Method and apparatus for providing modular I/O expansion of computing devices

• US 6,286,060 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Bender, Michael, DiGiorgio, Rinaldo, Uhler, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US09/106,056
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/9, 710/10, 710/101, 710/51, 710/29, 710/31, 710/38, 708/109, 713/1, 395/821, 395/500
• US Class Current: 710/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing modular I/O expansion. Apparatus are provided on a host computing device and an expansion unit to support multiple port types, and multiplexing apparatus are provided to support simultaneous I/O sessions between multiple applications on the host computing device and multiple I/O ports on the expansion unit over a single host I/O port. The expansion unit is equipped with one or more port interface modules that are each configured to support data transmission in accordance with one port type from a set of port types. Apparatus on the expansion unit perform multiplexing and demultiplexing of data transmitted between the host computing device and the port interface modules of the expansion unit. Port interface objects in the host computing device each support data transmission in accordance with one port type from the set of port types. A host multiplexor on the host computing device performs multiplexing and demultiplexing of data between the expansion unit and the port interface objects. A registry is maintained to map port interface objects to port interface modules.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a main port for interfacing with a host computing device;

a bus;

a plurality of port interface modules coupled to said bus;

a multiplexor coupled to said main port and said bus, said multiplexor configured to route data between said main port and said plurality of port interface modules based on a current routing state, said multiplexor configured to change said routing state in response to a control signal received from said main port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is portable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said apparatus has dimensions equal to or smaller than 1″

×

2.5″

×

3″

.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said port interface modules are pluggable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said multiplexor is configured to recognize said plurality of port interface modules and to recognize devices coupled thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said multiplexor is configured to transmit identity information of said plurality of port interface modules to said host computing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of port interface modules have a plurality of port types.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main port comprises:

a plurality of ports of different port types; and

a host interface adapter coupled to said plurality of ports of different port types, said host interface adapter configured to communicate with each of said plurality of ports of different port types.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said host interface adapter is configured to detect an active port from said plurality of ports types.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a host computing device having a host port, said host computing device comprising;

at least one port interface object accessible by at least one application executing within said host computing device;

a first multiplexor coupled to said at least one port interface object and said host port, said first multiplexor comprising a current first routing state specifying a flow of data between said at least one port interface object and said host port, said first multiplexor configured to change said current first routing state in response to a control signal received from said host port;

an expansion unit having a main port linked to said host port, said expansion unit comprising;

at least one port interface module configured to couple at least one device to said expansion unit; and

a second multiplexor coupled to said at least one port interface module and said main port, said second multiplexor comprising a current second routing state specifying a flow of data between said at least one port interface module and said main port, said second multiplexor configured to change said second current routing state in response to a control signal received from said main port.