Systems and techniques for intelligently switching between multiple sources of universal serial bus signals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9852098-B2
Application number	US-201715411519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2017
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

Various embodiments concern techniques for intelligently switching between multiple sources of USB signals. More specifically, user devices are described that include a physical USB port for receiving a USB connector and one or more wireless transceivers that communicate with an accessory. The wireless transceiver(s) may communicate with the accessory using a USB-based protocol (e.g., Wireless USB). The user devices described herein can intelligently switch between these different sources of USB signals so that USB signals can be simultaneously or sequentially received from a peripheral (via the USB port) and an accessory (via the wireless transceiver(s)). In some embodiments, a switching routine is executed (e.g., by a processor or signal switch) that determines which peripheral and/or accessory is connected to a user device at a given point in time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic user device capable of receiving USB signals at multiple sources and intelligently switching between the multiple sources, the electronic user device comprising:
a housing that includes
a wireless accessory bus for receiving an accessory,
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for receiving a USB connector, and
a separate electrical contact accessible through the housing;

a magnet that maintains the accessory in a predetermined orientation relative to the wireless accessory bus of the housing when the accessory is positioned proximate to the wireless accessory bus of the housing;
a power supply disposed within the housing;
a wireless transceiver that effects a bi-directional exchange of information with the accessory when the accessory is positioned proximate to the wireless accessory bus of the housing,
wherein the bi-directional exchange of information is performed in accordance with a Wireless USB communication protocol;

a processor that is coupled to the wireless transceiver and the USB port of the housing,
wherein the processor is able to receive USB signals at both the wireless transceiver and the USB port; and

a memory having instructions for executing an intelligent switching routine,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
query whether the USB connector is physically coupled to the USB port by monitoring whether a power signal is presently being received at another electrical contact within the USB port;
query whether the accessory is wirelessly coupled to the wireless transceiver by monitoring whether a physical connection is presently being maintained between the separate electrical contact and a corresponding electrical contact located on the accessory;
based on said querying, process a first USB signal received at a first source,
wherein the first source is either the wireless transceiver or the USB port;

continually examine whether a second USB signal has been received at a second source,
wherein the second source is whichever of the wireless transceiver and the USB port is not the first source; and

process the second USB signal responsive to determining the second USB signal has been received at the second source.

2. An electronic user device comprising:
a housing that includes
a wireless accessory bus for receiving an accessory,
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for receiving a USB connector, and
a separate electrical contact accessible through the housing;

a power supply disposed within the housing;
a wireless transceiver that effects a bi-directional exchange of information with the accessory when the accessory is positioned proximate to the wireless accessory bus of the housing,
wherein the bi-directional exchange of information is performed in accordance with a Wireless USB communication protocol;

a signal switch that is coupled to the wireless transceiver and the USB port of the housing,
wherein the signal switch is able to simultaneously or sequentially receive USB signals at both the wireless transceiver and the USB port; and

a processor for processing the USB signals and executing a system operation based on content of the USB signals; and
a memory having instructions for executing an intelligent switching routine,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
query whether the USB connector is physically coupled to the USB port by monitoring whether a power signal is presently being received at another electrical contact within the USB port, and
query whether the accessory is wirelessly coupled to the wireless transceiver by monitoring whether a physical connection is presently being maintained between the separate electrical contact and a corresponding electrical contact located on the accessory.

3. The electronic user device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
based on said querying, process a first USB signal received at a first source,
wherein the first source is either the wireless transceiver or the USB port;

continually examine whether a second USB signal has been received at a second source,
wherein the second source is whichever of the wireless transceiver and the USB port is not the first source; and

process the second USB signal responsive to determining the second USB signal has been received at the second source.

4. The electronic user device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
continually examine whether USB signals have been received at a first source or a second source,
wherein the first and second sources are selected from the wireless transceiver and the USB port; and

intelligently switch between the first and second sources to receive the USB signals.

5. The electronic user device of claim 4 , wherein said intelligently switching is accomplished using a state machine that transitions between the first source and the second source upon determining a triggering event has occurred that prompts a transition.

6. The electronic user device of claim 5 , wherein the triggering event is reception of a USB signal at either the first or second source.

7. The electronic user device of claim 2 , wherein the USB port is a USB Type-C port capable of bi-directional data transfer and bi-directional power transfer.

8. The electronic user device of claim 7 , wherein the USB port is capable of outputting, via a digital-to-analog (DAC) converter, an audio signal.

9. The electronic user device of claim 2 , wherein the USB signals received at the USB port and the wireless transceiver satisfy a USB 3.1 standard.

10. The electronic user device of claim 2 , wherein the USB connector is part of a peripheral device or a USB cable.

11. The electronic user device of claim 2 , further comprising:
one or more magnets associated with the housing,
wherein the one or more magnets are arranged to maintain the accessory in a predetermined orientation relative to the housing when the accessory is positioned proximate to the wireless accessory bus.

12. The electronic user device of claim 2 , wherein the power supply is any of a rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery, a rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, or a rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) battery.

13. An electronic user device comprising:
a housing that includes
a wireless accessory bus for receiving an accessory,
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for receiving a USB connector, and
a first electrical contact accessible through the housing;

a wireless transceiver that effects an exchange of information with the accessory in accordance with a Wireless USB protocol when the accessory is positioned proximate to the wireless accessory bus of the housing;
a signal switch that is coupled to the wireless transceiver and the USB port;
a processor that is coupled to the signal switch; and
a memory having instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the electronic user device to:
query whether the USB connector is physically coupled to the USB port by monitoring whether a power signal is presently being received at a second electrical contact within the USB port;
query whether the accessory is wirelessly coupled to the wireless transceiver by monitoring whether a physical connection is presently being maintained between the first electrical contact and a third electrical contact located on the accessory;
identify a first source of USB signals based on said querying; and
execute a switching routine that causes the signal switch to intellige

Assignees

• Essential Products Inc

Inventors

• Gagne-Keats Jason Sean
• Rubin Andrew E
• Evans V David John
• Hershenson Matthew
• Miao Xiaoyu
• Jiang Xinrui
• Tate Joseph Anthony

Classifications

• H04M1/72412

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• H04M1/72409

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title

• G06F13/4022 Primary

  using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/0412

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a display · CPC title

• G06F13/4282

  on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247) · CPC title