Programmable peripheral switch
First Claim
1. A programmable peripheral switch for selectively connecting a peripheral device to a server computing device comprising:
- a peripheral port for electrically coupling the peripheral device thereto;
a plurality of host computer ports, each of said host computer ports for electrically coupling a respective one of a plurality of computing devices thereto;
host port state detection means electrically coupled to each of said host computer ports for detecting the state of each of said plurality of host computer ports;
switching means electrically interposed between said peripheral port and each of said host computer ports for providing a communication path between the peripheral device and one of said host computer ports at a state indicative of the server computing device being coupled thereto; and
local handshaking means electrically coupled to said peripheral port for simulating communication from the server computing device to the peripheral device if none of said plurality of host computer ports is at said state indicative of the server computing device being coupled thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A peripheral switch (62) is electrically interposed between a peripheral device (10) and a plurality of computing devices respectively coupled to host computer ports (70a)-(70N). The peripheral switch (62) includes host computer port state sensing means (110) for determining a state of each host computer port (70a)-(70N) and providing a communication path to the peripheral device (10) from a host computer port (70a)-(70N) at a state indicative of a server computer being coupled thereto. The peripheral switch (62) further includes local handshaking means (120) for simulating communications from a server computer to peripheral device (10) if none of host computer ports (70a)-(70N) are determined to be coupled to a server computer.
22 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A programmable peripheral switch for selectively connecting a peripheral device to a server computing device comprising:
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a peripheral port for electrically coupling the peripheral device thereto;
a plurality of host computer ports, each of said host computer ports for electrically coupling a respective one of a plurality of computing devices thereto;
host port state detection means electrically coupled to each of said host computer ports for detecting the state of each of said plurality of host computer ports;
switching means electrically interposed between said peripheral port and each of said host computer ports for providing a communication path between the peripheral device and one of said host computer ports at a state indicative of the server computing device being coupled thereto; and
local handshaking means electrically coupled to said peripheral port for simulating communication from the server computing device to the peripheral device if none of said plurality of host computer ports is at said state indicative of the server computing device being coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for selectively connecting a peripheral device to a server computing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a.) providing a programmable peripheral switch including;
a peripheral port for electrically coupling the peripheral device thereto;
a plurality of host computer ports, each of said host computer ports for electrically coupling a respective one of a plurality of computing devices thereto;
host port state detection means electrically coupled to each of said host computer ports;
switching means electrically interposed between said peripheral port and each of said host computer ports; and
local handshaking means electrically coupled to said peripheral port;
(b.) electrically coupling the peripheral device to said peripheral port;
(c.) electrically coupling the server computing device to one of said plurality of host computer ports;
(d.) determining said operational state of each of said host computer ports using said host port state detection means;
(e.) establishing a communication path using said switching means between the peripheral device and one of said host computer ports at a state indicative of the server computing device being coupled thereto;
(f.) simulating communication from the server computing device to the peripheral device using said local handshaking means if none of said plurality of host computer ports is at said state indicative of the server computing device being coupled thereto; and
(g.) repeating the method at step (d.). - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification