Patent ID: 6816931
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An upstream peripheral device which can be used as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) host, wherein the upstream peripheral device is connected to an external host by a hub, wherein the hub can input data from the external host to the upstream peripheral device, and also output data from the upstream peripheral device to the external host, wherein the upstream peripheral device is connected between the external host and a downstream peripheral device via a USB, and wherein the upstream peripheral device comprises:an upstream peripheral component, which is connected to the hub so as to output data to the hub and receive data output from the hub, wherein the upstream peripheral component stores basic setting data of the upstream peripheral device; a virtual downstream peripheral component, which is connected to the hub so as to output data to the hub and receive data output from the hub, wherein the virtual downstream peripheral component stores basic setting data of the downstream peripheral device, and wherein the external host is allowed to retrieve the basic setting data of the downstream peripheral device from the virtual downstream peripheral component when the downstream peripheral device is enabled and connected to the upstream peripheral device; and an internal host, which is respectively connected to the upstream peripheral component, the virtual downstream peripheral component, and the downstream peripheral device, so as to output data from the downstream peripheral device to the virtual downstream peripheral component, and also output data respectively from the upstream peripheral component and the virtual downstream peripheral component to the downstream peripheral device; wherein operation of the downstream peripheral device is alternatively controlled by the external host and the upstream peripheral device, wherein when the external host serves as the USB host, the external host controls the downstream peripheral device through the hub, the virtual downstream peripheral component, and the internal host, and wherein when the upstream peripheral device serves as the USB host, the upstream peripheral device controls the downstream peripheral device through the internal host.