Serial Bus Gateway for Remote Peripheral Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices are typically unable to communicate with peripheral devices connected to serial buses of other computing devices, limiting their access to remote peripherals.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables communication between computing devices and peripheral devices connected to serial buses of other devices by using hardware network and serial components, device drivers, and network drivers to wrap and unwrap data frames within network packets, allowing data exchange over a network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If computing devices use local serial buses to connect peripheral devices, then communication speed and reliability are improved, but accessibility to remote peripheral devices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a serial bus gateway as an intermediary device that bridges the local serial bus and network infrastructure. The gateway translates serial bus protocols into network protocols, enabling remote peripheral devices to be accessed through the network while maintaining the reliability of serial bus communication. The gateway acts as a mediator that handles protocol conversion and data forwarding between the two different communication domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the communication dimension from local physical connection to remote network connection. By implementing network interface cards and network protocol stacks in peripheral devices, the system transitions from two-dimensional local bus communication to multi-dimensional network communication, allowing devices to communicate both locally and remotely through different communication paths.
2Device complexity
If computing devices access only local peripheral devices, then system complexity is reduced, but functionality and interoperability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality in peripheral devices by equipping them with both serial bus interfaces and network interface cards. This allows peripheral devices to serve dual purposes: communicating through the local serial bus for high-speed reliable transactions and through the network for remote access and interoperability. The serial bus gateway also performs multiple functions including protocol translation, data routing, and network management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication system into distinct layers: the local serial bus layer for direct communication, the network layer for remote communication, and the serial bus gateway layer for coordination between them. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with optimized protocols, reducing overall system complexity while enabling sophisticated interoperability capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If peripheral devices are equipped with network interface cards and protocol stacks, then remote accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service capabilities in peripheral devices through automatic IP address assignment via DHCP and dynamic configuration of communication parameters. The protocol stack in peripheral devices automatically handles connection establishment, data encoding, and error correction without requiring manual configuration, thereby reducing the operational complexity despite the added hardware capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device includes a hardware network component, a hardware serial component, device drivers, a network driver, and a serial driver. The hardware network component connects the computing device to other computing devices. The hardware serial component connects the computing device to peripheral devices over a serial bus. Each device driver is for one of these peripheral devices or for a peripheral device connected to a serial bus of one of the other computing devices. The network driver is for the hardware network component, and the serial driver is for the hardware serial component. The serial, network, and device drivers interact to permit the computing device to communicate with the peripheral devices of the other computing devices over a network. The device drivers for the peripheral devices of the other computing devices are unaware that these peripheral devices are not connected to the serial bus of the computing device.