Synchronous network of superspeed and non-superspeed usb devices
AssigneeChronologic Pty. Ltd.
InventorPeter Graham FOSTER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of synchronising the operation of a plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices and a plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices is provided. The method includes establishing a SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of the plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices; establishing a non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of the plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices; synchronising a respective local clock of each of the plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices; synchronising a respective local clock of each of the plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices; and synchronising the SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channels so that the SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed devices can operate in synchrony.
Claims20
A method of synchronising the operation of a plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices and a plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices, comprising:
- establishing a SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of said plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices;
- establishing a non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of said plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices;
- synchronising a respective local clock of each of said plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices;
- synchronising a respective local clock of each of said plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices;
- and
- synchronising said SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channels so that said SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed devices can operate in synchrony.
An apparatus for providing synchronisation signals to one or more SuperSpeed-connected USB devices, the apparatus comprising:
- a USB Hub containing a SuperSpeed USB upstream port;
- and
- a plurality of SuperSpeed USB downstream ports;
- a local clock or local clock circuitry;
- circuitry adapted to generate synchronisation information referenced to said local clock;
- multiplexer circuitry operable to multiplex said synchronisation information onto D+/D− signalling lines of a selected one or more of said downstream ports to which a USB device is attached and connected in SuperSpeed USB mode.
A method of synchronising a clock of a USB device connected in SuperSpeed mode to a clock of a USB Hub attached thereto, the method comprising:
- generating synchronisation information from said clock of said USB Hub;
- multiplexing said synchronisation information onto unused D+/D− signalling lines of a downstream port of said USB Hub to which said USB device is attached;
- synchronising said clock of said USB device to said synchronisation information;
- whereby said USB device is connected to and communicating with a Host Controller through said USB Hub using SuperSpeed USB protocol and simultaneously synchronised to a notion of time of said clock of said USB Hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.