Method and apparatus for a communication hub
First Claim
1. A communications hub comprising:
- at least one primary data interface for coupling to at least one primary device, and the at least one primary data interface for receiving power from the at least one primary device;
at least one secondary data interface for coupling to at least one secondary device for providing power thereto, wherein the at least one secondary data interface has a predetermined output power limit;
at least one power port for coupling to a rechargeable power source; and
a power management unit coupled to the at least one primary data interface, the at least one secondary data interface, and the at least one power port, the power management unit for directing power from the at least one primary data interface to the at least one power port to charge the rechargeable power source when the at least one secondary device consumes less power than the output power limit, and the power management unit for directing power from the at least one power port to the at least one secondary data interface to provide power from the rechargeable power source to the at least one secondary device when the at least one secondary device consumes more power than the output power limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications hub (100) includes a power management unit (110) coupled to a rechargeable battery (130). When non-removable devices (115 and 120) and removable devices are coupled to downstream ports (115A, 120A, 125A and 127A) require low power, the power management unit (110) supplies the required power and charges the rechargeable battery (130) with power from a host computer (160). When a device at one of the downstream ports (115A, 120A, 125A and 127A) requires higher power for operation at a higher data transfer rate, the power management unit (110) detects this requirement, and delivers power from the rechargeable battery (130) to the corresponding downstream port for the device. The communications hub (100) advantageously supplies higher power to the downstream ports (115A, 120A, 125A and 127A), when required, without the need for an external power supply.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A communications hub comprising:
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at least one primary data interface for coupling to at least one primary device, and the at least one primary data interface for receiving power from the at least one primary device;
at least one secondary data interface for coupling to at least one secondary device for providing power thereto, wherein the at least one secondary data interface has a predetermined output power limit;
at least one power port for coupling to a rechargeable power source; and
a power management unit coupled to the at least one primary data interface, the at least one secondary data interface, and the at least one power port, the power management unit for directing power from the at least one primary data interface to the at least one power port to charge the rechargeable power source when the at least one secondary device consumes less power than the output power limit, and the power management unit for directing power from the at least one power port to the at least one secondary data interface to provide power from the rechargeable power source to the at least one secondary device when the at least one secondary device consumes more power than the output power limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for managing power in a communications hub, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing;
at least one primary data interface for coupling to at least one primary device, and the at least one primary data interface for receiving power from the at least one primary device;
at least one secondary data interface for coupling to at least one secondary device for providing power thereto, wherein the at least one secondary data interface has a predetermined output power limit;
at least one power port for coupling to a rechargeable power source; and
a power management unit coupled to the at least one primary data interface, the at least one secondary data interface, and the at least one power port, the power management unit;
b) detecting power consumed by the at least one secondary device;
c) comparing the detected power with the output power limit;
d) directing power from the at least one primary data interface to the at least one power port to charge the rechargeable power source when the at least one secondary device consumes less power than the output power limit; and
e) directing power from the at least one power port to the at least one secondary data interface to provide power from the rechargeable power source to the at least one secondary device when the at least one secondary device consumes more power than the output power limit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A communications hub comprising:
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an input power switch for selectively coupling to at least one of a plurality of power sources;
an output power distributor coupled to the input power switch for receiving power therefrom, and for selectively coupling to at least one of a plurality of devices to provide power thereto; and
a power controller coupled to the input power switch and the output power distributor, the controller for detecting power requirement of the at least one of the plurality of devices, and for switching the at least one of the plurality of power sources to provide at least the detected power requirement to the at least one of the plurality of devices. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification