HUB MODULE WITH A SINGLE BRIDGE SHARED AMONG MULTIPLE CONNECTION PORTS TO SUPPORT ROLE REVERSAL

摘要

An apparatus includes a multiport hub, a single bridge configured to communicatively couple together a plurality of hosts and to emulate a slave device to each such host, and a plurality of connection port. The apparatus further includes a configurable data path network coupled to the multiport hub, the single bridge, and the plurality of connection ports. The configurable data path network is configured to selectively provide for a connection port for which a host is detected, data communications through the single bridge between the multiport hub and the connection port, and for a connection port for which no host is detected, data communications between the multiport hub and the connection port that bypass the single bridge. Corresponding methods are also so disclosed.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a multiport hub; a plurality of direction control circuits, each of the direction control circuits corresponding to a separate connection port and configured to differentiate as to whether a host or a slave device is coupled to the respective connection port; a bridge configured to communicatively couple together a plurality of hosts and to emulate a slave device to each of the hosts; and a configurable data path network coupled to the multiport hub, the direction control circuits, and the bridge; wherein each of the direction control circuits is configured to provide control signals to the configurable data path network to configure data communications between the multiport hub and the connection port corresponding to the direction control circuit based on whether the respective direction control circuit determines that a host or a slave device is coupled to the port.