Controlling a device that is also linked to a computer system

• US 20070297600A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanan, Kaushik R., Martin, Robert J., Gibson, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/413.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system

Abstract

An apparatus includes a memory unit, a microcontroller, a first communication port providing a first communication path between the apparatus and a computer system, and a second communication port providing a second communication path between the apparatus and a peripheral device. The peripheral device is also communicatively linked with the computer system via a third communication path that bypasses the apparatus. Control of the peripheral device is subject to the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit;

a microcontroller coupled to said memory unit;

a first communication port coupled to said processor and operable for providing a first communication path between said apparatus and a computer system; and

a second communication port coupled to said processor and operable for providing a second communication path between said apparatus and a peripheral device that is communicatively linked with said computer system via a third communication path that bypasses said apparatus;

wherein control of said peripheral device is subject to said apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an interface element adapts said second communication port to a type of communication interface used by said peripheral device, wherein said third communication path includes said interface element and wherein said apparatus causes said interface element to simulate plugging and unplugging of said peripheral device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus monitors functionality of said interface element.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said interface element is associated with a unique identifier that enables said apparatus to determine said type of peripheral device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus causes said peripheral device to be turned on and turned off.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus causes said computer system to be turned on and turned off.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an attribute of said peripheral device is sensed, wherein said apparatus affects said control according to a sensed value of said attribute.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an attribute of a second peripheral device communicatively linked to said apparatus is sensed, wherein said apparatus affects said control according to a sensed value of said attribute.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an attribute of said computer system is sensed, wherein said apparatus affects said control of said peripheral device according to a sensed value of said attribute.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an attribute is sensed, wherein said apparatus affects said control of said peripheral device according to a sensed value of said attribute.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus receives heartbeat messages from said computer system, wherein said heartbeat messages are not sent by said computer system when said computer system is in a reduced power state.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control is asserted according to commands received from said computer system, wherein said commands are stored by said apparatus in respective queues and wherein said queues are executed in parallel.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit;

a microcontroller coupled to said memory unit; and

a plurality of communication ports coupled to said microcontroller and operable for linking said apparatus to a plurality of peripheral devices in parallel, wherein said peripheral devices are also communicatively linked to a computer system;

wherein said apparatus controls said peripheral devices according to a method comprising;

receiving a plurality of asynchronous commands from said computer system, wherein said commands are for controlling said peripheral devices;

storing subsets of said asynchronous commands in respective queues in read-only memory; and

executing said queues in parallel, wherein multiple asynchronous commands are executed before further commands are received from said computer system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a communication port is adapted to mate with a different type of communication interface using a module comprising a first connector that mates with said communication port and a second connector that mates said different type of communication interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said method further comprises monitoring functionality of said module.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said method further comprises causing said computer system to be turned on and turned off.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said method further comprises:

sensing an attribute; and

controlling a peripheral device according to a sensed value of said attribute.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said method further comprises:

storing return values associated with executing said asynchronous commands; and

sending stored return values to said computer system after said asynchronous commands are executed.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said method further comprises monitoring said apparatus to identify a fault.

20. A system comprising:

a control unit comprising;

a first port operable for communicatively linking said control unit and a computer system via a first communication path; and

a second port operable for communicatively linking said control unit and a peripheral device via a second communication path, wherein said computer system and said peripheral device are communicatively linked via a third communication path that bypasses said control unit;

a first module coupled between said control unit and said computer system on said first communication path; and

a second module coupled between said control unit and said peripheral device and between said peripheral device and said computer system at a junction of said second and third communication paths, wherein said second module adapts said second port to a type of communication interface used by said peripheral device;

wherein said control unit asserts control over said computer system via said first communication path and over said peripheral device via said second communication path, wherein said control is asserted according to commands received from said computer system, wherein said commands comprise asynchronous commands that are stored by said control unit in respective queues and executed before further commands are received from said computer system, and wherein said queues are executed in parallel.