USB data serializer

• US 6,567,875 B1
• Filed: 04/05/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OPTi Incorporated
• Original Assignee: OPTi Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Mark R., Schumacher, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Application Number:
  US09/286,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 710/11, 710/15, 710/30, 710/62-65, 710/71-74, 710/103-106, 710/129, 710/23-28, 710/300-304, 710/305, 710/306, 710/311, 710/313, 710/315
• US Class Current: 710/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/105 where the programme performs an input/output emulation function

Abstract

A system and method for emulating a USB peripheral device is disclosed. The system utilizes a USB programming and operating interface to interact with the host but formats the data into a format usable by a non-USB peripheral device. Such a system consumes less real estate and power than a USB interface controller and USB peripheral, but remains compatible with software designed to interact with those USB devices.

Claims

1. A device for use in a computer system having a system bus, said computer system designed to interoperate with a USB peripheral device through a USB interface controller unit, said USB interface controller unit including a USB controller interface to said system bus, said device comprising:

a first interface to said system bus, said first interface appearing, to said computer system, identical to said USB controller interface;

a second interface to a non-USB peripheral device; and

a data formatter in a data path between said first interface and said second interface, said data formatter converting data between a system bus data format at said first interface, and a second data format at said second interface, said second data format being programmable.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said second data format is programmed to serialize data.

3. The device of claim 1, further storing a USB device identifier.

4. The device of claim 3, further including a programmable register, wherein said programmable register stores said USB device identifier.

5. A device for use in a computer system having a system bus, said computer system designed to interoperate with a USB peripheral device through a USB interface controller unit, said USB interface controller unit including a USB controller interface to said system bus, said device comprising:

a first interface to said system bus, said first interface appearing, to said computer system, identical to said USB controller interface;

a port couplable to a non-USB peripheral device; and

a programmable USB emulation unit in communication with said first interface to receive data from said system bus, and to transmit said data to said port, said programmable USB emulation unit including a data formatter, said data formatter capable of formatting said data received from said system bus in accordance with one of a plurality of non-USB data formats for said port, said programmable USB emulation unit further storing a USB device identifier.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said data formatter includes a data serializer.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a USB host side SIE in communication with said first interface; and

a USB peripheral side SIE in communication with said host side SIE and said programmable USB emulation unit.

8. The device of claim 7, further including a USB differential port in communication with said host side SIE.

9. The device of claim 8, further including a USB differential port in communication with said USB peripheral side SIE.

10. A device for use in a computer system having a system bus, said computer system designed to interoperate with USB peripherals through said system bus, said device comprising:

an interface to said system bus;

a non-USB digital port couplable to a non-USB peripheral device; and

means for emulating a USB peripheral device to said system bus on behalf of said non-USB peripheral device, said means for emulating including a data formatter that is programmable to support any of a plurality of data formats at said non-USB port.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said means for emulating includes:

means for receiving information from said computer system intended for said USB peripheral device;

means for translating said information into a format readable by said non-USB peripheral device; and

means for storing a USE identifier on behalf of said USB peripheral device.

12. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a system bus in communication with said processor and said memory; and

a USB data serializer in communication with said system bus in a like manner to a USB interface controller unit, said USB data serializer couplable to carry data between said system bus and a non-USB peripheral device.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said USB data serializer includes a data formatter, said data formatter having an input for receiving data obtained from said system bus and having an output for carrying said data in a format usable by said non-USB peripheral device.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said data formatter operates bi-directionally, receiving data from said non-USB peripheral device and providing said data to said system bus.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said USB data serializer further stores a USB peripheral device identifier.

16. A method of emulating a USB peripheral device in a computer system including a processor, a memory, and a system bus in communication with said processor and said memory, comprising the steps of:

communicating, by an interface device, a USB device identifier to said computer system;

configuring, by said computer system, said computer system to operate with a USB peripheral device identified by said USB device identifier;

receiving, by said interface device, information from said computer system intended for said USB peripheral device;

translating said information into a format readable by a non-USB device;

communicating said translated information to said non-USB device; and

programming said interface device to translate said information into said format, where said format is one of a plurality of formats programmable.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of programming further includes programming said interface device with said USB device identifier.

18. A device for use in a computer system having a system bus, said computer system designed to interoperate with a USB peripheral device through a USB interface controller unit, said USB interface controller unit including a USB controller interface to said system bus, said device comprising:

a first interface to said system bus, said first interface appearing, to said computer system, identical to said USB controller interface;

a second interface to a non-USB peripheral device, said non-USB peripheral device including a non-USB speaker; and

a data formatter in a data path between said first interface and said second interface, said data formatter converting data between a system bus data format at said first interface, and a second data format at said second interface, said second data format being programmable.

19. A device for use in a computer system having a system bus, said computer system designed to interoperate with a USB peripheral device through a USB interface controller unit, said USB interface controller unit including a USB controller interface to said system bus, said device comprising:

a first interface to said system bus, said first interface appearing, to said computer system, identical to said USB controller interface;

a port couplable to a non-USB peripheral device, said non-USB peripheral device including a non-USB speaker; and

a programmable USB emulation unit in communication with said first interface to receive data from said system bus, and to transmit said data to said port, said programmable USB emulation unit including a data formatter, said data formatter capable of formatting said data received from said system bus in accordance with one of a plurality of non-USB data formats for said port, said programmable USB emulation unit further storing a USB device identifier.

20. A device for use in a computer system having a system bus, said computer system designed to interoperate with USB peripherals through said system bus, said device comprising:

an interface to said system bus;

a non-USB digital port couplable to a non-USB peripheral device, said non-USB peripheral device including a non-USB speaker; and

means for emulating a USB peripheral device to said system bus on behalf of said non-USB peripheral device, said means for emulating including a data formatter that is programmable to support any of a plurality of data formats at said non-USB port.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a system bus in communication with said processor and said memory; and

a USB data serializer in communication with said system bus in a like manner to a USB interface controller unit, said USB data serializer couplable to carry data between said system bus and a non-USB peripheral device, said non-USB peripheral device including a non-USB speaker.

22. A method of emulating a USB peripheral device in a computer system including a processor, a memory, and a system bus in communication with said processor and said memory, comprising the steps of:

communicating, by an interface device, a USB device identifier to said computer system;

configuring, by said computer system, said computer system to operate with a USB peripheral device identified by said USB device identifier;

receiving, by said interface device, information from said computer system intended for said USB peripheral device;

translating said information into a format readable by a non-USB device, said non-USB peripheral device including a non-USB speaker;

communicating said translated information to said non-USB device; and

programming said interface device to translate said information into said format, where said format is one of a plurality of formats programmable.