USB Control Device Host Interface Classification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The management of USB devices is challenging due to the lack of a unified judgment mechanism, leading to difficulties in classification and resource allocation, which results in the loss of flexible functionality when different types of devices with varying bandwidth and security requirements are connected to USB ports.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multiple host interfaces and an index lookup table within the USB control device allows for the classification and management of USB devices by configuring and sharing hardware components, enabling flexible functionality across all USB ports through the use of host interface identifiers and bus schedule controllers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple host interfaces are implemented to classify and manage different types of USB devices, then device classification capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice classification capabilityVSAvoidhost interface quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The USB controller is divided into multiple host interfaces, each capable of independently managing specific USB devices. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different device types (e.g., storage devices, audio devices, video devices) through dedicated host interfaces, improving classification capability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each host interface is designed with multi-functional capability to handle various USB device types. The host interfaces can be dynamically configured to work with different device categories through the index lookup table, allowing a single host interface to serve multiple purposes rather than requiring dedicated interfaces for each device type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If USB ports are dedicated to specific device types for efficient management, then device management efficiency is improved, but port flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice management efficiencyVSAvoidport flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic port assignment where USB ports are not permanently dedicated to specific device types but are dynamically allocated based on current device connections and system requirements. The index lookup table is updated in real-time to reflect current port-device mappings, allowing ports to be reassigned as devices are connected or disconnected, thus maintaining both management efficiency and flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The index lookup table serves as an intermediary data structure that decouples the relationship between USB ports and device types. Instead of directly hardcoding port-device associations, the system uses this lookup table as a flexible mapping layer that can be dynamically updated, allowing efficient management through structured data while preserving port flexibility through software-based reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If hardware components are shared among multiple host interfaces to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware component quantityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bus schedule controller continuously manages and allocates shared hardware resources (such as bus access, memory bandwidth, and processing cycles) to multiple host interfaces in real-time. By implementing continuous resource arbitration and scheduling, the system ensures that shared components are constantly utilized by appropriate host interfaces without idle time, maintaining high resource allocation efficiency despite hardware sharing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts resource allocation parameters (such as bandwidth allocation, priority levels, and access timing) for shared hardware components based on current system conditions and device requirements. The bus schedule controller modifies these parameters in real-time to optimize resource distribution among host interfaces, ensuring efficient utilization of shared hardware without requiring dedicated components for each interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12105665B2Universal serial bus control device and control method thereof

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 VIA TECH INC

AI summary

A universal serial bus (USB) control device and a control method thereof are provided. The USB control device includes multiple host interfaces, multiple USB ports, a bus physical layer circuit, a microprocessor, and a bus schedule controller. The bus schedule controller controls the bus physical layer circuit according to a USB task. The microprocessor obtains a USB task command through the host interface, which includes a USB port number of a specific host interface. The microprocessor queries the USB port number of the specific host interface based on an index lookup table to correspond to a specific USB port, generates the USB task according to the specific USB port, and transmits the USB task to the bus schedule controller. The index lookup table is configured to record a relationship between a part of the USB port that each host interface is responsible for and the USB port number.