USB hub supporting unequal numbers of high-speed and super-speed ports
AssigneeMCCI Corporation
InventorTerrill M. Moore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A super-speed USB3.0 hub is described to which, after configuration, there are more high-speed devices than super-speed devices connected. The difference in the numbers is recognized and logic is provided that responds to an upstream host that there is an equal or balanced number of super-speed and high-speed ports active. This is accomplished by providing a number of “dummy” ports that make up any actual difference. The “dummy” ports are never active and are never connected to any device.
Claims10
Universal Serial Bus (USB) system according to the Universal Serial Bus Specification, revision 3.0, the system comprising;
- an upstream path suitable for communicating with a host computer system;
- a downstream path to “n,” number of super-speed USB ports and to “m” number of high-speed USB ports, wherein “n” is less than “m,” the downstream path suitable for communicating with one or more USB devices,
- a hub between the upstream path and the downstream path;
- a hub controller that indicates to the host computer that there are “m” super-speed downstream USB ports, wherein there are “n” number of physical downstream super-speed USB ports, and where there are “m” minus “n” number of “dummy” USB ports.
A method for controlling a system built according to the Universal Serial Bus Specification, revision 3.0, the method comprising the steps of;
- communicating to a host computer system via an upstream path;
- providing a downstream path to a number, “n,” of super-speed USB ports and a number, “m,” of high-speed USB ports, wherein “n” is less than “m,” the downstream paths suitable for communicating with USB ports;
- connecting a super-speed hub between upstream path the m number of downstream USB ports;
- responding to the host computer that there are “m” super-speed downstream ports, and wherein there are only “n” number of active downstream super-speed ports, and where there are “m” minus “n” number of “dummy” USB ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.