Apparatus and method for operating a peripheral device as either a master device or a slave device
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first communication port utilized when said apparatus is operating as a slave device;
a second communication port utilized when said apparatus is operating as a master device; and
a device controller coupled to said first communication port and said second communication port, said device controller enabling said first communication port or said second communication port in response to detection of the presence or absence of an active host controller coupled to said first communication port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus capable of operating as either a master device or a slave device on a communication link such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB). The apparatus includes a first communication port which is utilized when the apparatus is operating as a slave device. A second communication port is utilized when the apparatus is operating as a master device. A device controller is coupled to both the first communication port and the second communication port. The device controller enables either the first communication port or the second communication port after detecting whether an active host controller is coupled to the first communication port. A timer may be used to determine the presence or absence of an active host controller.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first communication port utilized when said apparatus is operating as a slave device; a second communication port utilized when said apparatus is operating as a master device; and a device controller coupled to said first communication port and said second communication port, said device controller enabling said first communication port or said second communication port in response to detection of the presence or absence of an active host controller coupled to said first communication port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for use with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) comprising:
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a first communication port coupled to said USB, said first communication port adapted to communicate with a USB host controller; a second communication port adapted to communicate with other USB devices coupled to said device; and a device controller coupled to said first communication port and said second communication port, said device controller enabling said first communication port or said second communication port in response to detection of the presence or absence of an active USB host controller coupled to said first communication port. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A device adapted to be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and capable of communicating with a USB host controller, said device comprising:
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a first USB communication port coupled to said USB host controller; a second USB communication port coupled to a second USB device; and a device controller coupled to said first USB communication port and said second USB communication port, said device controller enabling said first USB communication port or said second USB communication port in response to detection of the presence or absence of a signal from said USB host controller. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for operating a USB device as either a USB master device or a USB slave device, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an active host controller is coupled to said USB device; enabling said USB device to operate as a USB slave device if an active host controller is coupled to said USB device; and enabling said USB device to operate as a USB master device if an active host controller is not coupled to said USB device. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A device for use with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) comprising:
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a communication port for communicating with a USB host controller; means for determining whether an active host controller is coupled to said communication port; means for enabling said device to operate as a USB master device if an active host controller is coupled to said communication port; and means for enabling said device to operate as a USB slave device if an active host controller is not coupled to said communication port.
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Specification