USB networking on a multiple access transmission medium

A computer network comprising:

• a LAN hub;
• at least one outer hub advice connected to the LAN hub;
• at least one other outer hub device connected to the LAN hub;
• at least one USB device or at least one LAN computer connected to the outer hub device;
• and
• at least one other LAN computer connected to the other outer hub device via a respective USB link;
• wherein the USB device and the LAN computer communicates with the outer hub device using the USB protocol;
• wherein the other LAN computer communicates with the other outer hub device using the US protocol;
• wherein the outer hub device and the other outer hub device communicates with the LAN hub using a LAN protocol;
• and
• wherein, for asynchronous communications, the outer hub devices USB packets from the USB device or the LAN computer, generates handshake packets in response to the USB packets according to the USB protocol and ensures that the handshake packets are generated within a USB time limit prescribed by the USB protocol after receiving the USB packets.

An end hub for use in a computer network in which the end hub communicates with at least one USB device using the USB protocol and in which the end hub communicates with a LAN hub using a LAN protocol, said end hub comprising:

• LAN hub communication means for communicating with the LAN hub via a multi point access LAN link;
• USB device communication means for communicating with the USB device;
• and
• control logic means connected to the LAN hub communication means and to the USB device communication means,
• wherein, for asychronous communications, the control logic means examines USB packets from the USB device, generates handshake packets in response to the USB packets according to the USB protocol and ensures treat the handshake packets are generated within a USB time limit prescribed by the USB protocol after receiving the USB packets.

An attachment unit for use in a computer network in which the attachment until communicates with at least one LAN computer using the USB protocol and in which the attachment unit communicates with a LAN hub using a LAN protocol, said attachment unit comprising:

• LAN hub communication means for communicating with the LAN hub via multi point access LAN link;
• USB computer communication means for communicating with the LAN computer;
• and
• control logic means connected to the LAN hub communication means and to the USB computer communication means,
• wherein, for asynchronous communications, the control logic means examines USB packets from the LAN computer, generates handshake packets in response to the USB packets according to the USB protocol and ensures that the handshake packets are generated within a USB time limit prescribed by the USB protocol after receiving the USB packets.

An enhanced attachment unit for use in a computer network in which the enhanced attachment unit communicates with at least one LAN computer using the USB protocol and in which the enhanced attachment unit communicates with a LAN hub using a LAN protocol, said attachment unit comprising:

• LAN hub communication means for communicating with the LAN hub via a multi point access LAN link;
• USB computer communication means for communicating with the LAN computer;
• and
• control logic means connected to the LAN hub communication means and to the USB computer communication means,
• wherein, for asynchronous communications, the control logic means examines USB packets from the LAN computer, generates handshake packets in response to the USB packets according to the USB protocol and ensures that the handshake packets are generated within a USB time limit prescribed by the USB protocol after receiving the USB packets.

A composite end hub for use in a computer network in which the composite end hub communicates with a LAN computer and with at least one USB device using USB protocol and in which the composite end hub communicates with a LAN hub using a LAN protocol, said composite end hub comprising:

• LAN hub communication means for communicating with the LAN hub via a multi point access LAN link;
• USB device communication means for communicating with the at least one USB device;
• USB computer communication means for communicating with the LAN computer, and
• control logic means connected to the LAN hub communication means, to the USB device communication means and to the USB computer communicating means,
• wherein, for asynchronous communications, the control logic means examines USB packets from the USB device or the LAN computer, generates handshake packets in response to the USB packets of the USB protocol and ensures that the handshake packets are generated within a USB time limit prescribed by the USB protocol after receiving the USB packets.

A method for establishing point-to-point communication between a LAN hub and an outer hub device over a multi point access LAN link to transmit LAN packets to and from the outer hub device according to a LAN protocol, the LAN hub being connected to at least one network device and the outer hub device being connected to at least one USB device or at least one LAN computer in a communication network where multiple outer hub devices are connected to the LAN hub via the multi point access LAN link, the method comprising:

• marshalling the outer hub device via the multi point access LAN link;
• assigning a virtual line number (VLN) to the outer hub device marshalled via the multi point access LAN link;
• and
• labelling each LAN packet to be transmitted to and from the outer hub device with the VLN assigned for point-to-point communication with the LAN hub via the multi point access LAN link.