Usb phy sharing in multi-port systems

A system, comprising:

• a first communication port comprising first and second CC terminals;
• a second communication port comprising third and fourth CC terminals;
• a first multiplexer having first and second inputs, a select input, and an output, the first input of the first multiplexer coupled to the first CC terminal, and the second input of the first multiplexer coupled to the second CC terminal;
• a second multiplexer having first and second inputs, a select input, and an output, the first input of the second multiplexer coupled to the third CC terminal, and the second input of the second multiplexer coupled to the fourth CC terminal;
• a logic circuit having first, second, and third inputs and an output, the first input of the logic circuit coupled to the output of the first multiplexer, and the second input of the logic circuit coupled to the output of the second multiplexer;
• a third multiplexer having first and second inputs, a select input, and an output, the first input of the third multiplexer coupled to the output of the first multiplexer, the second input of the third multiplexer coupled to the output of the second multiplexer, and the select input of the third multiplexer coupled to the output of the logic circuit;
• and
• a communication policy engine comprising:
• a communication physical layer circuit having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the communication physical layer circuit coupled to the output of the third multiplexer;
• and
• a protocol layer and policy engine circuit having first and second inputs and first and second outputs, the first input of the protocol layer and policy engine circuit coupled to the output of the logic circuit, the second input of the protocol layer and policy engine circuit coupled to the output of the communication physical layer circuit, the first output of the protocol layer and policy engine circuit coupled to the second input of the communication physical layer circuit, and the second output of the protocol layer and policy engine circuit coupled to the third input of the logic circuit.

A method, comprising:

• determining, via a logic circuit, squelch statuses of each of multiple configuration channels;
• determining, via the logic circuit, a number of missed messages for each of the configuration channels;
• determining, via the logic circuit, a transmit status of a communication policy engine;
• determining, via the logic circuit and based on the squelch status of the configuration channels, the number of missed messages for each of the configuration channels, and the transmit status of a communication policy engine, a configuration channel of the configuration channels to communicatively couple to the communication policy engine;
• and
• communicatively couple the determined configuration channel of the configuration channels to a physical layer circuit.