JP2001051939A - Peripheral equipment, usb hub and server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To constitute a serial bus system for requesting only one host and connecting plural devices in the shape of ladder such as universal serial bus(USB) system having plural USB hosts while being apparently based on the standard of a USB, for example, and further to exchange with plural pieces of host equipment, a USB host and another host CPU concerning this peripheral equipment, a USB hub and a server. SOLUTION: Peripheral equipment 3 to be used for the serial bus system for requesting only one host and connecting plural devices in the shape of ladder is provided with a peripheral equipment controller 33 and a peripheral equipment repeater 31. Then, the peripheral equipment controller 33 has a means 32 to be operated as a protocol control switch between one piece of main host equipment or sub-host equipment more than one and downstream equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a peripheral device and a US
The present invention relates to a universal serial bus (hereinafter, referred to as "USB") system, which is a B hub and a server, and particularly relates to a system having a plurality of means for controlling connected devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a serial bus system which requests only one host and connects a plurality of devices in a stepwise manner,
One of the external buses connecting a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “PC”) and its peripherals is a Universal.
sal Serial BusSpecificati
USB defined in on Revision 1.0
There is.

[0003] A USB system will be described with reference to FIG. The USB system is one of any systems
A staircase / star connection configuration is used in which a plurality of USB devices of two types, a USB hub 3 ′ and a function 4 ′, are connected as peripheral devices to a USB host 1 ′ having a plurality of devices. The USB interface to the USB host 1 'is called a host controller 11', and the USB interface
Performs conversion to a data stream conforming to the protocol, or vice versa, and interpretation of protocol information, etc.
Manages data transfer to and from USB devices. USB
The hub 3 ′ is a device that provides an additional connection point for USB, and has one root port 35 ′ connecting to the upstream and a plurality of downstream ports 36 ′ connecting to the downstream. On the other hand, the function 4 ′ provides the USB system with functions such as ISDN connection, digital joystick, speaker, keyboard, and mouse,
Each device has a device-side USB controller 41 ′ that performs conversion into a data stream conforming to the USB protocol or vice versa, interpretation of protocol information, and the like. Each wire segment is connected to port 12 'of USB host 1' and U
USB host 1 between root port 35 'of SB hub 3'
'Between the port 12' and the function 4 ', between the downstream port 36' of the USB hub 3 'and the root port 35' of another USB hub 3 ', or the USB hub 3'
Downstream port 36 'and function 4'
Is a point-to-point connection.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an example of a conventional USB hub. The USB hub 3 'has two parts, a hub controller 33' and a hub repeater 31 ', and a root port 3
5 'and a downstream port 36'.
The hub repeater 31 'is a protocol control switch between the upstream and the downstream, and supports connection setup and disconnection processing, bus fault detection and recovery, and connection / disconnection processing.
The hub controller 33 'provides an interface register to enable communication with or from the USB host.

According to the USB standard, in the USB system,
The only USB host, effectively host PC 1 ', controls the system. That is, there is a rule that a device having another host CPU is not allowed to exchange data by controlling another device.

In addition, data exchange between a USB host and a device having another host CPU must be performed via a communication medium of another standard.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a serial bus system which requires only one host and connects a plurality of devices in a stepwise manner, for example, a USB, in a manner apparently conforming to the standard. And a peripheral device, a USB hub, and a server that can constitute a USB system having a plurality of USB hosts. Further, the peripheral device, the USB hub, and the server are different from the plurality of host devices and the USB host. Provided are a peripheral device, a USB hub, and a server that can also exchange data between host CPUs.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a peripheral device used in a serial bus system which requires only one host and connects a plurality of devices in a stepwise manner. And the peripheral controller is a peripheral having means for acting as a protocol control switch between one main host device or one or more sub-host devices and a downstream device.

[0009] The present invention also includes a USB controller provided with a hub controller and a hub repeater for use in a USB system.
In the hub, the hub repeater is a two-host compatible hub repeater hosting a USB main host and one or more USB subhosts, and a protocol control switch between the USB main host or one or more USB subhosts and the downstream. It is a USB hub having a means that works as a USB hub.

The present invention is a USB hub having a USB sub-host controller.

The present invention further includes a USB device controller having a function of a device-side USB controller and a function of buffering data.
A USB hub having means for acting as a protocol control switch between a main host or one or more USB subhosts and a USB device controller.

According to the present invention, there is provided a server used in a USB system, wherein the server is connected to the above-described USB hub as a USB sub-host device.

[0013] The present invention is a server having a USB host controller.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, embodiments of a peripheral device and a USB hub of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the USB hub according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration example of a USB system using the USB hub of each embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a USB hub according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a USB hub according to the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a USB hub according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a second US using the USB hub of each embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing of the example of a structure of B system.

Embodiment 1 will be described. The peripheral device of this embodiment is a two-port USB hub. U of Example 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the SB hub 3 includes a hub repeater 31 for two hosts, a host controller 32 for a two-port hub,
A hub controller 33, a main host connection root port 35, a downstream port 36, and a sub host connection root port 37 are provided. The two-host compatible hub repeater 31 is a hub repeater and is connected to the two-port hub host controller 32 and functions as a protocol control switch between upstream and downstream. Upstream is one main host device and one or more sub-host devices. The two-port hub host controller 32 is interposed between the two-host hub repeater 31 and the sub-host connection root port 37, and has the same function as the host controller. The hub controller 33 is the same as the conventional hub controller. The main host connection root port 35 is a CPU port connected to a USB host. The downstream port 36 is similar to the conventional example, and is connected to another USB hub or function.
The sub-host connection root port 37 connects to a sub-host device which is a CPU different from the USB host.

A USB system using the USB hub according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This USB system includes a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “PC”) 1, a server 2, a USB hub 3, a digital camera 4a, and a printer 4b. PC1 becomes a USB host. The server 2 has a USB sub-host controller, is connected as a sub-host to the USB hub 3, and has a CPU serving as a sub-host different from the main host PC1. The server 2 includes a hard disk drive (hereinafter, referred to as “HDD”), a DV
It has a DRAM drive and a PC card drive.
The USB hub 3 is a hub compatible with two hosts. In this system, the data captured by the digital camera 4a is
Send to C1 for processing and editing or send to server 2 server 2
Can be stored in the HDD in the HDD, or written in a DVDRAM or a PC card. Further, data photographed by the digital camera 4a, which has been processed and edited by the PC 1, is output to the printer 4b.
M or a digital camera 4 written on a PC card
The data photographed by a can be output to the printer 4b.

The operation of the USB hub 3 according to the first embodiment will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The root port 36 is connected to the downstream port of the USB host 1 or another USB hub, and the sub host CPU connected to the UBS sub host connection port 37 connects the USB device connected to the downstream port. When the control is not performed, the two-host compatible hub repeater 31 behaves in the same manner as the conventional hub repeater. When the root port 35 is not connected to a USB host or another USB hub, the two-port hub host controller 32 switches between another host CPU connected to the CPU port 37 and a USB device connected to the downstream port 36. Then, data transfer management similar to the operation of the conventional host controller is performed. When the root port 35 is connected to a downstream port of a USB host or another USB hub, and another host CPU connected to the CPU port 35 controls a USB device connected to the downstream port 36. The two-host compatible hub repeater 31 disconnects the signal from the root port 35 or disconnects the signal to the root port 35, and connects the two-port hub host controller 32 to the USB device connected to the downstream port 36. Works like that.

With the above operation, a USB hub operation similar to the conventional one is performed for control from upstream to downstream or exchange of data between upstream and downstream, and a host different from the USB host is used. While controlling the downstream from the CPU or exchanging data between the downstream and another host CPU different from the USB host, the hub corresponding to the two hosts is disconnected from the upstream in the same manner as the connection is disconnected. A USB that has two USB hosts in a form that conforms to the USB standard
A two-host hub that supports the system can be realized.

Embodiment 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the USB hub 3b of the present embodiment includes a second two-host hub repeater 31b, a two-port hub host controller 32b, a hub controller 33b, a USB device controller 34b, and a main host connection. A root port 35b, a sub-host connection root port 37b,
A root port 36b. US of Example 1
B hub, but USB device controller 3
4b. The USB controller 34b has a function equivalent to that of the conventional USB controller shown in FIG. 7 and a data buffering function.
The second two-host compatible hub repeater 31b is different from the two-host compatible hub repeater 31 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
A function of exchanging data with the USB device controller 34b under the control of the host is added.

The difference between the USB hub 3b of the second embodiment and the USB hub 3 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, control between upstream and downstream or data exchange, and furthermore, USB
The control between the host CPU different from the host and the downstream or the exchange of data is the same as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, furthermore, the USB host
The USB hub of the first embodiment is different from the USB hub of the first embodiment in that data can be taken in by a device having a host CPU different from the host, or the reverse operation can be performed. First, US
After the B device controller 34b receives the control signal from the USB host via the two-host compatible hub repeater 32b, the B device controller 34b sends a control signal for prompting another host CPU connected to the sub host port 37b to transmit data. It is sent via the second two-host compatible hub repeater 31b. Another host CPU connected to the sub-host port 37b receiving the control signal sends the data to the USB device controller 34b via the second two-host compatible hub repeater 31b, and the USB device controller 34b sends the data to the second host controller 34b. 2 to the USB host via the two-host compatible hub repeater 31b. USB in this way
It is connected to the sub-host port 37b by exchanging data between the host and the USB device controller 34b, and between another host CPU connected to the sub-host port 6 and the USB device controller 34b in conformity with the USB standard. USB from another host CPU
A two-host compatible hub capable of transferring data to the host can be realized. It should be noted that the data transfer direction can be reversed in the case of another host CPU connected to the sub host 37b from the USB host which is the reverse of the above.

In the USB hubs of the first and second embodiments, the two-host compatible hub has the two-port hub host controller 2 therein, but the host controller is provided on the device side having a host CPU different from the USB host. Can be provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, instead of having a two-port hub host controller, a second
By providing the root ports 37c and 37d, a USB host compatible hub having two USB hosts in a form conforming to the USB standard can be realized.

Another configuration example using the USB hubs of the first and second embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. This system includes a PC 1, a server 2, a USB hub 3, a digital video device 4c, a digital audio device 4d, and a speaker 4e. In this system,
As in the system shown in FIG.
To the PC 1, DVDRAM, or the server 2; data from the digital audio device 4d to the PC 1;
When the two-host compatible hub 3b of the second embodiment is used as the two-host compatible hub 3, data can be exchanged between the PC 1 and the server 2.

In the system configuration examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the equipment connected to the downstream port of the two-host compatible hub 3 is not limited to those shown in FIGS. Peripheral devices similar to the example can be connected.

[0024]

According to the present invention, it is possible to configure a USB system having two USB hosts in a manner conforming to the USB standard, and furthermore, a USB host, a USB host, and another host CPU can be configured. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a USB device that can also exchange data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a USB hub according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration example of a USB system using a USB hub of each embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a USB hub according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a USB hub according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a USB hub according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration example of a second USB system using the USB hub of each embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a connection mode of a USB system.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional USB hub.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 USB host 2 Server 3 USB hub 31 2 Host compatible hub repeater 31b 2nd host compatible hub repeater 32 2-port hub host controller 33 Hub controller 34b USB device controller 35 Main host port 36 Sub host port 37 Downstream port 4 USB function 4a Digital camera 4b Printer 4c Digital video equipment 4d Digital audio equipment 4e Speaker

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き The continuation of the front page F term (reference) 5B014 HA05 5D044 BC01 CC04 HL01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A peripheral device used for a serial bus system that requests only one host and connects a plurality of devices in a stepwise manner, comprising: a peripheral device controller and a peripheral device repeater; Is a peripheral device having means that functions as a protocol control switch between one main host device or one or more sub-host devices and a downstream device. 2. A USB hub for use in a USB system, comprising a hub controller and a hub repeater, wherein the hub repeater is a USB main host and one or more U
A two-host hub repeater hosted on an SB subhost, and a USB main host or one or more U
A USB hub having means for acting as a protocol control switch between an SB subhost and a downstream. 3. The USB hub according to claim 2, further comprising a USB sub-host controller. 4. The USB hub according to claim 2, further comprising a USB device controller having a function of a device-side USB controller and a function of buffering data, and further comprising a USB main host or one or more USB devices.
A USB hub, comprising: a unit that functions as a protocol control switch between a B-sub host and a USB device controller. 5. A server used in a USB system, wherein the USB hub according to claim 2 is connected to a USB hub.
A server connected as a B-sub host device. 6. The server according to claim 5, further comprising a USB host controller.