Connection apparatus which facilitates conflict-free interfacing between host apparatuses and one or more peripherals

A connection apparatus comprising:

• first connecting means for connecting a first apparatus;
• second connecting means for connecting a second apparatus;
• third connecting means for connecting a peripheral apparatus;
• and
• emulation means for emulating the peripheral apparatus connected by said third connecting means by outputting predetermined status data, which would normally be issued by the peripheral apparatus, through said second connecting means to the second apparatus when a connection request is received from the second apparatus when the first apparatus is connected to the peripheral apparatus.

An apparatus comprising:

• first connecting means for connecting a first apparatus;
• second connecting means for connecting a second apparatus;
• and
• control means for, even if a reserve command has been received from the first apparatus, allowing said second connecting means to connect the second apparatus without receiving a release command from the first apparatus.

A method of operating at interface apparatus for connecting first and second hosts and a peripheral apparatus shared by the first and second hosts by means of a common bus interface, said method comprising:

• a first connecting step of connecting the first host and the peripheral apparatus;
• a second connecting step of connecting the second host and the peripheral apparatus;
• and
• a connection control step of controlling such that while one from among the first or second host is connected to the peripheral apparatus, when another from among the first or second host that is not connected to the peripheral apparatus issues a request to connect to the peripheral apparatus, a response is outputted to the host that issued the connection request as if such a response was generated from the peripheral apparatus, thereby preventing connection requests from the first and second hosts to the peripheral apparatus from conflicting with one another.

A method of operating a connection apparatus, comprising:

• a first connecting step of connecting a first apparatus;
• a second connecting step of connecting a second apparatus;
• a third connecting step of connecting a peripheral apparatus;
• and
• an emulation step of emulating the peripheral apparatus connected in said third connecting step by outputting predetermined status data, which would normally be issued by the peripheral apparatus, at said second connecting step to the second apparatus when a connection request is received from the second apparatus when the first apparatus is connected to the peripheral apparatus.

A connecting method comprising:

• a first connecting step of connecting a first apparatus;
• a second connecting step of connecting a second apparatus;
• and
• a control step of, even if a reserve command has been received from the first apparatus, allowing said second connecting step to connect the second apparatus without receiving a release command from the first apparatus.

A system including first and second hosts, a peripheral apparatus and an interface apparatus for connecting said first and second hosts and said peripheral apparatus shared by said first and second hosts by means of a common bus interface, said interface apparatus comprising:

• first connecting means for connecting said first host and said peripheral apparatus;
• second connecting means for connecting said second host and said peripheral apparatus;
• and
• connection control means for controlling such that while one from among said first or second host is connected to said peripheral apparatus, when another from among said first or second host that is not connected to said peripheral apparatus issues a request to connect to said peripheral apparatus, a response is outputted to said host that issued the connection request as if such a response was generated from said peripheral apparatus, thereby preventing connection requests from said the first and second hosts to said peripheral apparatus from conflicting with one another.

A system including a first apparatus, a second apparatus and a connection apparatus, said connection apparatus comprising:

• first connecting means for connecting said first apparatus;
• second connecting means for connecting said second apparatus;
• third connecting means for connecting said peripheral apparatus;
• and
• emulation means for emulating the peripheral apparatus connected by said third connecting means by predetermined status data, which would normally be issued by the peripheral apparatus, through said second connecting means to said second apparatus when a connection request is received from said second apparatus when said first apparatus is connected to said peripheral apparatus.

A system comprising a first apparatus, a second apparatus and a connecting apparatus, said connecting apparatus comprising:

• first connecting means for connecting said first apparatus;
• second connecting means for connecting said second apparatus;
• and
• control means for, even if a reserve command has been received from said first apparatus, allowing said second connecting means to connect said second apparatus without receiving a release command from said first apparatus.