System for extending length of a connection to a USB device

Abstract

A system for extending in length a connection from a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device to a computer beyond the length enabled by the device hardware. The system includes: a USB host emulator, for polling the USB peripheral device according to a USB standard protocol, for receiving input provided by the USB peripheral device in response to the polling, for providing the input in a form suitable for transmission via a communications channel, such as serialized form for transmission via a copper or spread spectrum form for communication as a radiofrequency signal; the communications channel, having an input end and an output end, responsive to the input at the input end, for providing the input at the output end; a USB device emulator, responsive to the input at the output end of the communications channel, and further responsive to polling from the computer, and in response to the polling, for reforming the input into USB format and providing the USB formatted input to the computer according to a USB protocol.

1 . A system for providing an extended connection from a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device to a computer, the system comprising at least one USB host interface, said at least one USB host interface comprising: 
 an interconnection for exchanging report packets with the USB peripheral device according to a USB standard protocol;    an output for providing the report packets in a form suitable for transmission via a communications channel; -and    a USB transceiver, for bi-directionally coupling a logical interfacing module to the USB peripheral device and to allow receiving a report packet provided by the USB peripheral device, the USB transceiver for providing physical interfacing, according to a USB standard, of the attached USB device to the logical interfacing module.    
   
   
       2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one USB host interface further comprises: 
 the logical interface module, such as a field programmable gate array, for interfacing the USB transceiver to a control processor;    a control processor, for communicating with the USB peripheral device and for receiving a report packet provided by the USB peripheral device, and further for providing the report packet information in serialized form;    an output for applying the report packet information to a communications port; and    the communications port, for applying the report packet information received from the control processor to the communications channel.    
   
   
       3 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one USB device interface, said at least one USB device interface comprising: 
 a communications port, for receiving the report packet information received from the host interface through the communications channel and for communicating the report packet information to a control processor;    the control processor, for receiving and storing the report packet information and responsive to the host computer, for providing the report packet information in packetized format in response to the host computer.    
   
   
       4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the form suitable for transmission via the communications channel is a serialized form.  
   
   
       5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the form suitable for transmission via the communications channel is a form used for radiofrequency communications, such as a spread spectrum form.  
   
   
       6 . A system for providing an extended connection from a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device to a computer, the system comprising at least one USB host interface, said at least one USB host interface comprising: 
 an interconnection for exchanging report packets with the USB peripheral device according to a USB standard protocol;    an output for reforming the report packets in a form suitable for transmission via a communications channel; and    a communications port for applying the reformed report packets to a communications channel.    
   
   
       7 . A system for providing an extended connection from a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device to a computer, the system comprising at least one USB host interface, said at least one USB host interface comprising: 
 an interconnection for exchanging report packets with the USB peripheral device according to a USB standard protocol;    an output for providing the report packet information to a control processor, said control processor capable of receiving and storing the report packet information, and responsive to the host computer and for providing the report packet information to the host computer; and    a communications port, for communicating report packet information from the communications channel.    
   
   
       8 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein the form suitable for transmission via the communications channel is a serialized form.  
   
   
       9 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein the form suitable for transmission via the communications channel is a form used for radiofrequency communications, such as a spread spectrum form.  
   
   
       10 . A system as in  claim 7 , wherein the form suitable for transmission via the communications channel is a serialized form.  
   
   
       11 . A system as in  claim 7 , wherein the form suitable for transmission via the communications channel is a form used for radiofrequency communications, such as a spread spectrum form.  
   
   
       12 . A system for providing an extended connection from a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device to a computer, the system comprising: 
 at least one USB host interface comprising: 
 functionality for receiving and storing report packets provided by the USB peripheral device according to a USB standard protocol;  
 functionality for providing the report packets in a form suitable for transmission via a communications channel;  
   a USB transceiver, for bi-directionally coupling a logical interfacing module to the USB peripheral device and to allow receiving the report packet provided by the USB peripheral device, the USB transceiver for providing physical interfacing, according to a USB standard, of the attached USB device to the logical interfacing module; and    at least one USB device interface for receiving input from the communications channel and reforming said input and providing said input to the computer according to a USB protocol.    
   
   
       13 . A system as in  claim 12 , wherein the universal serial bus (USB) host interface further comprises: 
 the logical interface module, such as a field programmable gate array, for interfacing the USB transceiver to a control processor;    a control processor, for communicating with the USB peripheral device and for receiving a report packet provided by the USB peripheral device, and further for reforming the report packet information for the communications channel and applying the report packet information to a communications port; and    the communications port, for applying the report packet information received to the communications channel.    
   
   
       14 . A system as in  claim 12  wherein the universal serial bus (USB) device interface further comprises; 
 a communications port, for receiving the serialized report packet information from the the communications channel;    a serial interface for communicating the serialized report packet information to a control processor;    the control processor, for receiving and storing the serialized report packet information, responsive to the host computer, for providing the report packet information in packetized format in response to the host computer; and    the logical interfacing module, such as a field programmable gate array, for interfacing the control processor to the USB transceiver.    
   
   
       15 . A system for providing an extended connection from a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device to a computer, the system comprising: 
 functionality for USB emulation, including receiving report packets input from the USB peripheral device according to a USB standard protocol; and providing the input in a form suitable for transmission via a communications channel;    functionality for bi-directionally coupling a logical interfacing module to the USB peripheral device including receiving a report packet provided by the USB peripheral;    providing physical interfacing, according to a USB standard, of the attached USB device to the logical interfacing module; and    functionality for USB device emulation including receiving input from the communications channel and reforming said input and providing said input to the computer according to a USB protocol.