Patent ID: 7457325
Filing Date: 2008-11-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a target system comprising a target port the target port comprising a plurality of signal lines, the target port providing a communication channel to a target port device coupled to the target port and the plurality of signal lines used for communication with the target port device, a method of operating the target port to provide an additional independent communication channel, wherein the additional independent communication channel shares at least a portion of hardware otherwise associated with the target port, the method comprising steps for: indicating, using an out-of-band signal on one of the plurality of signal lines used to communicate with the target port device, that at least a portion of hardware used to communicate with the target port is being used to provide the additional independent communication channel for communicating data, the out-of-band signal being transmitted upon at least a portion of the at least a portion of hardware otherwise associated with the target port; and communicating through the additional independent communication channel such that signals for the additional independent communication channel and signals for the target port device share at least one of the plurality of signal lines for the communication with the target port device without interfering with communications with the target port device.