively couple the first peripheral device to one of the first and second host devices in response to a selection signal; and a second selection device coupled to a second peripheral device and the first and second hub devices, the second selection device to selectively couple the second peripheral device to said one of the first and second host devices in response to the selection signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The switching device described in claim 1 wherein the first host device is coupled to the second host device through a link.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The switching device described in claim 1 wherein the selection signal is generated in response to the first host device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The switching device described in claim 1 wherein the first and second peripheral devices are selectively coupled to said one of the first and second host devices through the first and second hub devices according to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The switching device described in claim 2 wherein the first host device is further coupled to the second hub device such that the link comprises the second hub device.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for switching between a plurality of Universal Serial Bus (USB) host devices from being coupled to a USB peripheral device, the method comprising the steps of: generating a host select signal; and switching an upstream port of the USB peripheral device from being coupled to a downstream port of a first USB hub device to a downstream port of a second USB hub device in response to the host select signal, wherein a first one of the USB host devices is coupled to an upstream port of the first USB hub device and a second one of the USB host devices is coupled to an upstream port of the second USB hub device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for switching between a plurality of Universal Serial Bus (USB) host devices from being coupled to a USB peripheral device, the method comprising the steps of: generating a host select signal; and switching an upstream port of the USB peripheral device from being coupled to a downstream port of a first USB hub device to a downstream port of a second USB hub device in response to the host select signal, wherein a first one of the USB host devices is coupled to an upstream port of the first USB hub device and a second one of the USB host devices is coupled to an upstream port of the second USB hub device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method described in claim 6 including the additional step of coupling together the first and second ones of the USB host devices through a link.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method described in claim 7 wherein the host select signal is generated in response to the first one of the USB host devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method described in claim 7 wherein the host select signal is generated in response to the second one of the USB host devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method described in claim 6 wherein the following steps are performed during the switching step: emulating an asynchronous cable disconnect from the first one of the USB host devices; and emulating an asynchronous cable reconnect to the second one of the USB host devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method described in claim 6 wherein the following steps are performed during the switching step: presenting the downstream port of the first one of the USB host devices a disconnect state; and presenting the downstream port of the second one of the USB host devices a new bus state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method described in claim 11 wherein the step of presenting the upstream port of the USB peripheral device the new bus state is performed during the switching step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method described in claim 6 including the additional step of issuing a USB reset command by the second one of the USB host devices to the USB peripheral device after the switching step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method described in claim 6 including the additional step of latching a signal received by the upstream port of the USB peripheral device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
137 words
A device adapted to be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus (USB), comprising: a first USB hub device coupled to the first USB host device; a second USB hub device coupled to the second USB host device; a first selection device coupled to a first USB peripheral device and the first and second USB hub devices, the first selection device to selectively couple the first USB peripheral device to one of a first USB host device and a second USB host device in response to a selection signal; and a second selection device coupled to a second USB peripheral device and the first and second USB hub devices, the second selection device to selectively couple the second USB peripheral device to said one of the first and second USB host devices in response to the selection signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A device adapted to be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus (USB), comprising: a first USB hub device coupled to the first USB host device; a second USB hub device coupled to the second USB host device; a first selection device coupled to a first USB peripheral device and the first and second USB hub devices, the first selection device to selectively couple the first USB peripheral device to one of a first USB host device and a second USB host device in response to a selection signal; and a second selection device coupled to a second USB peripheral device and the first and second USB hub devices, the second selection device to selectively couple the second USB peripheral device to said one of the first and second USB host devices in response to the selection signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device described in claim 15 wherein the first USB host device is coupled to the second USB host device through a link.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device described in claim 15 wherein the selection signal is generated in response to the first USB host device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device described in claim 16 wherein the first USB host device is further coupled to the second USB hub device such that the link comprises the second USB hub device.
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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) | 2006-07-28 | 2007-01-27 | 2007-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-28 | 2011-01-27 | 2011-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-28 | 2015-01-27 | 2015-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |