Abstract: The invention relates to a telephone system and a method for downloading software from a server (128) to a terminal (100, 102), the method comprising the steps of attaching to the software a certificate confirming the authenticity of the software and the loader; downloading the software from a source computer (134) to the server (128); downloading the software from the server (128) to the terminal (100, 102). In the method of the invention a first electronic signature confirming the authenticity of the software is attached to the software at the server (128). After the software is downloaded, a second electronic signature is generated at the terminal from the loaded software and the authenticity of the software is checked by comparing the first electronic signature with the second.

Abstract: A browsing session is provided to a user based on a tree which relates a plurality of computer-readable items. In response to a user-initiated selection of a first item in the tree, at most two of the items are outputted and/or retrieved before receiving a subsequent user-initiated selection of another item in the tree. If the first item is an internal item of the tree, a child of the first item in the tree is outputted and/or retrieved. If the first item has a sibling in the tree which has not been outputted and/or retrieved within the browsing session, the sibling is outputted and/or retrieved.

Abstract: The method provides for a way to ensure that the application program running on the host computer handles data received from the at least one mobile computer terminals when one of the mobile computer terminals goes out of range of the wireless network. Communication and association may be established between a mobile computer terminal and an access point on a local network. Then, when it has been determined that communications between the mobile computer terminal and the access point have been impeded, the mobile computer terminal may switch to batch mode to continue data collection.

Abstract: A wireless communications device with a markup language based man-machine interface provides a user interface for telecommunications functionality, including dialing telephone numbers, answering telephone calls, creating messages, sending messages, receiving messages, establishing configuration settings defined in markup language such as HTML, and accessed through a browser program executed by the wireless communication device. This feature enables direct access to Internet and World Wide Web content, such as Web pages, to be directly integrated with telecommunication functions of the device, and allows Web content to be seamlessly integrated with other data types, since all data presented to the user via the user interface is presented via markup language-based pages.

Abstract: A service on a computer network which performs centralized searches based on index information transmitted by peer systems to a central site using an agent program running on each peer and then directs the peer systems to each other for the purpose of retrieving files. If none of the peer systems known to contain the file is online (and the file is therefore not available), the request is placed in a queue of file requests maintained by the central site. When a system containing the requested file connects to the service, the requested file is retrieved from that system and then distributed to the other systems which had requested the file. Files retrieved for systems not currently online are held in a queue until the user connects or are emailed to the user, usually as an email attachment.

Abstract: The invention ensures that a single and consistent reply is made to an ARP request in a system of connected IP networks. When an adapter becomes active, the relative network on which it resides is determined by transmitting control packets over it and all other adapters known to the host and observing if and where responses are returned to the adapters. One adapter on a network is designated as active. If the same network contains other adapters, they are marked as standby adapters for the purpose of responding to ARP messages. Special processing is provided for offload adapters that perform there own ARP processing.

Abstract: A compiler 2 sequentially simplifies, according to predetermined rules, a network of a processing flow defined by a PERT diagram and including a plurality of jobs executable in parallel, and determines which of any other jobs provide processing results causing each job to start and perform the processing when accepting them. Further, in the process of the simplification, if a pattern making the processing flow inexecutable, such as a loop, occurs in the network, the compiler 2 determines that the processing flow is inexecutable, and shows it to the user. If the processing flow is inexecutable, the compiler 2 generates a program for actualizing the processing of each job in the processing flow in synchronism with the processing of other jobs.

Abstract: A coupled data network with a system for registering end systems is disclosed. A foreign network includes a foreign mobile switching center and a foreign base station. The foreign mobile switching center includes a serving registration server, the foreign base station includes a foreign access hub, and the foreign access hub includes a proxy registration agent. A home network includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server. A first end system subscribes to the home network and operates within the foreign network. The end system includes an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server, and the serving registration server being coupled to the home registration server.

Abstract: This invention specifies a mechanism that can be used by network management system (“NMS”) applications, running on a single workstation or personal computer, which continuously monitor the flow of traffic on some or all segments of their attached network. The invention enables an application to determine whether enough system resources are available to monitor all segments in the network. If not all of the segments can be monitored, the invention specifies an algorithm that can be used to intelligently select a subset of segments for monitoring. If all of the segments can be monitored the same algorithm may instead be applied to determine which segments should be monitored at a more detailed level than the rest. In effect, this invention will allow one application running on a workstation or personal computer to monitor networks that range in size from one to several thousand segments while consuming a bounded portion of its host system's resources.

Abstract: When image data comprising data at a plurality of levels, each having a different resolution, density resolution, and reproduced image quality, are transferred to a terminal, image data at a level appropriate for the terminal are easily transferred. At the time transfer of image data is requested by a terminal, if the name of the user of the terminal is input, transfer request information and name information is transferred to an image server via a network. In the image server, data at a level appropriate for the user are specified based on the name information and the data are transferred to the terminal which has requested the transfer. For example, when an image reading terminal requests image transfer, highest level data are transferred, while data at a level lower than the highest are transferred when a reference terminal requests the transfer.

Abstract: A system and method for improving or maintaining the quality of service delivered by a network with respect to a preferred type of information carried by the network. The status of the network is monitored to determine if the actual or projected quality of service being provided by the network for the preferred information meets a quality of service requirement. If the quality of service does not meet the requirement, a message is formulated and sent to an end-user terminals such as a wireless handset. The message instructs the terminal to change a parameter by which the terminal sends information to the network. For example, the message can instruct the terminal to send less non-preferred information to the network, or change the compression scheme used to send a type of information to the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing improved efficiency in data browsing is disclosed. Automatic continuation of a data browsing session is enabled, while a download of a requested data file, that has been temporarily delayed, is handled separately in a background process. This separate background process generates additional requests for the requested data file as needed, thereby overcoming delays caused by transient network traffic and also enabling automatic downloading of data files that are undeliverable when first requested. When the download of the requested data file is successfully completed, a notification is provided and the requested data file is made observable.

Abstract: An electronic note taking application is described in which a user may make check box selections on web pages such that certain portions of the web pages are cumulatively collected in a clipboard. As the user navigates through various web pages on a website, the user can make highlighted and checkmark selections in the web pages, which are cumulatively collected for later use and reporting. At the end of a session, the entire selection of selected materials from all web pages during the session can be displayed to the user as a single cohesive document.

Abstract: Techniques for storing objects (e.g., images) in and retrieving objects from a storage device (e.g., image store) in a rapid and efficient manner are disclosed. More particularly, the techniques include: storage of an object in and retrieval of an object from the storage device with reference to an object locator together with state and permission information, use of a directory structure of a file system to efficiently provide database structure for storage of the objects, storage and retrieval of object states as attributes of associated files in the file system, storage and retrieval of multiple versions of objects, and multi-threaded management of the storage device.

Abstract: A baud rate detection system and method automatically detects the baud rate at which a client computing device is communicating with a host computer over a serial connection. The host computer is coupled to the client computing device via a serial connection, which employs a Unimodem null serial protocol. The baud rate detection system includes a baud rate selector to select among multiple baud rates that the client computing device might use to transmit a predefined message (e.g., a text string “C”, “L”, “I”, “E”, “N”, “T”). The system also includes a message detector to listen at the currently selected baud rate for the predefined message. If the message detector receives the message, the current baud rate is the correct rate and is used for continuing communications with the client computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaborating over the Internet (or an intranet) in which two or more parties, such as a user and an agent, can share dynamic content generated by a web site server. Collaboration can be accomplished on live, dynamic pages without imposing a proxy server between user browsers and the web servers. Mechanisms prevent multiple submissions, and filters can be provided to selectively filter versions of a page for different users.

Abstract: A technique for maintaining server cluster consistency is disclosed. When a front-end server of a plurality of servers detects that the front-end server has reconnected to a backend server or in the situation of a backend server failover, the front-end server sends resource ownership information to a backend server. The resource ownership information relates to ownership information for each respective resource owned by the front-end server. The back-end server verifies the ownership information for contention with static resources and dynamic resources owned by other servers and sends back verification information to the server. The backend maintains resource ownership information for all the servers in the cluster than sent resources for verification. Based on the received verification information, the server maintains ownership information at the server for each respective resource indicated in the verification information to be owned by the server.

Abstract: A system for user-space packet modification, including a set of kernel code and a user-level application programming interface (API). The system facilitates creation of a special socket for passing packets between kernel space and user space. The system in turn facilitates creation and application of a packet filter associated with the socket, in order to trap incoming or outgoing packets being processed in the kernel at a designated point in a protocol stack. Once a packet is trapped, it is moved through the socket into user space, thereby at least temporarily preventing the protocol stack from further processing the packet. In user space, an application may operate on the packet, for instance, modifying aspects of the packet or deleting the packet altogether. The system in turn facilitates injection of a packet from user space into kernel space, and into a designated point in the protocol stack for desired stack processing.

Abstract: A technique for improving throughput of a gateway interface includes: a client, e.g., a wireless client, forwarding a request to a server via the gateway; determining in the server whether the requested content has been validated, and if so, setting a predetermined header to “validated” and forwarding the requested content to the gateway, and if not, either setting the predetermined header to “not validated” or not setting the predetermined header, and forwarding the requested content to the gateway. The gateway determines whether the predetermined header of the forwarded content has been set to “validated,” and if so, forwards the requested content to the client after encoding the validated content, and if not, validates the content and then encodes the validated content and forwards it to the client. In this way, the gateway does not have to needlessly validate requested content which had already been validated.

Abstract: Techniques for managing queues of packets are provided. Once the average queue size crosses a minimum threshold, packets are dropped according to a probability. Once a packet is dropped, the minimum threshold is increased in order to decrease the likelihood that a subsequent packet will be dropped. As packets are accepted, the minimum threshold is decreased gradually to its original value so that the distribution of dropped packets is very uniform.

Abstract: In a distributed networking environment employing several general purpose processors (i.e., control point processors) for controlling one or more network processor devices, a mechanism for distributing processing across several general purpose processors and interface for configuring a network processor so that specific general purpose processors handle specific operations in a large networking environment, thus, reducing requirement for provisioning a plurality of protocol stacks on each general purpose processor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a network data switch and buffer system are disclosed. In a switch having a memory associated therewith, the memory including a general memory and a plurality of dedicated memory segments, the general memory being available to a plurality of users associated with one or more network devices and each one of the plurality of dedicated memory segments being associated with one of the plurality of users, a method of storing data includes receiving data from a source network device connected to the switch. The data is then stored in a data buffer so that a portion of one of the plurality of dedicated memory segments is allocated when the general memory has been depleted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing network frames using static and dynamic classifiers provides a flexible and modifiable frame classification system. Static and Dynamic classifiers are used in combination within a network processing system to provide the range capability and hardware assist capability of the static classifier, along with the incremental modifications possible with a dynamic classifier. The dynamic classifier is searched first for rules directing processing of a received frame. The static classifier is searched only if a dynamic classifier key for the frame is not found, or the dynamic key actions indicated that the static classifier should also be searched.

Abstract: A system which serves both as a host and a device cannot be realized with a single connector due to the constitution of hardware in the prior art. The prior art system only detects the existence of a device and cannot distinguish between a host and a device while a power source is turned on and switch its function. The information processing apparatus of the present invention separates the data lines of a host communication controller and the data lines of a device communication controller and activates the selected controller by means of selecting the data lines of the controllers and means of determining which is connected to a connector, a host or a device.

Abstract: A method and system for an algorithm-based network snoop avoider is provided. A first data processing system and a second data processing system communicate on a physical network by transmitting data packets on the network using a virtual private network (VPN). Data packets are transmitted through a first VPN tunnel between the first data processing system with a first network address terminating a first end of the VPN tunnel and the second data processing system with a second network address terminating a second end of the first VPN tunnel. The VPN is automatically reconfigured to use alternate addresses on the network for the tunnel endpoints by automatically determining, in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, a third network address and a fourth network address and by automatically assigning the third network address to the first data processing system and the fourth network address to the second data processing system.

Abstract: A multi-port, multi-network interface allows desktop-type computers to be used in industrial control environments employing time critical network communications over multiple networks. A run-time program on the multi-network interface handles network protocol matters while interfacing two application programs through the mechanism of an API of the operating system of the desktop computer. The run-time program allows for different devices on different networks to be collected as a single logical entity through the use of a view attribute stored in a memory of the multi-network interface.

Abstract: A method and object-oriented computing system in which a Java™ implementation of a service is provided dynamically at runtime via a Java™ interface for the service in accordance with the needs of a client computer in one of two varieties: an Enterprise Java Beans™ (EJB) implementation or, alternatively, a non-EJB implementation. Thus, the same service is accessible, without requiring any programming code changes, to both clients operating in an EJB environment and clients operating in a non-EJB environment. The client accesses the service through two non-EJB interfaces, one for the service (object or bean) itself, and the other for an abstract factory class. Both of these client interfaces are non-EJB to avoid dependence upon client access to EJB packages, which may exist for some clients and not for others.

Abstract: A process and apparatus in a data processing svstem for presenting a view to a client. At an application mediator, a view event is received from a view controller, wherein the view event describes an action on a displayed container handled by the view controller. Responsive to a requirement that a change in a placement of the displaved container is required, a placement event is generated bv the application mediator. A determination is then made by a placement listener, as to whether the placement event includes an indication that an alternate view is to be generated. Responsive to a determination that an alternate view is to be generated, a call is sent to a method in the view controller to generate the alternate view.

Abstract: A computer operating system that allows legacy applications to be run automatically with quality of service (QoS) guarantees matching required QoS performance levels. In accordance with the invention, files have QoS requirement attributes that can be set-by users. Additionally, users may interpose a requirement broker between a given legacy application and the operating system. The requirement broker may be in the form of a modified version of a library that is dynamically linked with applications at load time. The requirement broker intercepts certain system calls and automatically requests from the system QoS guarantees in accordance with the QoS requirement attributes of the accessed files, whether local or remote.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for implementing components of a user interface as an object. A user interface is implemented in a first user interface program object including elements compatible with a first user interface program. A standard application program interface (API) calling a first standard object to create a second standard object as an element of the first standard object is received. The standard API is a member of a set of standard APIs, such as the W3C APIs. A second user interface program API is generated to create a second user interface program object corresponding to the second standard object. The second user interface program object is embedded as an element in the first user interface program object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system of program objects and program components and communication between program objects and program components. The present invention provides a program component with an external or send interface which enables message passing communication between a program component and different program objects. When a program component is loaded, the send interface of the program component is automatically exported to the send interface of the host object. This means that the send interface of the object is modified to contain the send interface of the program component. Therefore it is possible to communicate by message passing between program components of a program object and other program objects.

Abstract: When manufacturing several types of player having different functions, as many components as possible are used in common to all the types of player so that the production cost is reduced. A main control circuit, including a flash ROM, and other common circuits are mounted on a main board. No programs are written in the flash ROM in the state where the player to be produced is not yet specified. In the manufacturing process for one of a cassette tape player, a CD player and an MD player, a corresponding one is selected from among drive mechanisms for those various players, a corresponding one is selected from among front panels, and a program for operating the selected drive mechanism and front panel in an adapted manner is written into the flash ROM. The selected drive mechanism, the selected front panel and the main board are attached to a main chassis.

Abstract: An audio controller for use with laptop and notebook digital computers for reproducing compressed digital audio recordings. The controller includes a drive interface for traversing and accessing audio data files stored on a drive of a computer system. Function keys coupled to the controller permit users to access drives containing desired audio data. The selected audio data is read from the drive into the controller. Decoding circuitry decodes the audio data and generates a decoded audio data stream. The data stream can be converted to an analog signal by the controller, or sent to the audio subsystem of the computer system. Advantageously, the controller operates when the computer system is in an inactive state, for example in power saving mode or OFF, and operates in passthrough mode when the computer system is ON or active.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) bindings for Network Interface Cards (NICs) installed on Windows 95™ and Windows 98™ operating systems with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) client present. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for parsing the Windows™ system registry to detect TCP/IP bindings for network interface cards installed within a host computer system. In one embodiment, a function for detecting TCP/IP bindings of one network interface card implemented and repeated for all keys of the registry of a computer software for detecting the TCP/IP bindings for network interface cards installed on the host computer system.

Abstract: An execution unit (2) interface protocol allowing flow-through of data, where a function is specified once and the execution unit performs the function for multiple sets of input data. Function execution is pipelined through the execution unit, where an input unit (6) stores information, while a function logic unit (4) processes data and an output unit (8) holds results to be output. The execution unit (2) allows for data rate distortion, in applications such as data compression, where the amount of data received is different from the amount of data generated as output.

Abstract: A field bus interface board is disclosed. The field bus interface board installed in a computer and connected to a field bus line has a main controller for controlling the entire operation of the field bus interface board. A field bus controller controls a data transmission and reception though the field bus line. A dual-port memory is shared between the computer and the main controller for exchanging data with the computer. A buffer memory buffers data transmitted to the field bus line or received from the field bus line, under the control of the field bus controller. A field bus interfacing means transmits data to the field bus line or receives data from the field bus line, under the control of the field bus controller.

Abstract: A computer network system includes a plurality of computers each including a central processing unit (CPU), a memory and at least one peripheral device, a connection fabric having selectable first and second sides, the first side being coupled to a first computer of the plurality of computers and the second side being coupled to at least a second computer of the plurality of computers. Each of the first and second computers performs a negotiation to determine which one of the first and second computers controls resources of the other of the first and second computers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficient input/output processing without the use of interrupts is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of descriptors where each descriptor includes a completion indicator and data associated with an input/output request. The plurality of descriptors includes a head descriptor and a tail descriptor. The apparatus further include a plurality of address holders associated with an input/output processor, and each the plurality of address holders is uniquely affiliated with one of the plurality of descriptors. The apparatus further include a polling mechanism for evaluating the completion indicator of the head descriptor and a completion processor for interfacing with the head descriptor. Finally, the apparatus includes connectors between the tail descriptor and address holder and between the input/output processor and the head descriptor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of providing commands to a command memory where a graphics processor will have commands available for execution as long as there are commands available. The command memory includes a first indicator to identify the command location most recently accessed by the graphics processor. A second indicator identifies the number of commands locations available to write commands based on the most recently accessed command location. As a result of the invention, the application processor only checks the availability of space to write commands after it has written enough commands to fill the command memory. On the graphics processor side, the command memory is never empty unless the graphics processor executes and consumes instructions faster than the instructions are written. It is also possible to associate a graphics mode with each address range. In this way, mode can be indicated without specifically sending mode information with each command.

Abstract: A method of providing and enabling a dynamic and scaleable system architecture for a computer system is disclosed. The method is executed on a computer system having a processor, a computer readable memory, and an adapter for receiving a module that will add functionality to the computer system. The processor is coupled to the computer readable memory and to the adapter. The method is implemented on the computer system by storing program instructions on memory and executing them via the processor in conjunction with other components of the computer system. The method comprises several steps, starting with a first step of detecting the availability of a new function. Next, an input interface specification and an output interface specification for the new function is received by the computer system.

Abstract: The streaming-media input port provides an inexpensive way to get a video signal from an audio/video device (such as a camcorder) into a personal computer in a convenient streamable media format (e.g., Windows Media Format). This streaming-media input port is an external hardware device that captures media content (i.e., video and audio) input, compresses it, converts it to an immediately streamable media (ISM) format, and sends it to a coupled computer for immediate storage or use. Such a use is transmission over the Internet to a streaming media player. This use allows for a “live” transmission from a typical analog video camera. The computer receiving media data in the ISM format from the streaming-media input port does not need to decompress and recompress the media data. It may directly save to storage or transmit to the streaming media player. It may do so without any modifications to the format of the media data.

Abstract: A communication system with a plurality of interface slots includes control logic for determining and designating the status of one or more controller cards inserted in one of the slots such that: a controller card is designated as the primary card if it is inserted in an interface slot while the other slots are empty; a controller card in an interface slot with primary status retains its primary status while other controller cards are added or removed from the system; a controller card in an interface slot with a non-primary status assumes primary status if the controller card with non-primary status is plugged in a slot that after a power interruption is designated as the slot to assume primary status, or the controller card with primary status is removed from the system.

Abstract: A peripheral device having a protocol communication chip is provided. The protocol communication chip is configured to manage communication between the peripheral device and a host computer over a serial bus. The protocol communication chip includes a bus interface and a link control and status register. The link control status register is provided for setting link parameters, and is configured to be either read or written by the host computer by the transmission of a 16 byte packet having a DataType 0. The 16 byte packet is an OUTDATA packet for control and an INSTART packet for status. The peripheral device is configured to receive device command information from the host computer using a DataType 1 packet, and host computer being configured to access data resident on the peripheral devices using a DataType 2 packet.

Abstract: The method of the present invention enables a SCSI repeater to dynamically determine the speed of an input device and adjust the repeater's output speed accordingly. Thus, the SCSI repeater can transparently connect independent SCSI buses that are connected to different devices with different requirements, preventing the slowest device from limiting the speed of the fastest device.

Abstract: The present invention provides round-robin arbitration between requests for access to a shared resource such as a data bus (7), shared by a plurality of hardware modules. A central counter (1) provides a count state bus (3) with cyclically altered count states. In each hardware module, the count state on the bus (3) is compared (4) with a count state associated with the hardware module. The output from the comparator (4) is used to enable the transmission of a request signal R to the central counter (1) and the transmission of a grant signal Gi to the hardware module. The request signal R disables the clock signal C to the counter (1) and the grant signal Gi grants access to the shared resource (7) from the hardware module. When the hardware module terminates its access to the resource (7) it deactivates the request signal R and the counter resumes cyclical counting. Hereby a simple arbitration of round-robin type is provided using simple logic gates and a counter.

Abstract: The Sharing arbiter is an arbiter which, under certain conditions, permits two or more Done signals to be received before the Sharing arbiter issues a grant signal and, under certain conditions, is permitted to issue more than one grant signal before receiving a Done signal. A Sharing arbiter can be implemented by adding a queue onto the Done input of a Sequencer arbiter. In a Sharing arbiter with a Sharing-number of N and K request inputs, the Sharing arbiter is permitted to issue M grant signals concurrently if M input requests have been received (where M≦K and M≦N) without enforcing mutual exclusion between the grants if at least M Done signals have also been received. Where less than M Done signals have been received (P Done signals, for example), the Sharing arbiter arbitrates among the M input requests and is permitted to issue P grant signals concurrently.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating a loop formation in a serial bus system (IEEE1394) and a method therefore are disclosed. The apparatus includes a control state. The method includes judging whether a loop is formed between nodes based on a port connection state and a relationship with other nodes at each node while a tree identification is being performed, and eliminating one of the ports of an idle state when a loop is formed between the nodes as a result of the judgment.

Abstract: A computer system having at least one central processing unit, system memory, and a core logic capable of accepting an AGP bus is provided with an AGP to AGP bridge connected to the standard AGP bus. The AGP to AGP bridge can accommodate two or more AGP-compatible devices that can be accessed through the standard AGP bus via the AGP to AGP bridge. A PCI to memory bridge is also provided within the AGP to AGP bridge so that PCI devices may be connected to the AGP to AGP bridge. The AGP to AGP bridge is fitted with an overall flow control logic that controls the transfer of data to or from the various AGP devices and the standard AGP bus that is connected to the core logic of the computer system. The AGP to AGP Bridge can utilize a standard 32-bit AGP bus as well as (two) dual 32-bit buses to enhance bandwidth. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the dual 32-bit buses can be combined to form a single 64-bit bus to increase the available bandwidth.

Abstract: An information processing equipment designed to support the compatibility of a plurality of clocks such as its internal clock and a clock for external bus interface by using only a single wired-in line for supplying the internal clock; and to perform frequency conversion control only in a logical circuit with the internal-to-external clock frequency ratio being N:1 or N:2 for the clocks, wherein the equipment comprises: a signal generator for supplying a common reference clock to itself and peripheral equipment and generating a reference sync signal from the reference clock to synchronize itself and the peripheral equipment; a signal generator for generating its internal clock from the reference clock; a signal generator for generating timing signals to control the timing of access to the external bus in accordance with an internal-to-peripheral clock frequency ratio; and a bus I/O signal conversion circuit for carrying out data input/output from/to the bus in accordance with generated timing signals.

Abstract: A system and method of operation for connecting at least one USB function to at least two USB hosts is presented. The system of provides a USB tree between each USB host and the at least one USB function. The system further contains provisions for isolating a given USB host from the at least one USB function.