SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS IN ELECTRONIC INTERFACE DEVICES
First Claim
1. An electronic interface device, comprising:
- a non-volatile memory;
a communications interface coupled to the non-volatile memory device, the communications interface being configured for communications alternately using a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol that is different from the first communications protocol; and
a controlling device configured to control the operation of the communications interface and the non-volatile memory device, the controlling device being structured to cause the communications interface to initially attempt to communicate using the second communications protocol, and, if the communications interface is unable to communicate using the second communications protocol, to cause the communications interface to attempt to communicate using the first communications protocol.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed including those that cause an electronic interface device to dynamically switch protocols that it uses to communicate with a host to which the electronic interface device is connected. In one such embodiment, the electronic interface device first attempts using a first communications protocol, such as a CCID protocol. If the host contains a driver for the first communications protocol, the host communicates with the electronic interface device using the first communications protocol. If the host does not contain a driver for the first communications protocol, the electronic interface device attempts using a second communications protocol that is different from the first communications protocol, such as a HID protocol. The host then communicates with the electronic interface device using the second communications protocol. If the electronic interface device communicates with the host using the first communications protocol, it may transmit user authentication data, such as a password, to the host.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic interface device, comprising:
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a non-volatile memory; a communications interface coupled to the non-volatile memory device, the communications interface being configured for communications alternately using a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol that is different from the first communications protocol; and a controlling device configured to control the operation of the communications interface and the non-volatile memory device, the controlling device being structured to cause the communications interface to initially attempt to communicate using the second communications protocol, and, if the communications interface is unable to communicate using the second communications protocol, to cause the communications interface to attempt to communicate using the first communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic system, comprising:
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a host; and an electronic interface device having a non-volatile memory and a communications interface coupled to the non-volatile memory device and the host, the communications interface communicating with the host using one of a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol that is different from the first communications protocol, the communications interface initially attempting to use the second communications protocol, and, if the host is not equipped with a driver for the second communications protocol, the communications interface attempts to communicate using the first communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of establishing communications between an electronic interface device and a host to which the electronic interface device is coupled, the method comprising:
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determining whether the host is able to communicate using the first communications protocol; and in response to determining that the host is unable to communicate using the first communications protocol, communicating with the host using a second communications protocol that is different from the first communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a host, comprising:
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coupling an electronic interface device to the host, the electronic interface device storing user authentication data; causing the electronic interface device to attempt using a first communications protocol; if the host is unable to communicate using the first communications protocol, causing the electronic interface device to attempt using a second communications protocol that is different from the first communications protocol; if the host is able to communicate using the first communications protocol, sending the user authentication data from the electronic interface device to the host; if the host is unable to communicate using the first communications protocol, inhibiting the electronic interface device from sending the user authentication data to the host; in response to the host receiving the user authentication data from the electronic interface device, performing a first set of operations in the host; and in response to the host not receiving the user authentication data from the electronic interface device, performing only a second set of operations in the host that are more limited than the first set of operations. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method comprising:
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determining whether an electronic interface device is attempting to communicate using a first protocol and, if so, communicating using the first protocol; determining if a host is equipped to communicate using a second protocol if it is determined that the interface device is not attempting to communicate using the first protocol and, if so, communicating using the second protocol; - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method comprising:
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monitoring communication between a host and an electronic interface device to detect a request command to switch to another communication protocol; and attempting to communicate using the other communication protocol if the request is detected. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification