Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.

Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.

Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.

Abstract: A USB smart hub may provide enhanced battery charging, data storage security, vendor matching, device authentication, data capture/debug, and role switching. The smart hub may include an upstream port, a plurality of downstream ports, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor for storing USB host stack code and configuration parameters. The smart hub may include a USB hub core having a core to implement a standard USB hub interface. The smart hub may include a plurality of 2:1 multiplexors coupled between the downstream ports, the core downstream ports, and the processor. The processor may control the 2:1 multiplexors. The processor may be configured to detect when a USB device is coupled to a downstream port and to run the USB host stack code and to enumerate the USB device. The processor may provide enhanced features based on the configuration parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for securing access to a storage device including one or more locked logical sections. The method includes providing an interface device including a first port connected to a computing system and a second port connected to the storage device. Further, the method includes receiving a unique identifier from a wireless device, and deriving a key from the unique identifier. Based on the derived key, the method unlocks a logical section in the storage device. The method may further store access permission rights for the locked logical sections in the interface device and unlock the logical section based on the access permission rights. Moreover, the method may further authenticate the identity of a user of the wireless device for unlocking the storage device.

Abstract: A method and system for securing access to a storage device including one or more locked logical sections. The method includes providing an interface device including a first port connected to a computing system and a second port connected to the storage device. Further, the method includes receiving a unique identifier from a wireless device, and deriving a key from the unique identifier. Based on the derived key, the method unlocks a logical section in the storage device. The method may further store access permission rights for the locked logical sections in the interface device and unlock the logical section based on the access permission rights. Moreover, the method may further authenticate the identity of a user of the wireless device for unlocking the storage device.

Abstract: System and method for switching logic in a Universal Serial Bus hub. The USB hub may include upstream logic and downstream logic for sending and receiving information from a host controller and a USB device respectively. The USB hub may include a plurality of ports operable to couple to a plurality of devices, including a first port coupled to the upstream logic and a second port coupled to the downstream logic. The USB hub may also include switching logic operable to switch the upstream and the downstream logic with respect to the first port and the second port respectively. The switching logic may switch the upstream and downstream logic by decoupling the first port from the upstream logic, decoupling the second port from the downstream logic, and coupling the second port to the upstream logic. Additionally, the first port may be coupled to the downstream logic.

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: 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 reenumerate 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: In various embodiments, a USB switching hub may switch between a first configuration and a second configuration to switch access between two or more upstream ports on the hub to at least a subset of downstream ports on the hub. In some embodiments, the hub may include a downstream routing controller to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. In some embodiments, configurations (e.g., hardwired in the USB switching hub) may be switched as determined by logic on the USB switching hub.