Communication bus system with protocol for detecting presence of slave device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use as a hub station in a communication bus system that contains a host station connected to a host connector of the apparatus and a slave station connected to a slave connector of the apparatus, the communication bus system operating according to a communication protocol wherein the hub station generates a presence signal on the host connector upon incorporation of the hub station into the system via the host connector, the presence signal being dependent on whether the hub station detects a slave device connected to the slave connector, wherein the apparatus comprisesan alternative host port;
- and a hub circuit operatively connected to the host connector, the slave connector and the alternative host port, the hub circuit being arranged to pass communication between an alternative host processor and the slave device via the alternative host port and said slave connector and to generate the presence signal simulating absence of a connection to the slave connector when the hub station is incorporated into the system at a time when the alternative host processor uses the slave device connected to the slave connector.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus can be used as a hub station in a communication bus system that contains a host station connected to a host connector of the apparatus and a slave station connected to a slave connector of the appara tus. In the communication bus system operates according to a communication protocol wherein the hub station generates a presence signal on the host connector upon incorporation of the hub station into the system via the host connector. The presence signal is dependent on whether the hub station detects a slave device connected to the slave connector. The apparatus comprises an alternative host port and a hub circuit operatively connected to the host connector, the slave connector, and the alternative host port. The hub circuit is arranged to pass communication between an alternative host processor and the slave device via the alternative host port and the slave connector, generating the presence signal to simulate absence of a connection to the slave connector when the hub station is incorporated into the system at a time when the alternative host processor uses the slave device connected to the slave connector.
32 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use as a hub station in a communication bus system that contains a host station connected to a host connector of the apparatus and a slave station connected to a slave connector of the apparatus, the communication bus system operating according to a communication protocol wherein the hub station generates a presence signal on the host connector upon incorporation of the hub station into the system via the host connector, the presence signal being dependent on whether the hub station detects a slave device connected to the slave connector, wherein the apparatus comprises
an alternative host port; - and
a hub circuit operatively connected to the host connector, the slave connector and the alternative host port, the hub circuit being arranged to pass communication between an alternative host processor and the slave device via the alternative host port and said slave connector and to generate the presence signal simulating absence of a connection to the slave connector when the hub station is incorporated into the system at a time when the alternative host processor uses the slave device connected to the slave connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A system comprising at least a first and second communication bus system that both contain a shared hub station, the communication bus systems containing a first and second host station respectively, for incorporating slave stations and controlling communication with the slave stations in the first and second communication bus system respectively, the shared hub station having a slave connector for connecting a slave station, the first and second communication bus system each operating according to a communication protocol wherein the hub station generates a presence signal for the slave connector upon incorporation of the hub station into the relevant system, the presence signal being dependent on whether the shared hub station detects the slave station connected to the slave connector, wherein the shared hub station is arranged to make a selectable assignment of the slave connector to the first or to the second communication bus system, the shared hub station supplying the signals that it normally generates in response to the absence of a connection to the slave connector to the second host station if the shared hub station assigns the slave connector to the first communication bus system.
Specification