Patent ID: 8156267

Claim:
A switching apparatus for controlling M peripheral apparatuses to communicate with N image input apparatuses, both M and N are positive integers, and the switching apparatus comprising: O first universal serial bus (USB) hubs, each of the first USB hubs providing at least a first port for connecting with the N image input apparatus respectively, O being a positive integer; P second USB hubs comprising at least a second port for connecting with the M peripheral apparatus respectively, P being a positive integer; a first controller for connecting at least one of the 0 first USB hubs and at least one of the P second USB hubs, for selecting at least one target image input apparatus from the N image input apparatus, and for controlling the at least one target image input apparatus to communicate with at least one target peripheral apparatus of the M peripheral apparatus; and a second controller connected with at least one of the P second USB hubs and the first controller, the second controller connecting with the at least one target peripheral apparatus via said second USB hub according to an assignment signal, such that the at least one target image input apparatus is capable of communicating with the at least one target peripheral apparatus.