Patent ID: 8271697

Claim:
A system, comprising: a host; and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration, wherein: the chained configuration includes: a first device that is directly coupled to the host; a second device that is directly coupled to the first device and not directly coupled to the host, wherein the second device includes: a first input port and a first output port configured to change from a first state to a second state responsive to a first command from the host; and a second input port and a second output port configured to change from a first state to a second state responsive to a second command from the host; and a third device that is directly coupled to the second device and not directly coupled to the host; wherein at least one of the second and third device is configured to change from a first communication state to a second communication state responsive to receipt of a command from the host, wherein the first communication state is a low speed communication state and the second communication state is a high speed communication state.