User resource sharing through the USB interface
First Claim
1. A method of sharing user resources in a computer system through a universal serial bus (USB) interface comprising:
- associating at least a first USB device with a first user and at least a second USB device with a second user;
assigning the first user to a first USB port;
assigning the second user to a second USB port;
monitoring a USB transaction occurring between a USB device and the computer system to identify which USB device is participating in the monitored USB transaction;
permitting the first user to temporarily assume control of the computer system through the first USB port for operation of the at least one USB device if the at least one USB device is the identified USB device; and
blocking the second user from access to the computer system while the first user has temporary control of the computer system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of sharing user resources in a computer system through a universal serial bus (USB) interface. The method may involve, not necessarily in this order, associating at least one USB device with a first user and at least another USB device with a second user; assigning the first user to a first USB port; assigning the second user to a second USB port; permitting the first user to temporarily assume control of the computer system through the first USB port for operation of the at least one USB device; and blocking the second user from access to the computer system while the first user has temporary control of the computer system.
44 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of sharing user resources in a computer system through a universal serial bus (USB) interface comprising:
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associating at least a first USB device with a first user and at least a second USB device with a second user; assigning the first user to a first USB port; assigning the second user to a second USB port; monitoring a USB transaction occurring between a USB device and the computer system to identify which USB device is participating in the monitored USB transaction; permitting the first user to temporarily assume control of the computer system through the first USB port for operation of the at least one USB device if the at least one USB device is the identified USB device; and blocking the second user from access to the computer system while the first user has temporary control of the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A USB communication system for sharing user resources comprising:
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a host computer system having a USB host controller, a first USB hub circuitry, and transmitter circuitry, the USB host controller being configured to operate using a split transaction for the USB communications; receiver circuitry having a second USB host circuitry that receives a non-USB format or USB communication signals as the signals appear between split start and split complete transaction operations at the host computer system, the transmitter circuitry being configured to forward the non-USB formatted USB communication signals across an extension between the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry; a user transaction lockout filter disposed between the first USB hub circuitry and the second USB hub circuitry that performs snooping of the USB communication signals that appear between the split start and the split complete transaction operations at the host computer system; at least one USB user interface device communicatively coupled to the receiver circuitry that receives USB communication signals from the second USB hub circuitry, the USB communication signals corresponding to the non-USB formatted communication signals that appear between the split start and split complete transaction operations at the host computer system; and one or more users sharing the host computer system through the receiver circuitry and the transmitter circuitry, wherein the user transaction lockout filter identifies which of the one or more users sharing the host computer system is associated with the USB signals. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification