Bus interface system and method

• US 6,012,103 A
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Sartore, Ronald H., Larky, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YUAN, CHIEN H
• Application Number:
  US08/886,923
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 379/395, 709/220, 709/250, 711/114, 711/115, 711/130, 713/100, 710/9
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for reconfiguring a peripheral device connected by a computer bus and port to a host from a first generic configuration to a second manufacturer specific configuration is provided in which the configuration of a peripheral device may be electronically reset. A peripheral interface device for a standardized computer peripheral device bus and port is also provided in which a physical disconnection and reconnection of the peripheral device is emulated to reconfigure the bus and port for a particular peripheral device.

Claims

1. A system for reconfiguring a peripheral device connected by a computer bus and a port to a host computer, the system comprising:

a first circuit configured to detect the peripheral device connected to the port, wherein the peripheral device has a first configuration;

a second circuit configured to download a second set of configuration information from the host computer into the peripheral device over the computer bus; and

a third circuit configured to electronically simulate a physical disconnection and reconnection of the peripheral device to reconfigure the peripheral device to a second configuration based on the second set of configuration information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first configuration is a generic configuration assigned to the peripheral device and said second configuration comprises a unique manufacturer configuration.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said second circuit is configured to (I) read an identification code from the peripheral device, and (ii) select said second configuration information based on said identification code.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a sixth circuit configured to select a device driver based on said second configuration information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said third circuit is activated in response to an electrical switch.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said electrical switch comprises a solid state transistor.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said computer bus and port comprise a universal serial bus and port.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said second circuit further comprises a communication circuit configured to communicate said second configuration information to the peripheral device using the universal serial bus and port.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said second set of configuration information comprises configuration data and executable code.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second set of configuration information further comprises logic configuration information.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said first configuration comprises an initial set of configuration information.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said peripheral device comprises an execution circuit configured to execute said executable code contained in the second set of configuration information.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said third circuit comprises a reset circuit configured to reset the configuration of the peripheral device.

14. A method for reconfiguring a peripheral device connected by a computer bus and port to a host computer, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the peripheral device connected to the port, wherein the peripheral device has a first configuration;

downloading a second set of configuration information from the host computer into the peripheral device over the computer bus; and

electronically simulating a physical disconnection and reconnection of the peripheral device to reconfigure the peripheral device to a second configuration based on the second set of configuration information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first configuration comprises generic configuration assigned to the peripheral device and said second configuration comprises a unique manufacturer configuration.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said downloading step comprises:

reading an identification code from the peripheral device, and

selecting said second set of configuration information based on said identification code.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising selecting a device driver in the host computer based on said second set of configuration information.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said electronic connecting and disconnecting of said peripheral device respond to an electrical switch.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein downloading comprises communicating said second set of configuration information to the peripheral device using a universal serial bus and port.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said second set of configuration information comprises configuration data and executable code.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said second set of configuration information further comprises logic configuration information.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said peripheral device comprises executing said executable code contained in the second set of configuration information.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein said simulating comprises electronically resetting the configuration of the peripheral device, controllable by the peripheral device.

24. A peripheral interface device for a computer peripheral bus and port, comprising:

means for physically connecting a peripheral device to a computer system through the computer peripheral bus, wherein the peripheral device has a first configuration;

means for receiving a second set of configuration information from a computer system over the computer peripheral bus and port; and

means for electronically simulating a physical disconnection and reconnection of the peripheral device to reconfigure the peripheral device to a second configuration based on the second set of configuration information.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said means for electronic simulation comprises an electrical switch.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said electrical switch comprises a solid state transistor.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein said computer peripheral bus and port comprise a universal serial bus and port.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein said downloading means comprises means for communicating said second configuration information to the peripheral device using the universal serial bus and port.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein said second set of configuration information comprises configuration data, executable code and logic configuration information.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said first configuration comprises a generic configuration and said second configuration comprises a manufacturer specific configuration.

31. The device of claim 30 further comprising means for storing an identification code that is read out by the computer system to select said second set of configuration information.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein said peripheral device comprises means for executing said executable code contained in the second set of configuration information.

33. The device of claim 24, wherein said electronic simulating means comprises means for electronically resetting the configuration of the peripheral device.