Method and apparatus for increasing the number of USB root hub ports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10762018-B1
Application number	US-201916266922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2019
Priority date	Feb 6, 2018
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a USB hub configured for supporting multiple data transfer speed protocols. The USB hub comprises a plurality of protocol/LINK layer components; and a physical layer component shared among the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components and supporting at least two USB connection ports. The physical layer component is in communication with each of the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components. A buffer system (including RX/TX buffers) is shared among the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components and a USB host controller component is in communication with the buffer system. The physical layer component is configured for operating in a first mode to support one of the at least two USB ports in a first operating mode; and operating in a second mode to support the at least two USB ports in a second operating mode.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A USB hub comprising:
one or more physical layer components;
a plurality of protocol/LINK layer components comprising:
a first protocol/LINK layer component configured for supporting the one or more physical layer components while the one or more physical layer components are operating in an operating mode selected from: a first operating mode and a second operating mode; and
a second protocol/LINK layer component configured for supporting the one or more physical layer components while the one or more physical layer components are operating in the second operating mode; and

at least two USB connection ports connected with the one or more physical layer components;
and
wherein the one or more physical layer components are each configured for operating in a first mode to support one of the at least two USB connection ports in the first operating mode, wherein the first operating mode corresponds with activation of the first protocol/LINK layer component; and operating in a second mode to support the at least two USB connection ports in the second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode corresponds with activation of both the first protocol/LINK layer component and the second protocol/LINK layer component.

2. The USB hub of claim 1 , further comprising a multiplexor connecting the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components and the one or more physical layer components.

3. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical layer components are configured for serialization and deserialization, wherein the one or more physical layer components are configured for selection between the first operating mode and the second operating mode, and wherein:
when operating in the first operating mode, the one or more physical layer components are configured for supporting a single USB port at a first data transfer speed; and
when operating in the second operating mode; the one or more physical layer components are configured for supporting multiple USB operating ports each operating at a second data transfer speed.

4. The USB hub of claim 3 , wherein the first data transfer speed is faster than the second data transfer speed.

5. The USB hub of claim 1 , wherein the first protocol/LINK layer component comprises a USB3.2 protocol/LINK layer component and the second protocol/LINK layer component comprises a USB3.1 protocol/LINK layer component.

6. The USB hub of claim 3 , further comprising a buffer system shared among the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components, wherein the buffer system is in communication with the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components and wherein the buffer system is configured for operation to support USB operating ports operating at either the first data transfer speed or the second data transfer speed.

7. The USB hub of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface element configured for receiving a user selection of the first operating mode or the second operating mode; and
wherein the one or more physical layer components are configured to switch between the first operating mode and the second operating mode based on user input received via the user interface element.

8. A PHY component for serialization and deserialization (SERDES) within a USB hub, wherein the PHY component is configured for selection between a first operating mode and a second operating mode, and wherein:
when operating in the first operating mode, the PHY component is configured for supporting a single USB port at a first data transfer speed and communicating with a first protocol/LINK layer component; and
when operating in the second operating mode the PHY component is configured for supporting multiple USB operating ports each operating at a second data transfer speed and communicating with the first protocol/LINK layer component and a second protocol/LINK layer component.

9. The PHY component of claim 8 , wherein the first data transfer speed is faster than the second data transfer speed.

10. The PHY component of claim 8 , wherein the PHY component is further configured to switch between the first operating mode and the second operating mode based at least in part on user input received via a user interface element.

11. A method for operating a USB hub, the method comprising:
receiving a selection of an operating mode for the USB hub, wherein the operating mode is selected from a first operating mode and a second operating mode, and wherein:
the first operating mode is configured to support data transfer across a first quantity of USB ports; and
the second operating mode is configured to support data transfer across a second quantity of USB ports, wherein the second quantity of USB ports is greater than the first quantity of USB ports;

configuring a physical layer component of the USB hub to support the selected operating mode; and
transferring data across one or more USB ports of the USB hub in accordance with the selected operating mode; and wherein:
when operating in the first operating mode, data is transferred across a first protocol/LINK layer component at a first data transfer speed; and
when operating in the second operating mode, data is transferred across the first protocol/LINK layer component and a second protocol/LINK layer component at a second data transfer speed.

12. The method for operating a USB hub of claim 11 , further comprising transferring data across a buffer system in communication with both the first protocol/LINK layer component and the second protocol/LINK layer component.

13. The method for operating a USB hub of claim 12 , further comprising transferring data across a multiplexor in communication between the physical layer component and each of the first protocol/LINK layer component and the second protocol/LINK layer component.

14. The method for operating a USB hub of claim 12 , further comprising transferring data across a USB host controller in communication with the buffer system.

15. The method for operating a USB hub of claim 11 , wherein the second data transfer speed is slower than the first data transfer speed.

Assignees

• Synopsys Inc

Inventors

• Guo Shaori
• Cao Jun
• Ren Fei

Classifications

• G06F13/42

  Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation · CPC title

• G06F13/4059 Primary

  where the synchronisation uses buffers, e.g. for speed matching between buses · CPC title

• G06F13/4031

  with arbitration · CPC title

• G06F13/387 Primary

  for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system · CPC title