Dynamic USB Endpoint Allocation Coupling Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB multifunction devices require time to switch between devices, necessitating device deactivation and a waiting period for new devices to be used, due to fixed endpoint assignments and the need for re-enumeration processes during mode changes.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device with a control unit that preconfigures all USB endpoints for various operating modes, allowing dynamic assignment without deactivating endpoints, enabling swift and uninterrupted switching between devices by bypassing the need for re-enumeration during mode changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed assignment of USB endpoints to devices is used, then device stability is maintained, but switching between devices requires deactivation and waiting period
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures multiple USB endpoint assignments in advance, maintaining multiple active configurations simultaneously. When switching between devices is needed, the system can immediately activate a pre-configured endpoint assignment without deactivating the current device, thereby eliminating switching delays while maintaining device stability through controlled concurrent configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If re-enumeration process is performed during mode changes, then USB endpoint configuration is updated, but device operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains multiple USB endpoint configurations in parallel, allowing the application to switch between pre-configured endpoints without interrupting the enumeration process. This enables continuous device operation during mode changes, as the system can activate a different pre-configured endpoint assignment while the current configuration remains active, thus maintaining operational continuity while adapting to different modes.
3Ease of operation
If multiple USB devices are used for different applications, then each application has dedicated device assignment, but device complexity and quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a single USB multifunction device that can assume multiple different configurations through dynamic endpoint assignment. The control device enables the same physical USB device to be configured for different applications by activating appropriate pre-configured endpoint assignments, thereby providing application-specific device assignment functionality without requiring separate dedicated USB devices for each application.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a coupling device (10) for dynamically allocating USB endpoints (31, 32, 33, 34) of a USB interface (30), which can be accessed using at least two applications, comprising: a USB interface (30) that has at least two ports (P0, P2, P4), each of which comprises at least one USB endpoint (31, 32, 33, 34); and a control device (20) for dynamically allocating the USB endpoints (31, 32, 33, 34). The control device is designed so as to preconfigure each USB endpoint (31, 32, 33, 34) which is required for the at least two applications by means of an initialization process, and thus the control device can switch the allocation of the endpoints according to the access using at least one of the applications without the USB endpoints (31, 32, 33, 34) affected by the switch having to be deactivated.