IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,903,727
Granted Patent B2
US 6,903,727 · App. 10/065,333 · Granted Jun 7, 2005

Integrated virtual hub chip

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,903,727
App. No.
10/065,333
Granted
Jun 7, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus that includes a serial port configured to interface with a separate host, one serial interface engine (SIE) connected to the serial port, and at least a first interface unit and a second interface unit connected to the one serial interface engine. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a virtual hub comprising a firmware unit configured to emulate a hub having multiple ports. In an alternative embodiment, the first interface unit is a keyboard interface, and the second interface unit is a flash media drive interface. In another alternative embodiment, is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral and the serial port is a Universal Serial Bus port. In another alternative embodiment, apparatus is housed within a keyboard.

Claims (13)

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a serial port configured to interface with a separate host;

one serial interface engine (SIE) connected to the serial port;

at least a first interface unit is a keyboard and a second interface unit is a flash media drive connected to the serial interface engine; and

a virtual hub comprising a firmware unit configured to emulate a hub having multiple ports.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first interface unit is a keyboard interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second interface unit is a flash media drive interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is housed within a keyboard.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral and the serial port is a Universal Serial Bus port.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the serial interface engine is connected to a controller, and the first interface unit and the second interface unit are connected to the controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a third interface unit is connected to the serial interface unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the serial port, the serial interface engine (SIE), and the first interface unit and a second interface unit are integrated on a single device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a third interface is connected to the serial port, the third interface having a second serial interface engine.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2016
From: TECHNOLOGY PROPERTIES LIMITED LLC
To: MCM PORTFOLIO LLC
Reel/Frame 037992/0495 →