Patent Application
20090268743
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a bridge device for transmitting data; and more particular to a data transmission bridge device and control chip thereof for transmitting data that adopts USB specification, and can utilize switching to bridge between two host devices for transmitting data.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to rapid technological development, the availability and usability of computer has increased accordingly. As a result, currently the majority of information (including video/audio, communication, and text document) can all be processed and produced by a computer, thus, the number of data file a user might save on a computer also increases.
With the increase of data files, by direct relation, the transmission of data becomes a common user action. And in the field of long distance data transfer, the most common practice is through internet connection to achieve the objective of data transmission. On the other hand for short distance data transfer or for data transfer in close physical proximity between two computer hosts, not only can an area network be set up for transmitting data, but also the major methods listed below are available:
However, regarding the above mentioned short range data transfer methods between computer hosts, although the 3rd data transfer method has a low efficiency, but this method is also more commonly used by users. The reason is that portable storage device preserve data equally well when compared to the other two methods, but also has the advantage of being portable, furthermore because most of the portable storage device adhere to USB specification, so that it is useable simply by plug and play, so that users does not have to perform any extra setting to achieve connection.
Therefore, to design a bridge device for transmitting data unites the advantages of the above described transfer methods and avoids limitations, so that users can conveniently and efficiently proceed to transfer data between two computer host in short range. This is an area of research that is worth developing.
As described above, the present invention intends to solve the technical limitation of the prior art, by designing a data transmission bridge device and control chip thereof for transmitting data between two nearby hosts; wherein the device would automatically detect the connecting device type and accordingly switch between different transmission paths, which would not only allow for support of data transfer between a host device and a slave device, but also can directly support data transfer between two host devices, and because the present invention device is designed to adhere to USB specification, so it is suitable for simple “plug and play”. Thus, the objective of conveniently bridging between a host device and any other device for data transfer is achieved. Further more, because the two connected devices would be transferring data directly, it will attend high transfer efficiency.
In order to achieve the object described supra, a solution is proposed according to the present invention, by providing a data transmission bridge device for transmitting data, which adopts USB specification for data transfer; which includes: a first connection interface, a second connection interface, and a control chip. Wherein, the first connection interface is for connecting to a first host device, and the second connection interface is for connecting to a second host device or a slave device. Also, the control chip connects with the first connection interface and the second connection interface, and furthermore includes two transmission paths; the control chip is for detecting the device connected with the second connection interface, and accordingly decide on one of the two transmission paths to use for the data transmission between the first connection interface and the second connection interface.
In order to achieve the object described supra, a solution is proposed according to the present invention, by providing a control chip for a data transmission bridge device for transmitting data, the bridge device include a first connection interface and a second connection interface, and the control chip includes: a first USB controller, a second USB controller, a bypass circuit unit, a detection unit, and a CPU. Wherein, the first USB controller connects to the first connection interface, and connects with the first host device through the first connection interface for data transmission. The second USB controller connects with the first USB controller and the second connection interface, and when the second connection interface is connected to a second host device, the second USB controller would also connect with the second host device through the second connection interface, thus forming a bridge for data transfer between the second host device and the first USB controller. The bypass circuit unit connects with the second connection interface, and when the second connection interface connects with a slave device, the bypass circuit unit will directly connect the first USB controller and the second connection interface, in order to provide host-slave operation between the first host device and the slave device. Furthermore, the detection unit will automatically operate to switch between a virtual host state and a virtual slave state, wherein the states are used to determine the type of device connected with the second connection interface, and a detection signal is produced accordingly, and the detection signal will be received by the CPU, and the CPU will accordingly control the second USB controller (host to host data transfer) or the bypass circuit unit (host to slave data transfer) for the appropriate operation.
In order to allow further understandings of the features and technical contents provided by the present invention, references are made to the following detailed descriptions and appended drawings; wherein the appended drawings are merely employed to present the references and illustrations of the present invention, not for imposing any restriction thereon.
The present Invention designed a data transmission bridge device for transmitting data between two devices (host-host or host-slave) through simple hardware structure, the main feature is the provision of two different transmission paths, so that by automatically detecting the type of device connected (host or slave) the present invention can switch to the proper transmission path, thus not only can host-slave operation between the host device and the slave device be supported, but direct bridging between two host device for data transfer is also possible. Further more the present invention adheres to USB specification by design, so that “plug and play” works properly. Thus the goal of allowing users to conveniently bridge between a host device and any other device (host or slave) for data transfer is achieved.
Please reference
Control chip 13 connects the first connection interface 11 and the second connection interface 12, and the control chip 13 includes two transmission paths (
Furthermore, the above mentioned two transmission paths included in control chip 13 can be a bridge transmission path or a bypass path. The control chip 13 will automatically and periodically switch the second connection interface 12 to a virtual host state and a virtual slave state, wherein the states are used to determine whether the type of device connected with the second connection interface 12 is the second host device 3 or the slave device 4, so that the control chip 13 can respectively switch to the bridge transmission path or the bypass path.
For those skilled in the art of USB devices it is common knowledge that normally when a USB device is connected (i.e. a host-slave device connection), the associated slave device produces an inquire signal to the associated host device, and the connection is established once the host device has responded to the inquire signal. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the first connection interface 11 is connected to the first host device 2, the control chip 13 will produce an inquire signal to the first host device 2 and wait for the first host device 2 to response, then the control chip will complete the connection between the first connection interface 11 and the first host device 2.
Similarly, when a current user is connecting the second host device 3 with the second connection interface 12, and the control chip 13 is switched to the virtual slave device state for the second connection interface 12, there will also be an inquire signal produced by the control chip 13 to the second host device 3, then once the second host device 3 responses, by the response confirmation can be made that the device connected to the second connection interface 12 is also a host, so that the control chip 13 will switch the transmission path to the bridge transmission path, in order to successfully complete the bridging between the first host device 2 and the second host device 3, so that data transfer can proceed between the two host devices.
On the other hand, when a user connects a slave device 4 to the second connection interface 12 (as suppose to the host device 3 as described above), and the control chip 13 is switched to the virtual host state for the second connection interface 12, the control chip 13 will determine if it has received a inquire signal produced by the slave device 4, and if such an inquire signal is received, then the device currently connected to the second interface 12 is determined to be a slave device, so the control chip 13 will switch the transmission path to the bypass path. Then the data transmission bridge device 1 merely acts with intermediate transmission function (similar to the commonly known USB HUB function), thus the present invention can directly provide host-slave operation between the first host device 2 and the slave device 4.
Lastly, the memory unit 14 of data transmission bridge device 1 is connected with the control chip 13, used for saving the required program or data needed by the control chip 13 while operating. In practical design, the memory unit 14 can be combined within the control chip 13. The present embodiment disclosed a structure of a data transmission bridge device 1 which by automatic detection switching can achieve the support of host-slave operation of a host device to a slave device, and also support the bridging of transmission between two host devices.
Please reference
Of course, the connector type of the second connection interface 12 (A-Type male connector) is not limited to what is shown in the present embodiment. In practical design, the second connection interface 12 can also directly adopt an A-Type male connector and a B-Type male connector of USB specification to achieve dual connector type design. Or, the second connection interface 12 can also adopt a B-Type male connector, then pair with an adapter to acquire an A-Type male connector of USB specification. Further, other combinations and other connector types are too numerous to list, but those connector types covered under USB specification is all within the scope of the present invention.
Please refer to
The second connection interface 12 of
In order to further explain the technique and content of the present invention in detail, please reference the explanation regarding the embodiment below.
Please reference
The first USB controller 131 connects to the first connection interface 11 of the data transmission bridge device 1, such that when the first connection interface 11 is connected with a first host device 2, an inquire signal is produced for the first host device 2, and the first USB controller 131 wait for a response from the first host device 2, then complete the connection between the first connection interface 11 and the first host device 2, so that data transmission can proceed.
The second USB controller 132 couples to the first USB controller 132 and connects to the second connection interface 12 of the data transmission bridge device 1, such that when the second connection interface 12 is connected with a second host device 3, an inquire signal is produced for the second host device 3, then the second USB controller 132 complete the connection between the second connection interface 12 and the second host device 3, so that data transmission can proceed, thus the second USB controller 132 coupled with the first USB controller 131 forms a transmission bridge.
The bypass circuit unit 133 is connected between the first USB controller 131 and the second connection interface 12, such that when the second connection interface 12 is connected with a slave device 4, a direct connection between the first USB controller 131 and the second connection interface 12 can be made, so that the first USB controller 131 can response to an inquire signal produced by the slave device 4, and thus the first host device 2 and the slave device 4 can proceed with various host-slave device operations.
The Detection unit 134 is also connected to the second connection interface 12, and the detection unit 134 will automatically operate to switch between a virtual host state and a virtual slave state, wherein the states are used to determine the type of device currently connected with the second connection interface 12, and a detection signal (bridging detection signal or slave detection signal) is produced accordingly. On the other hand, the CPU 135 is for receiving the detection signal, and then according to the detection signal controls the operation of either the second USB controller 132 or the bypass circuit unit 133.
Therein, when the detection unit 134 switches to the virtual slave state, the detection unit 134 will produce an inquire signal to the device connected to the second connection interface 12, and after acquiring a response from the device connected to the second connection interface 12, the detection unit 134 will produce a bridging detection signal, which causes the CPU 135 to activate the second USB controller 132 for operation according to the bridging detection signal, and thus the connection between the second USB controller 132 and the first USB controller 131 is achieved.
On the other hand, when the detection unit 134 switches to the virtual host state, and also has received an inquire signal produced by the device connected to the second connection interface 12, the detection unit 134 will produce a slave detection signal, which causes the CPU 135 to activate the bypass circuit unit 133 for operation according to the slave detection signal. In other words, when the CPU 135 activates bypass circuit unit 133 for operation, the only controller inside the control chip 13 that is operational is the first USB controller 131, and the control chip 13 at this time functions like a USB Hub chip, merely acting with intermediate transmission function.
Furthermore the buffer unit 136 can connected between the first USB controller 131 and the second USB controller 132, for buffering and storing temporary data that passes between the two controllers. This way, data loss between the data transfer of first host device 2 and the second host device 3 can be avoided. As described above, the structural design of the control chip 13 is thus complete.
Please reference
Next, switch to a virtual slave state, in order to produce an inquire signal to the external device (S603), and then determine if there is a response from the external device (S605). If at step (S605) the answer is yes regarding the receiving of the external device response, then it is determined that the external device is a second host device 3 (S607), and at this time switch to a bridge transmission path, so that connection between the first host device 2 and the second host device 3 can complete (S609). Finally, through the bridge transmission path the first host device 2 and the second host device 3 are bridged and data transmission can proceed (S611). At the same time that bridged transmission is occurring, a further step of checking whether the user has exchanged for other external device would occur constantly (S613), if it is determined that there are no exchange for other external device, the bridged transmission of data between the first host device 2 and the second host device 3 will continue; however if the user has exchanged for other external device, then return to step (S603).
However if at (S605) the answer is no regarding the receiving of the external device response, then it is determined that the external device is not a host type device. Therefore, an automatic switch to virtual host state will occur (S615), and then further determine if there is an inquire signal from the external device (S617). At this time, if the answer is yes regarding the receiving of the external device inquire signal, then it is determined that the external device is a slave device 4 (S619), and a switch to a bypass path would occur (S621), so that through the connection established by the bypass path, the first host device 2 and the slave device 4 can directly proceed with host-slave operation (S623). Of course, after step (S623), there would be a step of checking whether the user has exchanged for other external device (S625) that is similar to the previous described step (S613), if it is determined that there are no exchange for other external device, the host-slave operation between the first host device 2 and the save device 4 will continue; however if the user has exchanged for other external device, then return to step (S603).
Additionally, if at the above described step (S617) the answer is no regarding the receiving of the external device inquire signal, thus it is determined that the external device is not a slave device, then return to step (S603), so that a switch can be made to virtual slave state, and the detection/determination of the external device type would continue. Thus, through the automatic switching between virtual slave state and virtual host state, a detection of whether the type of external device is the second host device 3 or slave device 4 can be made, which in turn the proper transmission path can be switched to accordingly, so that the data transmission between the first host device 2 and the external device is achieved.
As per described above, the present invention designed a data transmission bridge device, which by automatically detecting the type of connected device to switch between the proper transmission path, can not only support data transmission between a host device and a slave device, but can also directly support data transmission between two host devices, and because the design adheres to USB specification, so there is also the convenient “plug and play” characteristic. Thus, the objective of conveniently bridging between a host device and any other device for data transfer is achieved. Further more, because the two connected device would be transferring data directly, the design will attend high transfer efficiency.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97115553 | Apr 2008 | TW | national |
