SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR FAST STARTUP OF USB DEVICES

• US 20100180051A1
• Filed: 01/13/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Harris, Steven F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,713,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to fast enumeration of a device in a USB system including a USB device and a USB host. The USB device includes two device descriptors, a memory for holding firmware for operation of the USB device, and a controller for executing the firmware. A first device descriptor is for enumerating the USB device in a firmware-loading mode and a second device descriptor is for enumerating the USB device in an operational mode. The USB host controls a first enumeration of the USB device using the first device descriptor. After the first enumeration, the USB host receives a re-enumerate indicator from the USB device and controls a second enumeration of the USB device using the second device descriptor.

Claims

1. A USB device, comprising:

a memory for holding firmware for operation of the USB device;

a controller for executing the firmware;

a first device descriptor for enumerating the USB device in a firmware-loading mode; and

a second device descriptor for enumerating the USB device in an operational mode;

wherein the firmware comprises;

first firmware for controlling the firmware-loading mode; and

second firmware for controlling the operational mode.

2. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the first firmware is on a USB host and for downloading to the memory during the firmware-loading mode.

3. The USB device of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory and wherein the first firmware is for a mode selected from the group consisting of moving to the memory during the firmware-loading mode, or execution by the controller from the non-volatile memory during the firmware-loading mode.

4. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the second firmware is on a USB host and for downloading to the memory during the firmware-loading mode.

5. The USB device of claim 1, USB further comprising a non-volatile memory and wherein the second firmware is for a mode selected from the group consisting of moving to the memory during the firmware-loading mode, or execution by the controller from the non-volatile memory during the operational mode.

6. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the first device descriptor comprises a first vendor identifier and a first product identifier.

7. The USB device of claim 6, wherein the second device descriptor comprises a second vendor identifier and a second product identifier.

8. The USB device of claim 7, wherein the first vendor identifier and the second vendor identifier are the same.

9. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the USB device further includes an antenna and the USB device is for wireless operation as a wide area network device.

10. A USB host for operable coupling to a USB device and comprising computing instruction for execution by a computer, to:

perform a first enumeration of the USB device using a first device descriptor from the USB device;

receive a re-enumerate indicator from the USB device; and

perform a second enumeration of the USB device using a second device descriptor from the USB device.

11. The USB host of claim 10, wherein the computing instructions for execution by the computer further include instructions to move a first firmware for controlling operations on the USB device during the first enumeration from the USB host to a memory on the USB device during the first enumeration.

12. The USB host of claim 10, wherein the computing instructions for execution by the computer further include instructions to move a second firmware from the USB host to a memory on the USB device during the first enumeration, the second firmware for controlling operations on the USB device during an operational mode after the second enumeration.

13. A system, comprising:

a USB device, comprising;

a memory for holding firmware for operation of the USB device;

a controller for executing the firmware;

a first device descriptor for enumerating the USB device in a firmware-loading mode; and

a second device descriptor for enumerating the USB device in an operational mode; and

a USB host operably coupled to the USB device and for controlling the USB device by;

controlling a first enumeration of the USB device using the first device descriptor; and

after the first enumeration;

receiving a re-enumerate indicator from the USB device; and

controlling a second enumeration of the USB device using the second device descriptor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a first firmware is on the USB host for downloading to the memory during the firmware-loading mode.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the USB device further comprises a non-volatile memory and wherein a first firmware in the non-volatile memory is for a mode selected from the group consisting of moving to the memory during the firmware-loading mode, or execution by the controller from the non-volatile memory during the firmware-loading mode.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein a second firmware for controlling the operational mode is on the USB host and for downloading to the memory during the firmware-loading mode.

17. A method, comprising:

detecting a USB device on a USB topology;

enumerating the USB device with a first firmware and a first device descriptor;

enabling the USB device for access by first client software in a firmware-loading mode;

downloading a second firmware to a memory of the USB device;

enumerating the USB device with a second device descriptor; and

enabling the USB device for access by second client software in an operational mode using the second firmware.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising operating the USB device with wireless communications in a wide area network device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein downloading the second firmware comprises an act selected from the group consisting of downloading from a USB host to the memory and downloading from a non-volatile memory on the USB device to the memory.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein enumerating the USB device with the first firmware further comprises downloading the first firmware to the memory.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein downloading the first firmware comprises an act selected from the group consisting of downloading from a USB host to the memory and downloading from a non-volatile memory on the USB device to the memory.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first device descriptor comprises a first vendor identifier and a first product identifier.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second device descriptor comprises a second vendor identifier and a second product identifier.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first vendor identifier and the second vendor identifier are the same.

25. A system, comprising:

means for detecting a USB device on a USB topology;

means for enumerating the USB device with a first firmware and a first device descriptor;

means for enabling the USB device for access by first client software in a firmware-loading mode;

means for downloading a second firmware to a memory of the USB device;

means for enumerating the USB device with a second device descriptor; and

means for enabling the USB device for access by second client software in an operational mode using the second firmware.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for operating the USB device with wireless communications in a wide area network device.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for downloading the second firmware comprises means selected from the group consisting of means for downloading from a USB host to the memory and means for downloading from a non-volatile memory on the USB device to the memory.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for enumerating the USB device with the first firmware further comprises means for downloading the first firmware to the memory.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the means for downloading the first firmware comprises means selected from the group consisting of means for downloading from a USB host to the memory and means for downloading from a non-volatile memory on the USB device to the memory.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the first device descriptor comprises a first vendor identifier and a first product identifier.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the second device descriptor comprises a second vendor identifier and a second product identifier.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first vendor identifier and the second vendor identifier are the same.