Connection Device for Connecting a Plurality of Peripheral Devices and Operating Method
OwnerRobert Depta, Reinhold Gruberinventors
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Abstract
A connection device can be used for the connection of a plurality of peripheral devices to at least one host adapter. Each of the plurality of peripheral devices, as well as the host adapter, complies with a first and/or second data transmission protocol. A first or a second operating mode of the connection device is selected during an initialization phase.
Claims17
A connection device for connecting a plurality of peripheral devices to at least one host adapter, wherein each of the plurality of peripheral devices, as well as the at least one host adapter, complies with a first and/or a second data transmission protocol, the connection device comprising:
- at least one first host port for connecting to the at least one host adapter;
- a plurality of device ports for connecting the plurality of peripheral devices;
- at least one switching device for selective connection of the plurality of device ports to the at least one first host port;
- at least one detection device for detection of a provision of a predetermined configuration signal according to the first data transmission protocol at the at least one first host port;
- and
- at least one control device for selection of an operating mode of the connection device, wherein the at least one control device is designed to switch the connection device into a first operating mode according to the first data transmission protocol during an initialization phase if the predetermined configuration signal is detected on a first host connection by the at least one detection device, and into a second operating mode according to the second data transmission protocol if the predetermined configuration signal is not detected.
A method for operating a connection device for connecting a plurality of peripheral devices to at least one host adapter, the method comprising:
- monitoring a first host port for a predetermined configuration signal of the at least one host adapter;
- selecting a first operating mode of the connection device, when the predetermined configuration signal was detected during an initialization phase, and a second operating mode, when the predetermined configuration signal was not detected during the initialization phase;
- monitoring a plurality of device ports for the predetermined configuration signal of the plurality of peripheral devices;
- and
- connecting a first group of peripheral devices among the plurality of peripheral devices to the at least one host adapter as a function of the monitoring of the first host port and/or the plurality of device ports for the predetermined configuration signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.