LOCAL AREA NETWORK INCORPORATING UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS PROTOCOL

摘要

The invention relates to local area networks typically comprising a LAN hub, a plurality of outer hub devices connected to the LAN hub via a respective plurality of LAN links and a plurality of USB devices and/or LAN computers connected to the plurality of outer hub devices via a respective plurality of USB links. The outer end hubs communicate with the USB devices and LAN computers using USB protocol having time sensitive aspects. To satisfy the requirements of the USB protocol, the outer hub devices perform the time sensitive aspects of the USB protocol. The outer end humbs communicate with the LAN hub using a LAN protocol which permits the outer hub device to be further than 5 meters from the LAN hub. The LAN protocol is typically a variant of the USB protocol.