Abstract: Systems and methods for specifying extended configuration descriptor information in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device are described. In one aspect, an extended configuration descriptor is provided in firmware of a USB device. The extended configuration descriptor includes a set of non-standard class codes. Responsive to receiving a host-specific device request, the USB device communicates the extended configuration descriptor to a requestor.

Abstract: A intelligent network interface network port (INIP) is provided that enables a visiting computer to be connected to a local area network (LAN), even though the LAN is not configured to support the visiting computer. Upon detecting one of several specific types of messages, the INIP modifies the message, retransmits the modified message and notifies the visiting computer that the INIP is the appropriate target for the message, thus acting as a relay point between the visiting computer and other devices both on the LAN and accessible through it. This enables the visiting computer to transparently connect to a LAN that is not configured to support it.

Abstract: A software network bridge is disclosed which allows the connected network segments to be presented as a single network unit to the host computer. The software bridge can be implemented as an intermediate network driver, abstracting multiple network segments into a single network interface for higher level protocols and applications. While the intermediate network driver acts as a software bridge implementing the Spanning Tree Algorithm, it also acts a network interface driver to higher level protocols, conglomerating information from the multiple underlying network interface cards and forwarding along commands from the higher level software to the appropriate network interface card. The intermediate network driver can also simultaneously send the same data packet through multiple network interfaces by creating multiple packet descriptors, each pointing to the same data, but each given individually to the underlying network interfaces to control during their transmission.

Abstract: A low-level function which enforces logical partitioning establishes a set of virtual indicator lights for certain physical components, the virtual indicator lights being only data in memory, a separate set of virtual indicator lights corresponding to each respective partition. Processes running in a partition can switch and sense the virtual indicator lights corresponding to the partition, but have no direct capability to either switch or to sense the virtual lights of any other partition. The low-level enforcement function alone can switch the state of the physical indicator light, which is generally the logical OR of the virtual indicator lights of the different partitions.

Abstract: A virtual volume module in a host system provides virtual volume view to user-level and system-level applications executing on the host system. The virtual volume module maps I/O from the applications which are directed to a virtual volume to a first physical volume in a first storage system. When necessary, the virtual volume module can map application I/O's to a second volume in a second storage system. The second storage system replicates data in the first storage system, so that when re-mapping occurs it is transparent to the applications running on the host system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically detecting the memory size of a serial peripheral interface (SPI) device. Specifically, the present invention describes an SPI interface circuit including a memory controller chip, an EEPROM, a sensing circuit, and a pulldown resistor. In one embodiment, a “READ” command from the controller to the SPI device is sent in a first byte of information transferred between the controller and SPI device. The data Input/Output (D-IO) pin is then driven low for the second byte of information. Next, the D-IO pin is floated and the pin assumes a logic “0” level due to a pulldown resistor. Subsequently, a sensing circuit can detect when and if a non-zero data value passes from the SPI device to the memory controller chip to determine the memory size of the SPI device or the absence of an SPI device.

Abstract: Via a thin client, a first user communicates with a presence server and establishes a communication channel with a second user through the presence server. The communication channel supports instant messaging in which the first user communicates via use of a first communication protocol and the second user communicates via use of a second communication protocol. When the thin client temporarily disconnects from the presence server, the presence server maintains an active “open” session for the thin client even though the thin client is disconnected from the presence server. The thin client can reconnect to the presence server and re-establish communications over the open session, enabling the first user to again instant message the second user.

Abstract: A method of managing a network device, includes providing a command-line interface application programming interface (CLI-API) compatible with a command-line interface (CLI) of the network device, receiving instructions from an application that calls one or more routines in the CLI application programming interface, and generating at least one command in response to receiving instructions from the application wherein the at least one command is compatible with the CLI of the network device. An apparatus includes a remote serial command-line interface (RS-CLI) device having a storage device capable of storing instructions, a network port capable of being connected to the network and capable of processing a network protocol stack in addition to receiving the instructions, a serial port capable of processing a serial protocol and capable of being connected to the non-application enabled network device, and a processor capable of processing instructions stored in the storage area of the RS-CLI device.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage controller and storage media for reading data from or writing data to the storage media in response to SCSI, NFS, CIFS, or HTTP type read/write requests. The storage controller includes SCSI, NFS, CIFS, and HTTP interface adapters for receiving the read/write requests and effecting the reading of data to or the writing of data to the storage media.

Abstract: In a printing system in which with a plurality of different types of controllers connected to one serial bus, different types of print data can be inputted to and printed by a printing unit. When a set top box and desktop and portable personal computers, different in type from each other, are connected to a IEEE 1394 serial bus, screen data is outputted from the set top box to an AV/C printer and PDL data is outputted from the personal computers to the AV/C printer. The AV/C printer judges the image type of the input data. Based on the image type, the printing system converts the print data to a type of print data supported by the AV/C printer.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage controller and storage media for reading data from or writing data to the storage media in response to SCSI, NFS, CIFS, or HTTP type read/write requests. The storage controller includes SCSI, NFS, CIFS, and HTTP interface adapters for receiving the read/write requests and effecting the reading of data to or the writing of data to the storage media.

Abstract: A switching apparatus provides an address extension for an environment, such as I2C, that uses devices with a limited address configurability. The switching apparatus provides connection between a main bus and one or more secondary busses to which additional devices are connected. The switching apparatus detects an address on the main bus, and determines whether it is intended for a device on a secondary bus. If so, it connects the main bus to the proper secondary bus where the device in question is located. It then translates the address to an address within the limited configurability of the devices, and places the translated address on the secondary bus where the addressed device is located.

Abstract: A CAN module contains several sets of storage elements for storing several sets of data representing different states of components of the CAN module. For example, a single bit stream processor component, one of the largest and most complicated constituents of the CAN module, can be used for a plurality of CAN buses when data representations of the different states of the bit stream processor are stored in the sets of storage elements. The CAN module can be used as a shared CAN module for several CAN buses and/or CAN nodes.

Abstract: A communication path control system is provided for use in a data network configured by a number of buses each of which installs at least one node as an isochronous resource manager (IRM) based on the IEEE 1394 standard. Adjacent buses are interconnected together by means of a bridge consisting of at least two portals, each of which has a connection counter for counting a number of receiving nodes for receiving stream packets being transmitted thereto from a transmitting node by itself. For establishment of a communication path, a device controller specifies all portals that lie in the communication path to request each of them to increment a value of the connection counter by ‘1’. For disconnection of the communication path, the device controller requests each of the specified portals to decrement a value of the connection counter by ‘1’.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically identifying the type of communication interface used to couple a portable computer system with a second computer system, and for selecting the form of an application that is used with the type of interface. For example, a debugger application is collaboratively executed on the computer systems over the interface. When entering the debugger mode, software executed on the portable computer system identifies the type of interface by reading a resistance value of a pin. After determining the type of interface, the form of the debugger used with the interface is automatically selected. A similar process is followed for other applications that depend on the type of interface. The user does not have to manually identify the type of interface. Instead, in response to a command that is independent of the type of interface, the proper form of the application is automatically selected.

Abstract: A method and system for processing data by a storage controller with a buffer controller coupled to a buffer memory is provided. The method includes, evaluating incoming data block size; determining if the incoming data requires padding; and padding incoming data such that the incoming data can be processed by the buffer controller. The method also includes determining if any pads need to be removed from data that is read from the buffer memory; and removing pads from the data read from the buffer memory. The buffer controller can be set in a mode to receive any MOD size data and includes a first channel with a FIFO for receiving incoming data via a first interface. The buffer controller mode for receiving incoming data can be set by firmware.

Abstract: An operating system that provides for the capability to accept input from a number of devices, and transfer the data to the appropriate application without using an application to perform routing tasks, thus freeing up more processor time and memory space for the applications. The operating system includes data format translator applications that may be called by the operating system in order to convert the data to the proper format. The decision as to which data format translator application should be called may be made by using information on the input device which the data came from, as well additional information, to determine if a conversion application or other application is required.

Abstract: A method and apparatus optimizes the speed and efficiency of data transfer between two devices having different data input/output rates. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a computer software driver or hardware apparatus that may work with any port and/or network. The driver has a calibrator portion for optimizing data transfer between a CPU and a peripheral. The calibrator portion includes a data input/output rate profiler. The profiler preferably sends run-time data samples to the peripheral, builds a table that relates each data sample to an aggregate data transfer rate, and selects the optimum result as a model for further data transfer. A preferred method for performing the present invention is also included.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a data transfer control device that enables a reduction in the processing load on the firmware during the occurrence of a bus reset, and electronic equipment using the same. A data transfer control device in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard generates a bit BT that toggles whenever one received packet and the next received packet are received in different bus reset intervals, and comprises that BT in the header of each packet stored in RAM. Bus reset pointers (a bus reset header pointer and a bus reset ORB pointer) that indicate a bus reset boundary in RAM are provided, enabling simple differentiation between a packet received before a bus reset occurred and a packet received after the reset. If transmission has been halted by the occurrence of the bus reset, the bus reset transmission halt status is passed to the firmware via a register.

Abstract: A new disk system is connected to a switch that has been already connected to a host and old disk system. At that time, the new disk system is assigned in advance a port ID of the same value as the port ID that has been assigned to the F—Port of the switch, so that the new disk system will not be recognized from host 101. The new disk system read the configuration information of the old disk system. Then, in the switch, physical port ID 602 of old disk system 103 and physical port ID 602 of new disk system 104 are exchanged. The new disk system constructs volumes corresponding to the logical volume numbers and sizes of those volumes in the old disk system, and stores data of the old disk system in the corresponding volumes.