Intelligent cable for controlling data flow

• US 5,729,204 A
• Filed: 02/15/1995
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Children's Medical Center Corporation
• Original Assignee: Children's Medical Center Corporation
• Inventors: Fackler, James C., Kohane, Isaac, Liu, Alton C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/389,311
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.04, 340/825.05, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.52, 340/825, 439/502, 379/56, 370/85.2, 395/182.02
• US Class Current: 340/2.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40006 Architecture of a communication node current supply arrangements H04L12/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling

Abstract

A cable that allows a host device to selectively access and communicate with an associated peripheral device by establishing a data communication pathway therebetween. The host device is typically of the type arranged for generating an identifier signal designating a selected peripheral device. The cable includes one or more controllers responsive to the identifier signal designating the associated peripheral device, and establishes a communication pathway between the host device and the selected peripheral device in response to the appropriate identifier signal. The cable further includes a transceiver and a voltage regulator. The transceiver transforms the data signals into a transformed signal having a selected protocol compatible with at least the host device, e.g., RS-232 compatible signals. The voltage regulator supplies operating power to the cable.

Claims

1. A cable, for use with a host device and at least one peripheral device, for establishing a data communication pathway therebetween, said host device generating in one mode of operation an identifier signal designating a selected peripheral device, said cable comprising

at least one conductor for carrying said identifier signal,

at least one controller in communication with said conductor and having at least one respective associated peripheral device, for controlling a flow of data signals between the host and peripheral devices,

each said controller being responsive to said identifier signal designating said associated peripheral device, for establishing a bi-directional communication pathway between the host device and the selected peripheral device, and for allowing data to be bi-directionally exchanged between the host and peripheral devices upon establishment of said pathway, and

a cable header in circuit with said controller and having transceiver means for converting a data signal traveling along said communication pathway into a format compatible with the host device, and means for supplying back-up power to said cable.

2. A cable, for use with a host device and at least one peripheral device, for establishing a data communication pathway therebetween, said host device generating in one mode of operation an identifier signal designating a selected peripheral device, said cable comprising

at least one conductor for carrying said identifier signal,

at least one controller in communication with said conductor and having at least one respective associated peripheral device, for controlling a flow of data signals between the host and peripheral devices,

each said controller being responsive to said identifier signal designating said associated peripheral device, for establishing a bi-directional communication pathway between the host device and the selected peripheral device, and for allowing data to be bi-directionally exchanged between the host and peripheral devices upon establishment of said pathway, and

a voltage regulator in electrical communication with said at least one controller for supplying power thereto, said voltage regulator being connected so as to receive power selectively from a plurality of power sources.

3. A remotely programmable cable, for use with a host device and a peripheral device, for establishing a data communication pathway therebetween, said host device generating an identifier signal indicative of a selected peripheral device, wherein the identifier signal is representative of a value associated with said selected peripheral device, said cable comprising

memory means for storing identification data representative of an identifier associated with a selected peripheral device,

at least one controller, in electrical communication with said memory means, for controlling a flow of data signals between the host device and the peripheral device,

each said controller being responsive to said identifier signal designating a respective associated peripheral device for establishing a bi-directional communication pathway between the host device and the selected peripheral device, and for allowing data to be bi-directionally exchanged between the host and peripheral devices upon establishment of said pathway, and

a cable header in circuit with said controller and having transceiver means for converting a data signal traveling along said communication pathway into a format compatible with the host device, and means for supplying back-up power to said cable.

4. A remotely programmable cable, for use with a host device and a peripheral device, for establishing a data communication pathway therebetween, said host device generating an identifier signal indicative of a selected peripheral device, wherein the identifier signal is representative of a value associated with said selected peripheral device, said cable comprising

memory means for storing identification data representative of an identifier associated with a selected peripheral device,

at least one controller, in electrical communication with said memory means, for controlling a flow of data signals between the host device and the peripheral device,

each said controller being responsive to said identifier signal designating a respective associated peripheral device for establishing a bi-directional communication pathway between the host device and the selected peripheral device, and for allowing data to be bi-directionally exchanged between the host and peripheral devices upon establishment of said pathway, and

a voltage regulator in electrical communication with said at least one controller for supplying power thereto, said voltage regulator being connected so as to receive power selectively from a plurality of power sources.

5. A cable for establishing a communication pathway between a host device and at least one peripheral device, said host device including means for generating an identifier signal indicative of a selected peripheral device and a selected command signal designating a selected pathway condition, said cable comprising

at least one conductor capable of carrying said identifier signal,

insulation means disposed about said conductor for electrically insulating said conductor,

control means, in communication with said conductor and responsive to said identifier signal and said command signal, for selectively controlling a flow of data signals, said control means including

memory means for storing identification data representative of a selected peripheral device associated with said cable, and

comparison means for comparing said identifier signal generated by said host device with said identification data stored in said memory means, said control means further including means for establishing a bi-directional communication pathway between said host device and said selected peripheral device when said identifier signal matches said identification data, thereby allowing said data signals to pass bi-directionally therebetween upon establishment of said data pathway, said control means further opening said bi-directional communication pathway in response to an open command signal designating an open pathway condition and closing said communication pathway in response to a close command signal designating a closed pathway condition,

daisy-chain means for allowing the cable to be connected in a daisy-chain array with one or more cables,

housing means coupled to said conductors for housing said control means, and a cable header in circuit with said controller and having transceiver means for convening a data signal traveling along said communication pathway into a format compatible with the host device, and means for supplying back-up power to said cable.