Abstract: In various embodiments, a computer system may include a computer controller to send and/or receive sideband signals to/from a USB device. In some embodiments, the USB device may include a USB controller to send/receive sideband signals to/from the computer controller. The computer controller and USB controller may allow communications between the computer system and the USB device when either of the computer system or USB device is in a low power state. The sideband signal sent between the computer system and the USB device may trigger the other of the computer system or USB device to enter a normal power state. In some embodiments, the computer controller and/or USB controller may be further coupled to a memory to buffer data to be sent to the computer system or USB device after the computer system or USB device returns to a normal power state.

Abstract: System and method for providing a high speed connection to a memory medium of a mobile device. The mobile device may be a mobile phone or other type of portable electronic device. The memory medium may be removable and/or may be flash memory, as desired. The mobile device may include a USB hub that provides a direct high speed connection between an external device and a memory medium of the mobile device. The USB hub may also provide a connection (possibly high speed) between the external device and the processor of the mobile device. The mobile device may also include a high speed connection between the processor of the mobile device and the memory medium.

Abstract: A solid-state floppy disk drive is disclosed. In one embodiment, a solid-state floppy disk drive may include a non-volatile memory and a connector for coupling the solid-state floppy disk drive to a computer system. The non-volatile memory may store instructions and data which may allow the solid-state floppy disk drive to emulate a mechanical floppy disk drive having a bootable floppy disk inserted into it. The computer system may be booted using the solid-state floppy disk drive.

Abstract: A USB communications interface (USBCI) may enable communication between a high-speed USB device, e.g. a High-Speed-Inter-Chip (HSIC) USB device, and a non high-speed USB host, e.g. a full-speed USB host. The USBCI may receive first data from the USB host via a non high-speed transaction, and buffer the first data. The USBCI may also initiate a high-speed transaction corresponding to the non high-speed transaction to the USB device, and transmit at least a portion of the buffered first data to the USB device via the high-speed transaction. The USBCI may subsequently receive second data from the USB device via the high-speed transaction, and buffer the second data. The USBCI may also transmit at least a portion of the buffered second data to the USB host via the non high-speed transaction, and complete the non high-speed transaction upon the high-speed transaction completing.

Abstract: A system for automatically switching peripheral connectivity between two host devices based on respective connectivity of the hosts. The method may be used where peripherals are usually attached to one host and are automatically switched to a second host when the second host is attached to the system. A USB switching hub may be operable to automatically switch connectivity of the peripheral device(s) from the first host device to the second host device when the second host device is connected to the USB device. This automates the process for the end user when normally all peripherals are attached to one host, and some or all peripherals are shared with a second host when the second host is attached.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system may include a processor, a host controller coupled to the processor, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device coupled to the host controller and a non-USB device coupled to the USB device. In some embodiments, the host controller may be configured to communicate with the non-USB device through a small computer system interface (SCSI) pass-through command. In some embodiments, a method may include a host controller sending a SCSI pass-through command to a USB device coupled to a non-USB device, the USB device receiving the SCSI pass-through command, and the USB device interacting with the non-USB device in response to the SCSI pass-through command.

Abstract: If a USB device is turned off or is not active, the device may be electrically disconnected from a USB host controller. The device may be electrically disconnected through a physical interface on the device. In some embodiments, if the device becomes active during a wait period (e.g., 2-3 seconds) prior to electrically disconnecting the device, the device may not be electrically disconnected. In some embodiments, when the device is electrically disconnected from the USB host controller and no system activity of a bus mastering peripheral is occurring, the CPU may enter a low power state if other conditions are met. In some embodiments, if the USB device becomes active after electrically disconnecting, the electrical disconnection may be discontinued.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a wireless host and a wired host may communicate with downstream devices through a USB switching hub. A wireless host/wireless bridge may be temporarily physically coupled to an upstream port of the USB switching hub to complete association with another wireless bridge coupled to the USB switching hub as a downstream device through a downstream port. During association, the host and downstream wireless bridge may exchange an encryption key to be used for future wireless communications. After association, the wireless host may be disconnected from the USB switching hub to communicate remotely. In some embodiments, the wireless host may not need to be physically coupled to the USB switching hub during association.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining communications with a radio frequency (RF) peripheral device such as an RF input device and an RF output device. A computer may search for an RF peripheral device by transmitting a signal request on available channels until a response is received from an RF peripheral device. If the RF channel becomes busy and/or jammed, the RF peripheral device may tune into a predetermined channel while the computer scans for another channel to use. Once the computer finds a better channel, the computer may go to the predetermined channel and broadcast the new channel location to the RF peripheral device. In addition, if an RF signal arrives incomplete or corrupt, the computer may transmit a negative acknowledgement to the RF peripheral device, which may retransmit the previous RF signal.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically switching display of video signals between a first device and a second device. The system may include a display device with display circuitry for displaying an image on the display in response to a received video signal. The display device may include a first video input port for receiving a first video signal from the first device and a second video input port for receiving a second video signal from the second device. Additionally, the display device may include detection circuitry coupled to the second video input port for detecting the second video signal from the second device, and switch circuitry operable to automatically provide connectivity between the second video input port and the display circuitry to enable display of the second video signal in response to the detection circuitry detecting the second video signal from the second device.

Abstract: A system for automatically switching peripheral connectivity between two host devices based on respective connectivity of the hosts. The method may be used where peripherals are usually attached to one host and are automatically switched to a second host when the second host is attached to the system. A USB switching hub may be operable to automatically switch connectivity of the peripheral device(s) from the first host device to the second host device when the second host device is connected to the USB device. This automates the process for the end user when normally all peripherals are attached to one host, and some or all peripherals are shared with a second host when the second host is attached.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system may include a processor, a host controller coupled to the processor, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device coupled to the host controller and a non-USB device coupled to the USB device. In some embodiments, the host controller may be configured to communicate with the non-USB device through a small computer system interface (SCSI) pass-through command. In some embodiments, a method may include a host controller sending a SCSI pass-through command to a USB device coupled to a non-USB device, the USB device receiving the SCSI pass-through command, and the USB device interacting with the non-USB device in response to the SCSI pass-through command.

Abstract: In some embodiments, if a card in a card reader has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time, the card may be powered down. The card may be powered back up if an attempt is made to access the card. In some embodiments, if a memory card is in the memory card slot of the card reader, but has not been accessed in a second specified amount of time, the card reader may be electrically disconnected from the host controller if a sideband signal is available to signal the card reader when to electrically reconnect.

Abstract: If a USB device is turned off or is not active, the device may be electrically disconnected from a USB host controller. The device may be electrically disconnected through a physical interface on the device. In some embodiments, if the device becomes active during a wait period (e.g., 2-3 seconds) prior to electrically disconnecting the device, the device may not be electrically disconnected. In some embodiments, when the device is electrically disconnected from the USB host controller and no system activity of a bus mastering peripheral is occurring, the CPU may enter a low power state if other conditions are met. In some embodiments, if the USB device becomes active after electrically disconnecting, the electrical disconnection may be discontinued.

Abstract: If a USB device is turned off or is not active, the device may be electrically disconnected from a USB host controller. The device may be electrically disconnected through a physical interface on the device. In some embodiments, if the device becomes active during a wait period (e.g., 2–3 seconds) prior to electrically disconnecting the device, the device may not be electrically disconnected. In some embodiments, when the device is electrically disconnected from the USB host controller and no system activity of a bus mastering peripheral is occurring, the CPU may enter a low power state if other conditions are met. In some embodiments, if the USB device becomes active after electrically disconnecting, the electrical disconnection may be discontinued.

Abstract: In various embodiments, icons, specific to a type of memory card (e.g., a flash memory card) inserted into a card reader may be displayed. In some embodiments, the card reader may be electrically connected to the host controller each time a memory card is inserted into the card reader. In various embodiments, different device identifications may be reported as if the card reader were actually several different card readers each dedicated to a different memory card type. A registry of an operating system may be preloaded with a different icon for each of the different card reader types. An icon may be displayed on a display specific to the type of memory card inserted. When the memory card is removed, the card reader may be electrically disconnected and the displayed icon may be removed or replaced.

Abstract: In various embodiments, devices coupled to upstream ports may enumerate the USB switching hub according to the total number of downstream ports on the USB switching hub. In some embodiments, when a first upstream port is communicating with a first downstream port, status registers coupled to the second upstream port may indicate to the second upstream device that the first downstream port is disconnected. By enumerating the USB switching hub according to the total number of downstream ports, the upstream devices may not have to re-enumerate the hub (and correspondingly each device coupled to the hub) each time a downstream device is switched. In some embodiments, an intelligent port routing switch may delay switching communications for the downstream port if there is an active transfer in progress between a related downstream port and an upstream port.

Abstract: An interface chip is disclosed. In one embodiment, an interface chip includes a processor coupled to an internal data bus and an internal address bus. A plurality of interfaces, including at least on serial interface and at least one parallel interface are also coupled to the processor via the internal address bus and the internal data bus. The interface chip also includes data movement circuitry, wherein the data movement circuitry is configured for transmitting data between a first of the plurality of interfaces and a second of the plurality of interfaces using time division multiplexing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, if a card in a card reader has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time, the card may be powered down. The card may be powered back up if an attempt is made to access the card. In some embodiments, if a memory card is in the memory card slot of the card reader, but has not been accessed in a second specified amount of time, the card reader may be electrically disconnected from the host controller if a sideband signal is available to signal the card reader when to electrically reconnect.

Abstract: In some embodiments, if a card in a card reader has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time, the card may be powered down. The card may be powered back up if an attempt is made to access the card. In some embodiments, if a memory card is in the memory card slot of the card reader, but has not been accessed in a second specified amount of time, the card reader may be electrically disconnected from the host controller if a sideband signal is available to signal the card reader when to electrically reconnect.