Method and apparatus for attaching USB peripherals to host ports

• US 7,024,501 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Wright, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, ALAN S
• Application Number:
  US10/299,429
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/5, 710/7, 710/17, 710/19, 710/35, 710/36, 710 62- 64, 710/73, 710/129, 710/72, 712/225, 463/39, 463/40, 455/73
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A wireless peripheral controller connects multiple wireless game controllers to a game console across a communication port. A connector simulates the appearance of connecting a device to another communication port. Upon detecting the connection event, the game console queries the communication port associated with the connection event. A bus reset detector alerts the wireless peripheral controller. The alerted wireless peripheral controller signals the game console through the original communication port with the appropriate configuration instructions to obtain a unique device address for an additional wireless game controller. Using the unique device addresses, the wireless peripheral controller receives and responds to traffic intended for other communication ports through the original communication port.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication interface having a first wireless communication channel configured to receive wireless control signals from a first wireless Human Interface Device (HID) and a second wireless communication channel configured to receive wireless control signals from a second wireless HID;

a control interface having a communication port configured to transmit the wireless control signals received from both the first wireless HID and the second wireless HID; and

wherein the communication port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and is configurable to transmit control signals received from a plurality of HIDs;

wherein the control interface includes a bus reset detector that enables the second wireless communication channel with at least one of the second wireless HIDs to receive and respond to traffic directed to a different communication port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first wireless HID and the second wireless HID are game controllers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control interface is configured to distribute peripheral control signals received over the communication port to the first and second wireless communication channels.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a peripheral controller that assigns and links unique device addresses to each wireless HID electronically attached to the wireless communication interface.

5. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the control interface includes at least one non-operable USB port that simulates a connection event of an operating communication port.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the non-operable USB port includes a pull-up resistor coupled between a D+ and a Vbus pin.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is an intermediary USB device facilitating the transfer of the wireless control signals to a host.

8. A system comprising:

a host having at least a communication port;

a wireless peripheral controller coupled to the communication port;

a plurality of wireless devices conducting wireless communications over the communication port through the wireless peripheral controller; and

wherein the communication port comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and the plurality of wireless devices communicate over the USB port;

wherein the wireless peripheral controller comprises a dummy port that simulates a connection of a fully operating communication port;

wherein the wireless peripheral controller includes a bus reset detector which detects a reset caused by the dummy port.

9. The system in claim 8 wherein the wireless peripheral controller transmits control signals from the plurality of wireless devices through the same USB port.

10. The system in claim 9 wherein the wireless peripheral controller responds to a plurality of USB device addresses through the same USB port.

11. The system in claim 8 wherein the plurality of wireless devices are game controllers.

12. The system in claim 8 wherein the plurality of wireless devices include any one of the following:

mice, keyboards, game controllers, scanners, printers, facsimile devices, sound activated controllers, light activated controllers, pressure activated controllers, and movement activated controllers.

13. A system comprising:

a host having at least a communication port;

a wireless peripheral controller coupled to the communication port;

a plurality of wireless devices conducting wireless communications over the communication port through the wireless peripheral controller; and

a dummy port on the wireless peripheral controller that simulates a connection of an operating communication port;

wherein the wireless peripheral controller includes a bus reset detector for detecting a reset caused by the dummy port.

14. A method comprising:

connecting to a first wireless device;

connecting to a second wireless device;

transferring signals from the first wireless device and the second wireless device to a host through a common communication port;

initiating a first connection event on a first communication port;

receiving a first device address over the first communication port directed to the first wireless device in response to the first connection event;

conducting communications associated with the first device address over the first communication port;

generating a second connection event on a second communication port;

receiving a second device address over the first communication port directed to the second wireless device in response to the second connection event; and

conducting communications associated with the second device address over the first communications port.

15. A method comprising:

generating a first connection event on a fist communication port corresponding to a first wireless device;

generating a second connection event on a second communication port;

receiving a second device address over the first communication port directed to a second wireless device in response to the second connection event; and

conducting communications associated with the second device address over the first communications port;

wherein the first and second communication ports are configurable to couple a game console and a wireless communication interface;

wherein the second connection event causes a reset.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein either the first communication port or the second communication port is a Universal Serial Bus port.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first or second wireless devices include any one of the following:

mice, keyboards, game controllers, scanners, printers, facsimile devices, sound activated controllers, light activated controllers, pressure activated controllers, and movement activated controllers.

18. A method comprising:

connecting to a first wireless device;

connecting to a second wireless device; and

transferring signals from the first wireless device and the second wireless device to a host through a common communication port which comprises a Universal Serial Bus port;

initiating a first connection event on a first communication port;

receiving a first device address over the first communication port directed to the first wireless device in response to the first connection event;

conducting communications associated with the first device address over the first communication port;

generating a second connection event on a second communication port;

receiving a second device address over the first communication port directed to the second wireless device in response to the second connection event; and

conducting communications associated with the second device address over the first communications port.