USB Hub Filter Driver Power Mode Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
USB hubs cannot accurately reflect the power mode of a host computer, leading to incorrect switching between active and suspend modes, which prevents sleep charging functionality and disrupts data transmission when devices are plugged in.
Innovation Solution
A filter driver is implemented to detect specific events and issue device sleep IRP requests, preventing the USB hub from entering suspend mode when the host computer is active, thereby maintaining data transmission capabilities while enabling charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the USB hub enters suspend mode to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but data transmission capability is lost and charging function cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic mode switching for the USB hub, allowing it to transition between active and suspend modes based on real-time detection of host computer power state. The hub can dynamically adjust its operational state to match the host's power mode, ensuring data transmission capability is maintained when the host is active while enabling power savings when the host is in sleep mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the USB hub detects the power mode of the host computer and adjusts its own operational state accordingly. This feedback loop ensures the hub enters suspend mode only when appropriate (when host is in sleep mode) and remains active when needed (when host is active), resolving the contradiction between power saving and functional availability.
2Productivity
If the USB hub enters suspend mode incorrectly, then power management efficiency is improved, but reliability of power mode reflection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the USB hub detects the host computer's power mode through status registers and adjusts its operational state accordingly. This ensures accurate power mode reflection and prevents incorrect entry into suspend mode, maintaining reliability while improving power management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/manual power mode switching with an automated detection and control system using software drivers and status register monitoring. This substitution enables reliable, automatic power mode reflection without manual intervention, improving both efficiency and accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If the USB hub remains in active mode to maintain data transmission, then data transmission capability is preserved, but unnecessary power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power mode adjustment where the USB hub transitions from active to suspend mode based on the host computer's power state. When the host enters sleep mode, the hub automatically suspends data transmission functions to save power, while resuming when the host becomes active again, thus dynamically optimizing power consumption without sacrificing necessary functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the USB hub to discard (suspend) its data transmission functionality when the host computer is in sleep mode, and recover this functionality when the host becomes active. This allows the hub to save power by disabling unnecessary functions while maintaining the capability to resume operation when needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional USB hub driver is used, then device compatibility is maintained, but sleep charging function cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a filter driver as an intermediary layer between the traditional USB hub driver and the hardware. This filter driver intercepts and modifies power management requests, preventing the hub from entering suspend mode when the host is active, while still allowing the traditional driver to maintain device compatibility. This intermediary enables sleep charging functionality without sacrificing compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the USB driver functionality into two layers: a filter driver layer that handles power mode detection and control, and the traditional USB hub driver layer that maintains device compatibility. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, enabling sleep charging while preserving broad device compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management method for a host computer, which is coupled to a USB hub, is provided. It prevents the USB hub from entering into a suspend mode while the host computer stays in a host active state. The method includes the following steps: a filter driver is loaded. When detecting a specified event, the filter driver issues a device sleep IRP request to control the USB hub enter into a suspend mode. Wherein the specified event represents that the host computer enters into a host sleep state.