System and method for interfacing an electronic device with a host system

1. A method for controlling a communications interface for a device, the communications interface configurable to connect to a host using a microprocessor in the device having a first bus controller and a second bus controller, the second bus controller external to said microprocessor, the method comprising:

establishing an initial connection to said host by said device;

conducting negotiations with said host by said device to set a first data transmission rate for said device for said initial connection utilizing a communication bus controller contained in the microprocessor; and

after detecting completion of enumeration of said device, re-establishing said connection by said device using the second bus controller in said device that processes said communications at a second transmission rate that is higher than said first data transmission rate.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein while said device is establishing said connection:

signals from said connection are used to charge a battery of said device; and

said microprocessor operates in a low-power mode.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when said connection is re-established, said microprocessor operates in a higher power mode than said low-power mode.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

said bus is a Universal Serial Bus ‘USB’ bus;

said first data transmission rate is a full-speed USB rate; and

said second data transmission rate is a high-speed USB rate.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said negotiations comprise:

initiating a command to simulate attachment of said device to said host; and

generating and sending a signal by said device that said device is capable of communicating at said first data transmission rate.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said negotiations further comprise initiating an enumeration process at said device by establishing a configuration for said device to allow said device to terminate the enumeration process.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein if said detecting completion of enumeration of said device is satisfied, said device:

initiates a command to simulate detachment of said device from said host;

initiates a command to simulate a second attachment of said device to said host; and

generates and sends a signal as being capable of communicating at said second data transmission rate.

8. The method claimed in claim 7 , further comprising upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition, enumerating said connection from said second data transmission rate to said first data transmission rate.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said enumerating said connection comprises:

initiating a command to simulate a second detachment of said device from said host;

initiating a command to simulate a third attachment of said device to said host; and

generating and sending a signal by said device indicating that said device is capable of communicating at said first data transmission rate.

10. A controller for interfacing communications for a device, the controller configurable to connect to a host using a microprocessor in the device, the controller comprising:

a first bus controller for processing communications received by said device from said host at a first data transmission rate;

a second bus controller external to said microprocessor for processing communications received by said device from said host at a second transmission rate that is higher than said first data transmission rate;

a module for monitoring for an initial connection of said device with said host; and

a controller module for activating said first bus controller while said device is establishing said connection and after completion of enumeration of said device, for activating said second bus controller.

11. The controller as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a battery charging module for charging a battery powering said device, wherein while said device is establishing said connection, said battery charging module uses signals from said connection to charge said battery of said device and said microprocessor is arranged to operate in a low-power mode.

12. The controller as claimed in claim 11 , wherein when said connection is re-established, said microprocessor is set to operate at a higher power mode than said low-power mode.

13. The controller as claimed in claim 10 , wherein:

said bus comprises a Universal Serial Bus ‘USB’ bus;

said first data transmission rate comprises a full-speed USB rate; and

said second data transmission rate comprises a high-speed USB rate.

14. The controller as claimed in claim 10 , wherein to initiate said negotiations, said controller module:

initiates a command to simulate attachment of said device to said host; and

generates a signal receivable by said host that said device is capable of communicating at said first data transmission rate.

15. The controller as claimed in claim 14 , wherein to initiate said negotiations, said negotiations further initiates an enumeration process at said device by establishing a configuration for said device to allow said device to terminate the enumeration process.

16. The controller as claimed in claim 10 , wherein if said detecting completion of enumeration of said device is satisfied, said controller module:

initiates a command to simulate detachment of said device from said host;

initiates a command to simulate a second attachment of said device to said host; and

generates a signal receivable by said host that said device is capable of communicating at said second data transmission rate.

17. The controller as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said controller module further initiates a second process to enumerate said connection from said second data transmission rate to said first data transmission rate, said second process being initiated upon satisfaction of a second predetermined condition.

18. The controller as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said second process comprises:

initiating a command to simulate a second detachment of said device from said host;

initiating a command to simulate a third attachment of said device to said host; and

generating a signal receivable by said host that said device is being capable of communicating at said first data transmission rate.

19. The controller as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said second predetermined condition relates to any one of a current power state of said device, current time associated with said device or a current location of said device.