Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a host computer to one or more peripherals or for coupling peripherals to one another. In one example, the apparatus includes a hub having an upstream port for coupling with the host computer and one or more downstream ports for coupling with the one or more peripherals; and a local host dynamically coupled with the upstream port. In one example, when the host computer is not coupled with the upstream port, the local host communicates with the peripherals; and when the host computer is coupled with the upstream port, the local host disconnects from the upstream port so that the host computer communicates with the peripherals through the hub. In this manner, the apparatus may be used to couple peripherals to a host computer, or when a host computer is not present, the data from the peripherals may be communicated through the local host. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A peripheral interface device that is adaptable into a computer system and which provides a communication interface for a plurality of external devices. The peripheral interface device comprises: a plurality of transfer control logic (TCL) modules, wherein each TCL module provides a dedicated interface for an associated one of the external devices, and wherein multiple TCL modules can communicate in parallel with their associated external devices; and a dual port memory (DPM) device that is in communication with an input/output bus of the computer system, wherein the DPM device can selectively communicate with each of the plurality of TCL modules.

Abstract: A KVM switch cable is described. The KVM switch cable transmits and converts signals between a USB interface and a PS/2 interface for a computer and a KVM switch. Therefore, the life-span and application scope of the KVM switch with PS/2 interfaces can be efficiently extended. The KVM switch cable has a set of computer connectors, a transmitting cable, and a combination connector, and further has a signal converting device installed in the set of computer connectors or the combination connector. The transmitting cable can transmit video signals of the computer to the KVM switch, mouse and keyboard signals to the computer, and can further simultaneously transmit microphone signals and speaker signals for the computer and the KVM switch.

Abstract: A system having a plurality of printed circuit broads each one having an electrical component thereon. A backplane carries a signal indicative of a performance characteristic of the electrical components on the plurality of printed circuit boards plugged into such backplane. The performance characteristic may be, for example component speed, operating protocol, etc. System start-up is interrupted upon detection of such incompatibility. After start up, upon plugging an additional printed circuit broad having an electrical component thereon with an operating incompatible with the electrical components on the plurality of printed circuit boards into the backplane, the electrical component on such additional printed circuit will not be electrically coupled to the electrical component on the additional printed circuit board from the electrical components of the plurality of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A method and system to provide secure in-band management for a packet data network are disclosed. In a network device for configuring a virtual private network (VPN), management traffic is received over the VPN. The network device is managed using the management traffic received over the VPN. An in-band management system is created by configuring a virtual private network (VPN) for a network device and linking the VPN to a management device or a management function. By using the VPN to carry management traffic and to create the in-band management system, management of the network device can be made secure.

Abstract: A data transfer device is disclosed for writing data to and reading data from a disk drive system through a plurality of ports of the data transfer device. The data transfer device includes a first buffer for serially receiving, from a host system, control portions of data read requests and data write transfers; a second buffer for serially receiving, from the host system, data portions of data write transfers received by the first buffer; and N temporary storage devices, wherein N is a positive integer, coupled to the first buffer and the second buffer, the N temporary storage devices for parallelly receiving and temporarily storing consecutive control portions of the data read transfers and data write transfers from the first buffer. Up to N of the data read transfers and data write transfers are transferred to the disk drive system through the plurality of ports simultaneously.

Abstract: A data transfer control device and electronic equipment that make it possible to implement high-speed data transfer while observing restriction that prevent the traversing of page boundaries. A data transfer control device that conforms to the IEEE 1394 standard comprises a page table fetch circuit for fetching a page table from another node if a page table exists in a data buffer at the initiator, a page table creation circuit for creating a virtual page table if no page table exists, and an SBP-2 core for automatically dividing transfer data into a series of packets that do not traverse page boundaries based on the thus fetched or created page table and transmitting them. The page table creation circuit creates a page table in which a portion between a start address and a Kth page boundary is an X-type page table element, a portion between the Kth and Lth page boundaries is a Y-type page table element, and a portion between the Lth page boundary and an end address is a Z-type page table element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamically allocating memory between inbound and outbound paths of a networking protocol handler so as to optimize the ratio of a given amount of memory between the inbound and outbound buffers is presented. Dedicated but sharable buffer memory is provided for both the inbound and outbound processors of a computer network. Buffer memory is managed so as to dynamically alter what portion of memory is used to receive and store incoming data packets or to transmit outgoing data packets. Use of the present invention reduces throttling of data rate transmissions and other memory access bottlenecks associated with conventional fixed-memory network systems.

Abstract: A plurality of independent cache units and nonvolatile memory units are provided in a disk controller located between a host (central processing unit) and a magnetic disk drive. A plurality of channel units for controlling the data transfer to and from the central processing unit and a plurality of control units for controlling the data transfer to and from the magnetic disk drive are independently connected to the cache units and the nonvolatile memory units through data buses and access lines.

Abstract: A technique is provided for applying secondary or backup power to a networked device in the event of a loss or malfunction of network power. In a control and monitoring network. Various devices may receive both power and data signals from a network cable. In the event of loss of network power, or the reduction in network power, the devices can automatically and without interruptions seek power from the secondary power source.

Abstract: A wrist-worn phone is disclosed which includes a main housing with a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface including speaker holes, the front surface having a display. The wrist-worn phone further includes a first strap attached to a first end of the main housing, the first strap having an outer end. A second strap may be attached to the second end of the main housing, the second strap having an outer end, the outer end of the first strap for connecting with the outer end of the second strap. The second strap may be made from a shape retaining material for forming a generally elongated C shape such that the rear surface of the main housing is on an interior of the C shape. The wrist-worn phone may include an ear latch for hanging the main housing upon a human ear. A body-worn data storage device may include a plug mounted onto a strap of the device for insertion into a port of a computing device.

Abstract: A Dual Channel Universal Serial Bus (DCUSB) structure compatible with USB 1.0, USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 protocols for higher data transmission rate comprising of two data transmission channels each with two differential signals, a interface controller with data conversion and transmission functions; the interface controller further consists at least one Differential receiver and one current driver, the Differential receiver and the current driver connect to differential signals of interface channels through proper circuitry.

Abstract: The invention transfers a data element from a device to a handheld computer. In general, the method receives a device-based data element at a docking station based co-processor, performs a driver conversion to convert the device-based data element into a bus-enabled data element, and places the bus-enabled data element on a handheld compatible bus. The method may also transform a data packet by detecting an input packet, retrieving a packet identifier (ID) from the input packet, and dispatching the input packet to a device driver based on the packet ID, the device driver capable of converting the input packet from a handheld computer packet type to a device packet type. The invention is also the systems that enable the method. As a device, the invention is an intelligent docking station.

Abstract: Plural clusters are interconnected by two full-duplex communication paths. When a cluster 10A receives a read request from a host computer 2, and data represented by the read request are stored in another cluster 10B, a processor unit 6 of the cluster 10A uses, for the path used by a control packet sent to the other cluster 10B, the same path used by a read user data packet that is a user data packet transferred from the other cluster 10B to the cluster 10A.

Abstract: A port monitor allows a computer, digital camera, or other device to send a print job to a target printer, where the only known information about the printer is its network address. Communication is attempted to the network address, sequentially using each of a plurality of port numbers. If none of the plurality of port numbers is successful in initiating communication to the network address, communication to the network address is attempted using an LPR port number, sequentially using each of a plurality of LPR queue names.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for accessing configuration registers. An indication that an attempt has been made to access a first register is received. This first register reflects an index variable that points to a configuration register. Next, an indication that an attempt has been made to access a second register is received. This second register reflects part of the contents of a configuration register to which the index variable points. Next, without waiting for another attempt to access the first register, the index variable is changed to point to another configuration register. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A plurality of independent cache units and nonvolatile memory units are provided in a disk controller located between a host (central processing unit) and a magnetic disk drive. A plurality of channel units for controlling the data transfer to and from the central processing unit and a plurality of control units for controlling the data transfer to and from the magnetic disk drive are independently connected to the cache units and the nonvolatile memory units through data buses and access lines.

Abstract: When reading/writing data between a computer and a mass storage of a mass storage apparatus, the data transmitted from the computer are immediately confirmed by using an output device attached to the mass storage apparatus. There is provided a control device 101 for interpreting a command received from a control device 120 and for carrying out an output processing to an output device 103 if it is decided that the received command is a command for giving an instruction for outputting data stored in a mass storage 102 to the output device 103 in a state of a connection to the control device.

Abstract: A multimedia system includes an information handling system, and a plurality of multimedia devices operatively and electrically connected to a computer of the system. Software modules residing in computer memory interpret control commands. This includes receiving a high level device control command, generating a generic device control script based on a device interconnect model and the high level device control command, interpreting the generic device control script, and transmitting specific device control commands to a device through a device interface.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for adjusting the rate of data transfer between a high-speed multi-channel tape drive and a slower-capability network interface. The present invention allows for selectively enabling/disabling active channels to adjust the data throughput to match the data transfer capabilities of the network interface. Such an adjustment optimizes the rate of data transfer between the system and the tape drive by reducing the amount of stop and start operations normally present in an environment where the network interface cannot support the high-speed data transfer rates of a tape drive. Such an enablement/disablement adjustment system allows for a greater range of varying data rates within the transfer.