Smart card virtual hub

• US 6,978,335 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maishi Electronic (Shanghai) Limited
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Patrick S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/878,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20020011516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 710/313, 710301-304, 710/100, 710/104, 710305-306, 713/310, 713/600, 725/6
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/00 Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00

Abstract

A smart card virtual hub combines a ISO7816 compliant smart card reader interface with a USB hub that provides one or more attachment points for connection of devices to the USB bus, thereby interfacing such devices to the host computer. The hub in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides one port to which one USB functional device, such as a keyboard, may be attached. The attached keyboard shares a common USB bus bandwidth with the internal embedded smart card reader through a host-scheduled, token-based communication protocol that is handled by the USB driver and the device driver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting at least one USB device to a single point of connection for a USB bus, comprising:

a virtual hub for interfacing said USB device to a host computer, said hub comprising a USB smart card reader interface, a USB hub, power switch circuitry, and at least one port to which a USB device may be attached, wherein said USB device and said smart card reader interface share a common USB bus bandwidth via said USB hub through a host-scheduled, token-based communication protocol that is handled by a USB driver and a corresponding respective device driver;

a smart card reader coupled to said smart card reader interface;

an enclosure which contains said virtual hub, said smart card reader, and at least one port connection for at least one USB device other than said smart card reader; and

a clock switch comprising a clock-stopping mechanism for controlling embedded functions power consumption before said virtual hub is configured, and for distributing a clock signal to said embedded functions after said virtual hub is configured to enable said embedded functions;

wherein said smart card reader interface generates interface signals to support the operation of at least one smart card that is compliant with the ISO 7816 standard; and

wherein said power switch circuitry is controlled by said USB hub and said USB smart card reader interface and is capable of supplying power to said smart card.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one port connection for said at least one USB device is internal to said enclosure, and wherein said USB device is a USB keyboard controller and an associated keyboard.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smart card reader is permanently coupled to the said smart card reader interface of the said virtual hub within said enclosure;

and wherein at least one downstream port of said virtual hub is used as an attachment point to connect external USB devices to said host computer via an upstream data port.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said virtual hub further comprises:

a hub controller;

a repeater;

a power controller;

a smart card port controller; and

a USB device port controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said hub controller connects to a USB transceiver, where it receives control and data transactions from said host computer;

wherein said hub controller controls and manages operation of said repeater, said power controller, and said port controllers in accordance with control information received from said host computer.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said hub controller maintains configuration information and parameters of said virtual hub, and descriptors which specify power consumption requirement, power management, data transfer protocol, and data packet size;

wherein said descriptors are used to setup a function, an interface, and a communication protocol between said host computer, said hub controller, said repeater, said power controller, said smart card reader interface, and said port controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said virtual hub allows said host computer to recognize automatically any new USB device attached to said host computer via the ports of said virtual hub, while also setting up an operating relationship with said host computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said virtual hub allows any new USB device to be attached to said host computer via the ports of said virtual hub and be recognized by said host computer without the need to power said host computer on or off.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said virtual hub allows at least one USB device to be attached to said host computer via said virtual hub via a single cable having a single connector.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each said port controller comprises a pod state machine that controls a downstream port;

wherein one port controller is provided for each downstream port;

wherein each said port controller detects connect/disconnect events on an associated port and can enable/disable/suspend said associated port;

wherein each said port controller reports port status and change information to said hub controller, detects the speed of an associated USB device, and converts a full speed signal from a root port to a full/low speed signal for a downstream port, and vice versa.

11. A method for connecting at least one USB device to a single point of connection for a USB bus, comprising the steps of:

providing a virtual hub for interfacing said USB device to a host computer, said hub comprising a USB smart card reader interface, a USB hub, power switch circuitry, and at least one port to which said USB device may be attached, wherein said smart card reader interface and said USB device share a common USB bus bandwidth via said USB hub through a host-scheduled, token-based communication protocol that is handled by a USB driver and a corresponding respective device driver;

providing a smart card reader coupled to said smart card reader interface;

providing an enclosure which contains said virtual hub, said smart card reader, and at least one port connection for at least one USB device other than said smart card reader; and

providing a clock switch comprising a clock-stopping mechanism for controlling embedded functions power consumption before said virtual hub is configured, and for distributing a clock signal to said embedded functions after said virtual hub is configured to enable said embedded functions;

wherein said smart card reader interface generates interface signals to support the operation of at least one smart card that is compliant with the ISO 7816 standard; and

wherein said power switch circuitry is controlled by said USB hub and said USB smart card reader interface and is capable of supplying power to said smart card.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one port connection for said at least one USB device is internal to said enclosure, and wherein said USB device is a USB keyboard controller and an associated keyboard.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said smart card reader interface is permanently connected to a internal downstream port of the said virtual hub within said enclosure;

and wherein at least one other downstream port of said virtual hub is used as an attachment point to connect external USB devices to said host computer via an upstream data port.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said virtual hub allows said host computer to recognize automatically any new USB device attached to said host computer via the ports of the said virtual hub, while also setting up an operating relationship with said host computer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said virtual hub allows any new USB device to be attached to said host computer via the ports of the said virtual hub and be recognized by said host computer without the need to power said host computer on or off.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said virtual hub allows at least one USB device to be attached to said host computer via said virtual hub via a single, cable having a single connector.