Portable terminal with bus manager switching function

• US 6,516,205 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Personal Computers, Ltd. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Oguma, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/557,372
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/556, 455/557, 455/572, 455/575, 455/569, 455/550, 455/563, 455/127
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable terminal, includes a host detector, a hub circuit and a bus manager circuit. The host detector detects whether a host operates as a bus manager. The hub circuit has a hub function and is connectable to an external device. The bus manager circuit has a bus manager function. The bus manager circuit stops the bus manager function such that the host can operate as the bus manager for the portable terminal and the external device connected to the portable terminal, when the host operates as the bus manager. Also, the bus manger circuit carries out the bus manager function such that the bus manager circuit can operate as the bus manager for the portable terminal and the external device connected to the portable terminal, when the host does not operate as the bus manager.

Claims

1. A portable terminal, comprising:

a host detector detecting whether a host operates as a bus manager;

a hub circuit having a hub function and connectable to an external device; and

a bus manager circuit having a bus manager function, wherein said bus manager circuit stops said bus manager function such that said host can operate as said bus manager for said portable terminal and said external device connected to said portable terminal, when said host operates as said bus manager, and carries out said bus manager function such that said bus. manager circuit can operate as said bus manager for said portable terminal and said external device connected to said portable terminal, when said host does not operate as said bus manager.

2. A portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein said host detector outputting a bus manager indication signal in response to reception of a signal from said host, and

wherein said bus manager circuit determines that said host operates as said bus manager, in response to said bus manager indication signal.

3. A portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a host connection detector detecting whether said host is connected, and

wherein said bus manager circuit carries out said bus manager function, when said host is not connected.

4. A portable terminal according to claim 3, wherein said host connection detector detects whether a power source voltage is supplied, and determines that said host is connected when said power supply voltage is supplied.

5. A portable terminal according to claim 4, further comprising:

an internal power source supplying a power source voltage; and

a switching circuit outputting one of said power source voltage from said host and said power source voltage from said internal power source to said external device in response to a power control signal, when said external device, and

wherein said bus manager circuit generates said power control signal when said host is connected.

6. A bus manager control method, comprising:

(a) determining whether a host is connected to a portable terminal, said host having a bus manager function, and said portable terminal having a bus manager function and a hub function and being connectable with an external device;

(b) determining whether said host is in a suspended state, when it is determined that said host is connected to said portable terminal;

(c) stopping said bus manager function of said portable terminal such that said host can operate a bus manager for said portable terminal and said external device connected to said portable terminal, when said host is connected to said portable terminal and is not in the suspended state; and

(d) carrying out said bus manager function of said portable terminal such that said portable terminal can operate as said bus manager for said portable terminal and said external device connected to said portable terminal, when said host is not connected to said portable terminal or when said host is in the suspended state.

7. A bus manager control method according to claim 6, wherein said (a) determining includes:

detecting a power source voltage from said host; and

determining that said host is connected to said portable terminal, when said power source voltage is detected.

8. A bus manager control method according to claim 7, further comprising:

connecting said power source voltage to said external device, when said power source voltage is detected.

9. A bus manager control method according to claim 7, wherein said (b) determining includes:

detecting a signal transferred from said host; and

determining that said host operates as said bus manager, when said signal is transferred from said host.