USB hub with automatic communication mode switching

摘要

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub for allowing communication between a host device and one or more peripheral devices. The USB hub is configured to allow the host device to communicate with the peripheral devices in at least two communication modes and to automatically switch between communication modes in response to the type of connection between the host device and the USB hub. In a first communication mode, the host device is wirelessly coupled to the USB hub and in a second communication mode, the host device is physically coupled (wired-connection) to the USB hub.

主权项

1. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub for providing communication between a host device and one or more peripheral devices, said USB hub comprising:
an upstream port configured to communicate with said host device and receive host device data over a communication link; one or more downstream ports configured to communicate with one or more associated peripheral devices and receive peripheral device data over a communication link; a control module configured to allow communication between said host device and said one or more peripheral devices in a wireless communication mode and a wired communication mode via said USB hub, said control module being configured to transmit host device data from said upstream port to said one or more downstream ports and said one or more associated peripheral devices coupled thereto and to transmit said peripheral device data from said one or more downstream ports to said upstream port and said host device coupled thereto; a communication mode selection module configured to:
communicate with said upstream port and said one or more downstream ports;monitor and identify a type of connectivity between said host device and said USB hub; andin response to a determination that said host device is physically coupled to a downstream port of said USB hub:
automatically switch between said wireless communication mode and said wired communication mode without causing substantial disruption of any existing communication between said host device and one or more of said peripheral devices via said USB hub; andconvert the downstream port to which the host device is physically coupled from a downstream state to an upstream state, thereby reversing a role of said downstream port to which the host device is physically coupled from a peripheral role to a host role.