Bus/port switching system and method for a computer

• US 6,256,700 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sauber, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Application Number:
  US09/281,700
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 710/126-132, 710/36, 710/38, 710/2, 710/101-103
• US Class Current: 710/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically switching buses and ports inside a computer. The system configures the connection of first and second buses/ports for buses as USBs or 1394 buses, to another bus such as a PCI bus. The system includes first and second interfaces for connecting the PCI bus to the first and second buses. A switching system selectively connects the first and second buses to a plurality of ports. The switching system is responsive to bus requirements of any devices connected to the ports so that the total requirements for all the devices is balanced between the first and second interfaces.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

first, second, and third buses;

first, second, and third ports;

first and second interfaces for connecting the first and second buses to the third bus, respectively; and

means for selectively connecting each of the first, second, and third ports to one of either the first or second buses, wherein the means for selectively connecting is responsive to bus requirements of any devices connected to the ports so that the total bus requirements for all the devices is relatively balanced between the first and second interfaces.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the connecting means is responsive to changes at one or more of the first, second, and third ports.

3. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising:

a control bus connected to the connecting means;

wherein the connecting means is responsive to signals from the control bus.

4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the first interface determines the signals on the control bus.

5. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the first interface determines the signals on the control bus responsive to a bandwidth of a device connected to the first port.

6. The computer system of claim 3 further comprising:

a processor connected to the third bus;

wherein the processor determines the signals on the control bus.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the processor is running an operating system and the processor drives the signals responsive to the operating system.

8. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the processor is running a BIOS and the processor drives the signals responsive to the BIOS.

9. A system for configuring a connection between a plurality of ports and a main peripheral bus, the system comprising:

first and second interfaces connected to the main peripheral bus;

first and second buses connected to the first and second interfaces, respectively; and

a switching system for selectively connecting the plurality of ports to the first and second buses;

wherein the switching system is responsive to bus requirements of any devices connected to the ports so that the total bus requirements for all the devices is relatively balanced between the first and second interfaces.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first and second buses support a continually changing arrangement of devices and the switching system is responsive to the changing arrangement.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the first and second buses support a continually changing arrangement of active applications of the devices and the switching system is responsive to the changing arrangement.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and second buses are plug-and-play buses.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the switching system is responsive to control signals from the first interface device.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the switching system is responsive to control signals from a processor.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and second buses are universal serial buses.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and second buses are 1394 buses.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the switching system includes a plurality of physical interface layers, including first and second physical interface layers connected to the first and second 1394 buses and additional physical interface layers connected to the plurality of ports.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the switching system further includes a switching matrix connected between the first and second physical interface layers and the other physical interface layers.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of physical interface layers and switching matrix are co-located.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the switching system includes a switch matrix.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the switching matrix includes a plurality of field effect transistors.

22. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a third bus connected to the first interface;

wherein the switching system selectively connects the plurality of ports to the first, second, and third buses responsive to bus requirements of any devices connected to the ports, so that the total bus requirements for all the devices is relatively balanced between the first and second interfaces.

23. A method for connecting three ports to a shared bus, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first and second interfaces connected to the shared bus;

providing first and second buses connected to the first and second interfaces, respectively;

selectively connecting the three ports to the first and second buses responsive to bus requirements of any devices connected to the ports so that the total requirements for all the devices is relatively balanced between the first and second interfaces.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the first and second buses support a continually changing arrangement of devices and the step of selectively connecting is responsive to the changing arrangement.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the first and second buses support a continually changing arrangement of active applications and the step of selectively connecting is responsive to the changing arrangement.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the first and second buses are plug-and-play buses.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of selectively connecting is responsive to control signals from the first interface device.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of selectively connecting is responsive to control signals from a processor.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of selectively connecting utilizes at least five physical interface layers, one physical interface layers associated with each of the first and second interfaces and the three ports.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of selectively connecting further utilizes a switching matrix connected between the five physical interface layers.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the switching matrix and the five physical interface layers are co-located in an integrated circuit.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of selectively connecting utilizes a switch matrix.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the switch matrix includes a plurality of field effect transistors.

34. A computer comprising:

a) a processor;

b) a peripheral bus connectable to the processor;

c) first, second, third, and fourth secondary buses;

d) first, second, third, and fourth ports;

e) a first bus interface connected between the peripheral bus and the first and second secondary buses;

f) a second bus interface connected between the peripheral bus and the third and fourth secondary buses;

g) a system for selectively connecting the first, second, third, and fourth secondary buses to the first, second, third, and fourth ports;

h) a control bus for controlling the operation of the system; and

i) a plurality of programming instructions, including;

1) instructions for detecting a first configuration of devices on the first, second, third, and fourth ports;

2) instructions for determining a desired configuration of the first, second, third, and fourth ports; and

3) instructions for activating control signals on the control bus to selectively connect the first, second, third, and fourth secondary buses to the first, second, third, and fourth ports;

wherein the system for selectively connecting is responsive to bus requirements of any devices connected to the ports so that the total bus requirements for all the devices is relatively balanced between the first and second interfaces.

35. The computer of claim 34 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth secondary buses are all serial buses.