Method and apparatus for enabling enhanced USB interaction
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for enabling enhanced interaction across a USB interconnect between a host and a peripheral device capable of performing a plurality of functions including enabling selection and execution of a vendor-specific support software supporting peripheral devices of a specific vendor by sending a first identification data to the host indicating that the peripheral device is of the same specific vendor and indicating that the peripheral device performs at least one of the functions indicated to be supported by the vendor-specific support software, awaiting receipt of an indication from the host that the vendor-specific support software has been selected and executed, simulating a detachment from and attachment to the host; and enabling the vendor-specific support software to again be selected and executed by sending a second identification data to the host indicating that the peripheral device is of the same specific vendor and indicating that the peripheral device performs multiple ones of the functions indicated to be supported by the vendor-specific software.
1. A method of enabling enhanced interaction across a USB interconnect between a host and a peripheral device capable of performing a first plurality of functions, the method comprising:
enabling an interface software executed by a processor of the host to select and execute a vendor-specific support software indicating support for peripheral devices of a specific vendor and indicating support for a second plurality of functions, by sending a first identification data to the host indicating that the peripheral device is of the same specific vendor and indicating that the peripheral device performs at least one function among the second plurality of functions;
awaiting receipt of an indication from the host that the vendor-specific support software has been selected by the interface software and has been executed;
thereafter simulating a detachment from the host;
simulating an attachment to the host; and
thereafter enabling the interface software to again select and execute the vendor-specific support software by sending a second identification data to the host indicating that the peripheral device is of the same specific vendor and indicating that the peripheral device performs multiple ones of the functions among both the first and second plurality of functions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of functions comprises at least some of: storing names and addresses, tracking schedules, receiving data from a wireless network and wireless voice communication.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one function among the second plurality of functions is also among the first plurality of functions.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the same specific vendor indicated in the first identification data and the second identification data is the vendor of the peripheral device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication from the host that the vendor-specific support software has been selected by the interface software and has been executed is received by the peripheral device as a query of what functions are among the first plurality of functions.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second identification data indicates that the peripheral device performs all of the functions among the first plurality of functions.
7. A peripheral device capable of performing a first plurality of functions, the peripheral device comprising:
a first processor;
an interface structured to enable attaching the electronic device to a host; and
a storage having stored therein a first interface software comprising a sequence of instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to:
enable a second interface software executed by a second processor of the host to select and execute a vendor-specific support software indicating support for peripheral devices of a specific vendor and indicating support for a second plurality of functions, by sending a first indication data to the host indicating that the peripheral device is of the same specific vendor and indicating that the peripheral device performs at least one function among the second plurality of functions;
await receipt of an indication from the host that the vendor-specific support software has been selected by the second interface software and has been executed;
thereafter simulate a detachment from the host;
simulate an attachment to the host; and
thereafter enable the second interface software to again select and execute the vendor-specific support software by sending a second identification data to the host indicating that the peripheral device is of the same specific vendor and indicating that the peripheral device performs multiple ones of the functions among both the first and second plurality of functions.
8. The peripheral device of claim 7 , wherein the peripheral device is a handheld electronic device, the peripheral device further comprising a keyboard, a display and a wireless link.
9. The peripheral device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one function among the second plurality of functions is that of a mass storage device.
10. The peripheral device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one function among the second plurality of functions is also among the first plurality of functions.
11. The peripheral device of claim 7 , wherein the same specific vendor indicated in the first identification data and the second identification data is the vendor of the peripheral device.
12. The peripheral device of claim 7 , wherein the second identification data indicates that the peripheral device performs all of the functions among the first plurality of functions.