Link system for establishing high speed network communications and file transfer between hosts using I/O device links
A High Speed Link System providing network and data transfer capabilities, implemented via standard input/output (I/O) device controllers, protocols, cables and components, to connect one or more Host computing systems, comprising a System, Apparatus and Method is claimed; and described in one or more embodiments. An illustrative embodiment of the invention connects two or more Host systems via USB 3.0 ports and cables, establishing Network, Control, Data Exchange, and Power management required to route and transfer data at high speeds, as well as resource sharing. A Link System established using USB 3.0 operates at the full 4.8 Gbps, eliminating losses inherent when translating to, or encapsulating within, a network protocol, such as the Internet Protocol. Method claimed herein describes how two or more connected Host systems, detect one another, and establish separate communication and data exchange bridges, wherein control sequences from the Hosts' application direct the operation of the Apparatus.
1. A system for transferring data between a first host computer and a second host computer comprising:
a first host computer capable of independently sending and receiving data and control information;
a second host computer capable of independently sending and receiving data and control information;
a first network interface controller comprising at least two input/output (I/O) device controllers and a means for receiving power to the first network interface controller, wherein each I/O device controller of the first network interface controller is communicatively coupled to the first host computer, and wherein a first of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to a shared control bus and a second of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to a shared data bus; and
a second network interface controller comprising at least two I/O device controllers and a means for receiving power to the second network interface controller, wherein each I/O device controller is communicatively coupled to the second host computer, and wherein a first of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to the shared control bus and a second of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to the shared data bus;
wherein the first network interface controller and the second network interface controller interconnect the first host computer and the second host computer to the shared control bus and the shared data bus to thereby establish a network path between the first host computer and the second host computer; and
wherein data exchanges with the shared control and data buses may be coordinated by independent host computers to effect a network.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first host computer and the second host computer each comprise installed software which when executed establishes the network between the first host computer and the second host computer and provides for the transfer of data and control information over the network.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the installed software when executed establishes a control link over a control path and a data link over a data path.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the installed software when executed establishes one or more further control links for security, software updates or other administrative capabilities.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the installed software further comprises a network and control manager adapted to create a temporary interconnection between the first host computer and the second host computer and to establish addressing and a data manager adapted to transact data and file transfers between the first host computer and the second host computer.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an I/O encoder in at least one of the first and second network interface controllers for encoding raw data received by the I/O device controller communicatively coupled to the shared data bus for transmission across the shared data bus.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communicative coupling between the first network interface controller and the first host computer is adapted for the communication of differential signals.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communicative coupling between the first network interface controller and the first host computer includes a hub.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communicative coupling between the first network interface controller and the first host computer includes, over a single connection to the first host computer, a first electronic path from the first of the at least two I/O device controllers and a second electronic path from the second of the at least two I/O device controllers.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more further host computers each capable of independently sending and receiving data and control information;
one or more further network interface controllers each comprising at least two I/O device controllers and a means for receiving power to the third network interface controller, wherein each I/O device controller of the one or more further network interface controllers is communicatively coupled to one of the one or more further host computers, and wherein a first of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to the shared control bus and a second of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to the shared data bus;
wherein the first network interface controller, the second network interface controller and the one or more further network interface controllers interconnect the first host computer, the second host computer and the one or more further host computers across the shared control bus and the shared data bus to thereby support the creation of a network between the first host computer, the second host computer and the one or more further host computers.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the network is in a mesh, star, ring or bus network configuration.
12. A link system apparatus for transferring data between a first host computer and a second host computer comprising:
a first network interface controller comprising at least two input/output (I/O) device controllers and a means for receiving power to the first network interface controller, wherein each I/O device controller of the first network interface controller is communicatively coupled to a differential pair connection or an optical connection, and wherein a first of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to a shared control bus and a second of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to a shared data bus; and
a second network interface controller comprising at least two I/O device controllers a means for receiving power to the second network interface controller, wherein each I/O device controller is communicatively coupled to a differential pair connection or an optical connection, and wherein a first of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to the shared control bus and a second of the at least two I/O device controllers is communicatively coupled to the shared data bus;
wherein the first network interface controller communicatively couples to the first host computer and the second network interface controller communicatively couples to the second host computer and the link system apparatus interconnects the first host computer and the second host computer across the shared control bus and the shared data bus to thereby establish a network between the first host computer and the second host computer, wherein each of the first host computer and second host computer is capable of independently sending and receiving data and control information.
13. The link system apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising an I/O encoder in at least one of the first and second network interface controllers for encoding raw data received by the I/O device controller communicatively coupled to the shared data bus for transmission across the shared data bus.
14. The link system apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the communicative coupling between the first network interface controller and the first host computer includes a hub.
15. The link system apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second network interface controllers further comprises a wireless transceiver and a wireless device controller.
16. A method for transferring data between a first host computer and a second host computer comprising:
communicatively coupling a first input/output (I/O) device controller and a second I/O device controller to a first host computer, wherein the first host computer is capable of independently sending and receiving data and control information;
communicatively coupling a third I/O device controller and a fourth I/O device controller to a second host computer, wherein the second host computer is capable of independently sending and receiving data and control information;
establishing a control link between the first I/O device controller and the third I/O device controller;
establishing a data link between the second I/O device controller and the fourth I/O device controller; and
transferring data from the first host computer to the second host computer by communicating the data to the second I/O device controller and then over the data link to the fourth I/O device controller and then to the second host computer.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the data is communicated over the data link using USB protocol.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the first host computer using a resource of the second host computer over the network by logical direct access.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the resource comprises a peripheral device.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the resource comprises a host resource.