USB host-to-host auto-switching
View Patent ↗A universal serial bus (USB) hub includes an upstream port configured to be communicatively coupled to a USB host, a downstream port, and a USB hub core circuit. The circuit is configured to determine a detachment from the downstream port, determine whether a USB element has reattached to the downstream port in USB mode, and, based on a determination that the USB element has reattached to the downstream port in USB host mode, perform USB multi-host bridging for the USB host and the USB element.
1. A universal serial bus (USB) hub, comprising:
an upstream port configured to be communicatively coupled to a USB host;
a first downstream port;
a USB hub core circuit configured to:
determine a detachment from the first downstream port;
determine whether a USB element has reattached to the first downstream port in USB host mode;
based on a determination that the USB element has reattached to the first downstream port in USB host mode, perform USB multi-host bridging for the USB host and the USB element;
initialize a timer based upon the determination of the detachment from the first downstream port; and
reconfigure the first downstream port as another upstream port and perform USB multi-host bridging for the USB host and the USB element further based upon a determination that the USB element has reattached to the first downstream port in USB host mode before expiration of the timer.
2. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB multi-host bridging includes performing host-to-host communication between the USB host and the USB element.
3. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB multi-host bridging includes sharing access to USB devices between the USB host and the USB element.
4. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB hub core circuit is configured to perform USB multi-host bridging by attaching a multi-host bridge to the first downstream port.
5. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB multi-host bridging includes attaching a USB multi-host bridge to the first downstream port.
6. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB hub core circuit is further configured to initialize the first downstream port and one or more second downstream ports as host ports before the determination of detachment from the first downstream port, wherein configuring a given port as a host port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB host mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
7. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB element is configured to operate as a dual-mode USB element, capable of selectively attaching in USB host mode or in USB device mode.
8. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB hub core circuit is further configured to, upon determining that the detachment from the first downstream port, switch the first downstream port to a device port, wherein configuring a given port as a device port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB device mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
9. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB hub core circuit is further configured to, upon determining that the timer has expired, switch the first downstream port to a host port, wherein configuring a given port as a host port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB host mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
10. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB hub circuit is further configured to, upon determining that a USB element has reattached to the first downstream port, maintain the first downstream port as a device port, wherein configuring a given port as a device port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB device mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
11. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the USB hub circuit is further configured to halt performing USB multi-host bridging for the USB host and the USB element upon a request from the USB host for control of one or more shared USB elements.
12. One or more non-transitory machine readable media comprising instructions, the instructions, when read and executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
monitor an upstream port configured to be communicatively coupled to a USB host;
monitor a first downstream port;
determine a detachment from the first downstream port;
determine whether a USB element has reattached to the first downstream port in USB host mode;
based on a determination that the USB element has reattached to the first downstream port in USB host mode, perform USB multi-host bridging for the USB host and the USB element;
initialize a timer based upon the determination of the detachment from the first downstream port; and
reconfigure the first downstream port as another upstream port and perform USB multi-host bridging for the USB host and the UST element further based upon a determination that the USB element has reattached to the first downstream port in USB host mode before expiration of the timer.
13. The media of claim 12 , wherein the USB multi-host bridging includes performing host-to-host communication between the USB host and the USB element.
14. The media of claim 12 , wherein the USB multi-host bridging includes sharing access to USB devices between the USB host and the USB element.
15. The media of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to perform USB multi-host bridging by attaching a multi-host bridge to the first downstream port.
16. The media of claim 12 , wherein the USB multi-host bridging includes attaching a USB multi-host bridge to the first downstream port.
17. The media of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to initialize the first downstream port and one or more second downstream ports as host ports before the determination of detachment from the first downstream port, wherein configuring a given port as a host port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB host mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
18. The media of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to operate as a dual-mode USB element, capable of selectively attaching in USB host mode or in USB device mode.
19. The media of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to, upon determining that the detachment from the first downstream port, switch the first downstream port to a device port, wherein configuring a given port as a device port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB device mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
20. The media of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to, upon determining that the timer has expired, switch the first downstream port to a host port, wherein configuring a given port as a host port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB host mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
21. The media of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to, upon determining that a USB element has reattached to the first downstream port, maintain the first downstream port as a device port, wherein configuring a given port as a device port includes configuring the USB hub to act in USB device mode to an apparatus connecting to the USB hub through the given port.
22. The media of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to halt performing USB multi-host bridging for the USB host and the USB element upon a request from the USB host for control of one or more shared USB elements.