Integrated virtual hub chip
An apparatus that includes a serial port configured to interface with a separate host, one serial interface engine (SIE) connected to the serial port, and at least a first interface unit and a second interface unit connected to the one serial interface engine. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a virtual hub comprising a firmware unit configured to emulate a hub having multiple ports. In an alternative embodiment, the first interface unit is a keyboard interface, and the second interface unit is a flash media drive interface. In another alternative embodiment, is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral and the serial port is a Universal Serial Bus port. In another alternative embodiment, apparatus is housed within a keyboard.
1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a serial port configured to interface with a separate host;
one serial interface engine (SIE) connected to the serial port;
at least a first interface unit is a keyboard and a second interface unit is a flash media drive connected to the serial interface engine; and
a virtual hub comprising a firmware unit configured to emulate a hub having multiple ports.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first interface unit is a keyboard interface.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second interface unit is a flash media drive interface.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is housed within a keyboard.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral and the serial port is a Universal Serial Bus port.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the serial interface engine is connected to a controller, and the first interface unit and the second interface unit are connected to the controller.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a third interface unit is connected to the serial interface unit.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the serial port, the serial interface engine (SIE), and the first interface unit and a second interface unit are integrated on a single device.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a third interface is connected to the serial port, the third interface having a second serial interface engine.