# US 12,117,950 B2 · Systems and methods of controlling communication modes in an electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,117,950 B2 - Document ID: US12117950B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/008,084 - Filed: 2021-06-04 - Published: 2023-08-10 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-04 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Julia Jacinta Busono; Robert Glenn Rundell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12117950B2 ## CPC - G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices} - G06F 13/4295: {using an embedded synchronisation} - G06F 2213/0042: Universal serial bus [USB] - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method of providing data communication between a first device and a second device includes, establishing a first communication link with a downstream device connected to the second device using a first mode via a USB-type interface, wherein in the first mode the USB-type interface utilizes a first set of USB communication lanes; establishing a second communication link with the first device via the USB-C port using an Alternate mode wherein the Alt-mode utilizes the first set of USB communication lanes; and, in accordance with establishing the second communication link, changing a mode of the first communication link so that the first communication link does not communicate via the first set of USB communication lanes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing data communication between a first device and a downstream device, the method comprising: at a second device, wherein the second device has a USB component that includes a USB-C port and one or more additional USB-type interfaces: establishing a first communication link with the downstream device using a first mode via a USB-type interface, of said one or more additional USB-type interfaces, wherein in the first mode the USB-type interface utilizes a first set of USB communication lanes; establishing a second communication link with the first device via the USB-C port using an Alternate mode (Alt-mode) wherein the Alt-mode utilizes the first set of USB communication lanes; and in accordance with establishing the second communication link and based on the Alt-mode utilizing the first the of USB communications lanes, changing a mode of the first communication link so that the first communication link does not communicate via the first set of USB communication lanes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the Alt-mode communication is a DisplayPort (DP) communication. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the Alt-mode communication is a Thunderbolt 3 communication. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the Alt-mode communication is a HDMI communication. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising allocating a four-lane data connection to the Alt-mode communication. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein changing the mode of a node includes sending a signal to toggle a VBUS_EN of the USB-type interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein changing the mode of the first communication link includes cycling power to the USB-type interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein changing the mode of the first communication link includes changing the mode to a slower data connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the USB-type interface is part of a main USB hub and changing the mode of the first communication link includes not resetting the main USB hub. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the downstream device is a downstream USB hub. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: determining whether a second node is connected to the downstream USB hub; determining whether the second node is communicating via the first set of USB communication lanes; and changing a second mode of the second node so that the second node does not communicate via the first set of USB communication lanes before changing the mode of the downstream USB hub so that the node does not communicate via the first set of USB communication lanes. ### Claim 12 A secondary device, comprising: a USB-C port; a universal serial bus (USB) hub having a plurality of ports; a DisplayPort (DP) processor; a multiplexer in electrical communication with the USB-C port, wherein the multiplexer is configured to switch a four-lane data connection between the USB hub to the DP processor; a microcontroller in data communication with the multiplexer; and a storage device electrically coupled to the microcontroller having instructions stored thereon that instruct the microcontroller establishing a first communication link with a downstream device using a first mode via a USB-type interface, of one or more additional USB-type interfaces, wherein in the first mode the USB-type interface utilizes a first set of USB communication lanes; establishing a second communication link with the first device via the USB-C port using an Alternate mode (Alt-mode) wherein the Alt-mode utilizes the first set of USB communication lanes; and in accordance with establishing the second communication link and based on the Alt-mode utilizing the first set of USB communications lanes, changing a mode of the first communication link so that the first communication link does not communicate via the first set of USB communication lanes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The secondary device of claim 12 further comprising a display panel electrically coupled to the DP processor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The secondary device of claim 12, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to determine whether a host device is capable of four-lane DisplayPort Alt-Mode. ### Claim 15 A communication system comprising: a host device; a secondary device including: a USB-C port; a universal serial bus (USB) hub having a plurality of ports; a DisplayPort (DP) processor; a multiplexer in electrical communication with the USB-C port, wherein the multiplexer is configured to switch a four-lane data connection between the USB hub to the DP processor; a microcontroller in data communication with the multiplexer; and a storage device electrically coupled to the microcontroller having instructions stored thereon that instruct the microcontroller establishing a first communication link with a downstream device using a first mode via a USB-type interface, of one or more additional USB-type interfaces, wherein in the first mode the USB-type interface utilizes a first set of USB communication lanes; establishing a second communication link with the first device via the USB-C port using an Alternate mode (Alt-mode) wherein the Alt-mode utilizes the first set of USB communication lanes; and in accordance with establishing the second communication link and based on the Alt-mode utilizing the first set of USB communications lanes, changing a mode of the first communication link so that the first communication link does not communicate via the first set of USB communication lanes; and a data cable connecting the host device to the USB-C port of the secondary device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The communication system of claim 15, wherein the Alt-mode communication is a DisplayPort (DP) communication, a Thunderbolt 3 communication, or a HDMI communication, and further comprising allocating a four-lane data connection to the Alt-mode communication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The communication system of claim 16, wherein changing the mode of a node includes sending a signal to toggle a VBUS_EN of the USB-type interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The communication system of claim 17, wherein changing the mode of the first communication link includes cycling power to the USB-type interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The communication system of claim 18, wherein changing the mode of the first communication link includes changing the mode to a slower data connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The communication system of claim 19, wherein the USB-type interface is part of a main USB hub and changing the mode of the first communication link includes not resetting the main USB hub.