USB Host Chip Dynamic Device Mapping for Multi-Computer Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Regular USB-type computer switches often lead to incompatibility issues with multi-function devices like mice, keyboards, and touch screens due to limitations in device enumeration and structural configuration, requiring additional hubs and control programs, which do not fully resolve connection problems.
Innovation Solution
An automatic mapping and updating computer switching device featuring a USB host chip that reads and stores data from peripheral devices, transmitting this information via a USB hub chip to USB device chips for storage and communication with computers, ensuring compatibility through dynamic device mapping and full USB device enumeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a regular USB-type computer switch is used, then the basic switching function between multiple computers is achieved, but incompatibility issues occur with multi-function USB devices such as mice, keyboards, and touch screens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing full USB device enumeration and storing device descriptor data in advance during device initialization. The USB host chip enumerates all connected USB devices and saves their configuration data before switching operations, ensuring that device compatibility information is prepared beforehand. This prevents incompatibility issues during actual device usage across different computers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating and storing copies of USB device descriptor data in the USB host chip's memory. Instead of relying on each computer to independently enumerate devices, the system creates a centralized copy of device information that can be quickly referenced and applied when switching between computers, ensuring consistent device compatibility across all connected systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device enumeration and configuration data are stored in advance, then device compatibility is improved, but the system requires additional time and resources for data collection and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs USB device enumeration and descriptor data collection during the initialization phase before the operating system fully loads. By completing this time-consuming task in advance during system boot-up rather than during device connection or switching events, the patent minimizes the perceived time loss during actual device usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The USB host chip automatically performs device enumeration and data storage without requiring manual intervention or additional software control programs. The system serves itself by autonomously collecting and managing device compatibility information, eliminating the need for users to manually configure devices or install additional software to resolve compatibility issues.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional USB hubs and control programs are added to resolve incompatibility, then device connectivity is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the USB host chip to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a USB switch for computer connectivity and a USB host for device enumeration and data storage. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate USB hubs and control programs, reducing system complexity while maintaining broad device support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of USB device switching and USB device enumeration into a single integrated system. The USB host chip combines the capabilities of a traditional USB switch with USB host functionality, consolidating what would traditionally require separate hubs and software components into one unified device, thereby simplifying the overall system structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the USB host chip stores and transmits device data to multiple USB device chips, then compatibility across multiple computers is ensured, but the data transmission and storage complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The USB host chip creates and maintains copies of USB device descriptor data in its memory, which can be efficiently distributed to multiple USB device chips connected to different computers. This copying mechanism ensures that each computer receives the necessary device compatibility information without requiring complex real-time data synchronization or centralized data management infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an automatic mapping and updating computer switch device. The computer switching device provides the compatibility between a plurality of devices and a plurality of computers, and comprises a USB host chip connected to the plurality of peripheral devices each containing a USB connector for sending the necessary data (USB device descriptor/report) to a plurality of USB device chips, thus, the computers can acquire the necessary data of the peripheral devices through the connected USB device chips. Whenever the computer switching device re-boots or any of the peripheral devices are plugged in/pulled out, the USB host chip reads the new necessary data again with the previous ones, if any differences are found, the new necessary data is send to the USB device chips for storage. The aforesaid procedure is called DDM (Dynamic Devices Mapping) or full USB Enumeration or full USB Initiation.