Patent ID: 7715433
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A universal controller for enabling data communication between external electronic devices using any of multiple communication protocols, the universal controller comprising: a bus translator connectable to a first external device and transceiving data thereto; a field interface connectable to a second external device and to a third external device; a protocol firmware module having a plurality of protocol drivers each corresponding to one of the multiple communication protocols and coupled to the field interface; a control interface coupled to the bus translator and the protocol firmware module; and a connector distribution module for customizing signal paths from the protocol firmware module to the field interface; whereby responsive to data received from the first external device, the bus translator specifies to the control interface a first protocol of the multiple communication protocols to enable the protocol firmware module to establish simultaneously data communication between (i) the first and second external devices and (ii) the first and third external devices using the protocol driver that corresponds to the first protocol, and to enable the connector distribution module to allocate simultaneously (i) signals communicated to the second external device among pins of a multi-pin connector according to a second protocol of the multiple communication protocols and (ii) signals communicated to the third external device among pins of another multi-pin connector according to a third protocol of the multiple communication protocols.