Patent ID: 7870319
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: G06F,H04W

Abstract:
1. A communication interface comprising: a USB port configured to be able to receive a data bus of an electronic device to be connected to the communication interface, the USB port including: wherein the first and second data lines form part of a common transmission path for enabling an electronic device connected to the USB port to be in communication with a further electronic device using either: a first data transmission mode, comprising single-ended asynchronous data transmission; or a second data transmission mode, comprising USB differential transmission of data; first communication circuitry configured to allow for communication between a connected electronic device and a further electronic device using said first data transmission mode; second communication circuitry configured to allow for communication between a connected electronic device and a further electronic device using said second data transmission mode; first detection circuitry configured to detect the data transmission mode status of a connected electronic device using the data transmission mode status line of the USB port; second detection circuitry configured to detect the power activity of a connected electronic device using the power Vbus line of the USB port; and switching circuitry configured to selectively connect the first or second communication circuitry to the common transmission path to allow for data transmission between a connected electronic device and a further electronic device in either the first or second data transmission mode using the same interface based on the first and second detection circuitries, wherein the switching circuitry is configured to selectively connect said first or second communication circuitry by: connecting the first or second communication circuitry, corresponding to the verified data transmission mode, to the first and second data lines of the common transmission path to allow for data transmission between the connected electronic device and a further electronic device in said verified data transmission mode using the same interface.