Resetting Fixed USB Devices via Power Cycling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for resetting USB devices fixedly connected to a host cannot detach the device physically, leading to potential system crashes and OS freezes when trying to reset the controller or computer internal bus virtualization engine.

Innovation Solution

A remote terminal apparatus with a device power control unit and a device power supply control instruction unit that stops power supply to the device upon instruction, allowing it to be set in a pseudo removed state without physical detachment, enabling safe resetting of plug-and-play compatible devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a USB device is fixedly connected to a host and needs to be reset, then the device can maintain physical connection stability, but the controller or computer internal bus virtualization engine may crash or freeze when attempting to reset

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoiddevice reset capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical reset mechanism with an electrical power control mechanism. Instead of physically detaching and reattaching the USB device or resetting the controller hardware, the system uses the device power control unit to electrically cut and restore power to the USB device, achieving reset functionality without mechanical intervention or controller crash risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a device power control unit as an intermediary component between the host system and the USB device. This intermediary manages the power supply to the USB device, enabling safe reset operations by controlling power cutoff and restoration without directly manipulating the USB device connection or the controller state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If physical detachment is used to reset a fixedly connected USB device, then the device can be reset, but the physical connection must be broken which is not feasible for fixed connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice reset capabilityVSAvoidconnection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational state of the USB device by controlling the power supply parameter. Instead of changing the physical connection state (detached/connected), the system changes the power parameter (supplied/not supplied) to achieve device reset, making the reset process adaptable to both removable and fixed connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the controller is reset to reset a USB device, then the USB device can be reset, but the OS may freeze or crash

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice reset capabilityVSAvoidsystem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the reset function from the controller system and relocates it to the device power control unit. By taking the reset capability out of the controller/OS domain and placing it in the power management domain, the system can reset USB devices without involving the controller or OS, thereby preventing system freezes or crashes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11061462B2Remote terminal apparatus enabled to reset a plug-and-play compatible device even fixedly connected without removing the device from the apparatus, control method thereof, computer system, and non-transitory recording medium

Publication Date: 2021.07.13 NEC CORP

AI summary

Provided a device that performs at least one of an input and an output, a device power supply control unit that controls power supply to the device, and a device power supply control instruction unit that instructs the device power supply control unit to stop power supply to the device based on an instruction from an operation unit arranged in the apparatus, wherein stopping power supply to the device makes it possible to set the device that is fixedly connected in the apparatus to a pseudo removed state.