Port-sharing subsystems for computing devices
A computing device includes: a housing defining an exterior of the computing device; a controller supported within the housing; a first communication port disposed on the exterior; a second communication port disposed on the exterior; a port-sharing subsystem supported within the housing, having (i) a first state to connect the controller with the first communication port, exclusive of the second communication port, and (ii) a second state to connect the controller with the first communication port and the second communication port; the controller configured to: detect engagement of an external device with the first communication port; obtain connection parameters from the external device; based on the connection parameters, set the port-sharing subsystem in either the first state or the second state; and establish a connection to the external device via the port-sharing subsystem and the first communication port.
1. A computing device, comprising:
a housing defining an exterior of the computing device;
a controller supported within the housing;
a first communication port disposed on the exterior;
a second communication port disposed on the exterior;
a port-sharing subsystem supported within the housing, having (i) a first state to connect the controller with the first communication port, exclusive of the second communication port, and (ii) a second state to connect the controller with the first communication port and the second communication port in a restricted operational mode;
the controller configured to:
detect engagement of an external device with the first communication port;
obtain connection parameters from the external device;
modify the connection parameters of the external device so as to set the port-sharing subsystem to the second state where the controller is connected to the first communication port and the second communication port in the restricted operational mode;
and
establish a connection to the external device where the controller is connected to the first communication port and the second communication port.
2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a universal serial bus (USB) controller, and wherein the first and second communication ports are USB ports.
3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the port-sharing subsystem includes a hub and at least one switch.
4. A method, comprising:
detecting engagement of an external device with a first communication port disposed on an exterior of a computing device;
configuring a port-sharing subsystem in either (i) a first state to connect the port-sharing subsystem with the first communication port, exclusive of a second communication port disposed on the exterior, or (ii) a second state to connect the port-sharing subsystem with the first communication port and the second communication port in a restricted operational mode;
obtaining connection parameters from the external device;
modifying the connection parameters of the external device so as to set the port-sharing subsystem to the second state where the port-sharing subsystem is connected to the first communication port and the second communication port in the restricted operational mode; and
establishing a connection to the external device where the port-sharing subsystem is connected to the first communication port and the second communication port.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first and second communication ports are USB ports.
6. The method device of claim 4 , wherein the port-sharing subsystem includes a hub and at least one switch.