Patent Publication Number: US-2009228613-A1

Title: Host and method for terminating data transmission

Description:
BACKGROUND  
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure is related to data transmission, and particularly to a method for terminating data transmission. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Most peripheral devices are detachably connected to the host. The peripheral devices may be attached to the host via universal serial bus (USB) connectors, 1394 connectors, and other serial and parallel connectors. The host may be, but are not limited to, desktop computers, notebook computers and personal digital assistants. The USB connector is one of the most popular connector because of its excellent performances and its plug-and-play capability. A USB connector includes a USB port and a USB plug detachably coupled to the port. The USB port is often mounted on the host, and the USB plug is often connected to the peripheral device via a cable. 
     Before a user attempts to detach a USB connector, the user usually needs to alert the operating system of the host because if a user unplugs the connection during data transmission, data loss or damage to the host may occur. However, alerting the operating system is tedious and time consuming, the user may have to go through a predetermined process and/or may have to wait until the operating system finish other tasks. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a host and method for terminating data transmission between the host and the peripheral device to overcome the described limitations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a host connected to a peripheral device via connectors thereof. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of showing partial functional modules of the host in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a window showing functional buttons for terminating data transmission through the connectors and closing the window. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a first embodiment of a method for terminating data transmission through the connectors. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a method for terminating data transmission through the connectors. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     All of the data-terminating processes described hereinafter may be embodied in, and fully automated via, functional code modules executed by one or more general purpose computers or processors. The code modules may be stored in any type of computer-readable mediums or other storage devices. Some or all of the data-terminating processes may alternatively be embodied in specialized computer hardware or electrical apparatus. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a host  100  connected to a peripheral device  600  via connectors  10  thereof. The host  100  includes a housing  60  and two connectors  10  mounted on the housing  60 . The peripheral device  600  is detachably connected to the host  100  via one of the two connectors  10 . The two connectors  10  are, for example, universal serial bus (USB) connectors each of which includes a USB port and a USB plug detachably coupled to the USB port. The USB port is mounted on the housing  60  and the USB plug is connected to the peripheral device  600  via a cable. The host  100  is a desktop computer, but may alternatively be other host with a USB interface. 
     The host  100  further includes two sensors  20  each of which is for one of the two connectors  10 . Each of the two sensors  20  is configured for detecting a desired object near corresponding to one of the two connectors  10 , and generating a sensor signal when presence of the desired object is ascertained. The two sensors  20  are set apart from each other at a great distance in order to prevent from inadvertently activating unwanted one of the two sensors  20 . As an illustration, each of the two sensors  20  is mounted adjacent to one of the two connectors  10 . Thus, when a user stretches out his/her hand to detach the USB plug from the USB port, the sensors  20  may ascertain the desired object (i.e., the hand of the user) and generate the sensor signal. Depending on the embodiments, the two sensors  20  may be, but is not limited to, infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, heat sensitive sensors, or touch sensitive sensors. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing partial functional modules of the host  100  in  FIG. 1 . The host  100  includes the two connectors  10 , the two sensors  20 , a transmission control unit  30 , a processor  40 , and an interface controller  50 . The interface controller  50  is used for controlling data transmission through the two connectors  10 . The transmission control unit  30  is configured for monitoring the two sensors  20 , and controlling the interface controller  50  to terminate the data transmission through one of the two connectors  10  on receiving the sensor signal generated by one of the two sensors  20  corresponding to the one of the two connectors  10 . 
     The transmission control unit  30  includes a sensor control module  32 , a monitoring module  34 , and a termination module  36 . The modules  32 ,  34 , and  36  may execute one or more operations for the host  100 . Additionally, the host  100  may comprise one or more specialized or general purpose processors, such as the processor  40  for executing the modules  32 ,  34 , and  36 . 
     The sensor control module  32  is configured for monitoring electrical connections of the two connectors  10 , and for enabling one of the two sensors  20  to detect the desired object near the one of the two sensors  20  during existence of the electrical connection of one of the two connectors  10  corresponding to the one of the two sensors  20 . For example, the sensor control module  32  detects voltage changes of the two connectors  10  to ascertain establishment, existence, or disconnection of the electrical connections. 
     The monitoring module  34  is configured for monitoring the sensors  20 , on receiving the sensor signal generated by one or two of the two sensors  20 , the monitor module  34  generates a termination command. 
     The termination module  36  is configured for controlling the interface controller  50  to terminate the data transmission through one or two of the two connectors  10  in response to the termination command. 
     The termination module  36  may further provide instructions to the operating system and/or other software applications of the host  100 , thereby the host  100  outputs notification of the termination of the data transmission through the one or two of the connectors  10 . Depending on the embodiments, notification of the termination of the data transmission may be accomplished by, but is not limited to, a text dialog box, audio and/or video notification. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the host  100  includes only one sensor  20  for detecting a desired object near the two connectors  10 . Accordingly, the monitoring module  34  is further configured for outputting a window  62  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) on receiving a sensor signal generated by the sensor  20 . The user can thus selects whether to terminate the data transmission or not to terminate. The window  62  shows icons of the two connectors  10 , status marks  63 , and functional buttons  64 ,  66  and  68 . The status marks  63  denote electrical connection status (i.e., “connection” or “no connection”) of the two connectors  10 . When the functional buttons  64  and  66  named “TERMINATION” are “clicked” or activated by the user, the data transmission of the two connectors  10  are terminated. The functional button  68  named “CLOSE” is used to close the window  62 . 
     The termination module  36  is further configured for controlling the interface controller  50  to terminate the data transmission through one or two of the two connectors  10  in response to corresponding termination actions of the user in the window  62 . For example, the termination actions may be such actions of the user clicking the “TERMINATION” buttons  64  and/or  66  when the user wants to terminate the data transmission through one or two of the two connectors  10 , or the user clicking the “CLOSE” button  68  only when the sensor  20  is inadvertently activated. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a first embodiment of a method for terminating the data transmission through the connectors  10 . Additional steps may be added or deleted and steps may be executed in a different order than that described without deviating from the spirit of the disclosure. 
     In step S 401 , the sensor control module  32  monitors the electrical connections of the connectors  10 . For example, the sensor control module  32  detects voltage changes of the connectors  10  to ascertain establishment, existence, or disconnection of the electrical connections. 
     In step S 402 , the sensor control module  32  further enables one of the sensors  20  to detect the desired object near the one of the sensors  20  during the existence of the electrical connection of one of the connectors  10  corresponding to the one of the sensors  20 . 
     In step S 403 , the monitoring module  34  monitors the sensors  20 . 
     In step S 404 , the monitoring module  34  generates a termination command on receiving a sensor signal generated by one of the sensors  20 . 
     In step S 405 , the termination module  36  controls the interface controller  50  to terminate the data transmission through one of the connectors  10  corresponding to the one of the sensors  20  in response to the termination command. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a method for terminating the data transmission through the connectors  10 . Additional steps may be added or deleted and steps may be executed in a different order than that described without deviating from the spirit of the disclosure. 
     In step S 501 , the sensor control module  32  monitors the electrical connections of the connectors  10 . 
     In step S 502 , the sensor control module  32  further enables the sensor  20  to detect the desired object near the sensor  20  during the existence of one or more of the electrical connections. 
     In step S 503 , the monitoring module  34  monitors the sensor  20 . 
     In step S 504 , on receiving the sensor signal generated by the sensor  20 , the monitoring module  34  outputs the window  62  to the user. The user can thus selects whether to terminate the data transmission through one or more of the connectors  10  or not to terminate. 
     In step S 505 , the termination module  36  controls the interface controller  50  to terminate the data transmission through one or more of the connectors  10  or only closes the window  62  in response to corresponding termination actions of the user in the window  62 . For example, the termination module  36  controls the interface controller  50  to terminate the data transmission through the connector “A” if the user clicks the “TERMINATION” button  66  in the window  62 , and only closes the window  62 , without terminating data transmission through the connectors  10 , if the user clicks the “CLOSE” button  68  in the window  62 . 
     Utilizing above mentioned method, the operating system of the host can be automatically alerted to terminate the data transmission through the connectors before the user attempts to detach the connectors. Thus, alerting the operating system is convenient and time saving, the user needs not to go through complicated predetermined process and/or needs not wait until the operating system finish other task. In addition, data loss or damage to the host or peripheral device can be prevented. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described inventive embodiments are merely possible examples of implementations, and set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described inventive embodiments without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the above-described inventive embodiments, and the present disclosure is protected by the following claims.