Computer system for selectively connecting IEEE 1394 internal peripheral devices to either 1394 physical layer ports or 1394 external ports in response to control signal

A method for connecting peripheral devices in a computer supporting IEEE1394 in which internal 1394 peripheral devices connected to 1394 physical layer ports are connected to a 1394 peripheral device using apparatus outside the computer, comprising the steps of:

• (a) inputting a selection of a user with respect to a predetermined internal 1394 peripheral device after the computer is turned on;
• (b) intercepting the internal 1394 peripheral devices from the 1394 physical layer ports and connecting the internal 1394 peripheral devices to a external 1394 port connected to the 1394 connector of the 1394 peripheral device using apparatus when the 1394 peripheral device using apparatus is selected;
• and
• (c) intercepting the internal 1394 peripheral devices from the external 1394 ports and connecting the internal 1394 peripheral devices to the 1394 physical layer ports when the computer is selected.

An apparatus for accessing a plurality of peripheral devices internal to said first computer by a second computer, comprising:

• a plurality of external ports for allowing said plurality of internal peripheral devices to be accessed by said second computer;
• a physical layer port;
• and
• a central processing unit controlling whether said plurality of internal peripheral devices are connected to said physical layer port or said plurality of external ports, said second computer being located outside said first computer and capable of accessing said plurality of internal peripheral devices when said plurality of peripheral devices are connected to said internal plurality of external ports.

A method to access a plurality of peripheral devices internal to a first computer by a second computer, comprising the steps of:

• determining whether power to said first computer is on;
• accessing said plurality of peripheral devices internal to said first computer by said second computer if said first computer is powered down;
• monitoring whether said plurality of peripheral devices internal to said first computer are electrically connected to a physical layer chip or an external port when said power to said first computer is turned on;
• connecting said plurality of internal peripheral devices to a physical layer port when said first computer is electrically powered on;
• determining whether said plurality of internal peripheral devices are to be accessed by said second computer if power to said first computer is turned on;
• connecting said plurality of peripheral devices to external ports allowing said second computer only to access said plurality of internal peripheral devices if power to said first computer is turned on and it is determined that said plurality of internal peripheral devices are to be accessed by said second computer;
• and
• maintaining connection of said plurality of internal peripheral devices to said physical layer port if it is determined that said plurality internal of peripheral devices are not to be accessed by said second computer.