Extended usb protocol connector and socket for implementing multi-mode communication

Abstract

Host computers and peripheral devices communicating through extended USB connectors and plugs are disclosed. The host computer and peripheral device are capable of communicating via multiple communication modes, using the extended capability of the extended USB connectors and plugs. Software and hardware to facilitate such communication are also disclosed.

1 - 58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 . A host computer, comprising: 
 a host processor;    a set of protocol processors having at least a first protocol processor and a second protocol processor, said set of protocol processors being operatively coupled to communicate with said host processor, said first protocol processor being configured to process a first protocol and said second protocol processor being configured to process a second protocol different from said first protocol; and    an extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) socket configured to facilitate communication between said host processor and an external device configured to be detachably coupled with said extended USB socket, including 
 an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of an industry-standard Series A USB socket, said length of said cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket being about 9 mm;  
 a plurality of USB socket contacts arranged in a first socket-pin row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB socket, said plurality of USB socket contacts being disposed in said cavity and configured to carry USB signals; and  
 a plurality of non-USB socket contacts arranged in a second socket-pin row parallel to said first socket-pin row, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being configured to carry non-USB signals;  
   wherein said extended USB socket is configured to be mechanically and electrically compatible with both an industry-standard Series A USB connector and an extended USB connector, said extended USB connector including an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB connector, said length of said pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB connector being about 12 mm, and a plurality of USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a first connector-pin row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB connector, said plurality of USB connector contacts being configured to carry said USB signals, and a plurality of non-USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a second connector-pin row parallel to said first connector-pin row, said plurality of non-USB connector contacts being configured to carry said non-USB signals, and wherein when said extended USB socket couples with said industry-standard Series A USB connector, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts are configured such that said plurality of non-USB socket contacts do not electrically contact either USB pins in said industry-standard Series A USB connector or a metal cover of said industry-standard Series A USB connector, and wherein said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being disposed in a position that is on an opposite substrate side relative to said plurality of USB socket contacts, thereby preventing said plurality of non-USB socket contacts from electrically coupling with said plurality of USB connector contacts configured to carry said USB signals in said industry-standard Series A USB connector when said industry-standard Series A USB connector is fully inserted into said extended USB socket.    
   
   
       60 . The host computer of  claim 59  wherein said first protocol is USB, said first protocol processor receives communication from said external device when said external device communicates in said first protocol irrespective whether said external device employs said industry-standard Series A USB connector or said extended USB connector.  
   
   
       61 . The host computer of  claim 59  further comprising a multi-personality bus switch operatively coupled to said plurality of non-USB socket contacts and said second protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit said non-USB signals received via said plurality of non-USB socket contacts to said second protocol processor if said external device communicates using said second protocol, said second protocol represents one of PCI-EX, SATA, SAS, and 1394.  
   
   
       62 . The host computer of  claim 61  wherein said set of protocol processors further includes a third protocol processor operatively coupled to communicate with said host processor, said third protocol processor being configured to process a third protocol different from said first protocol and said second protocol, said third protocol represents another one of said PCI-EX, said SATA, and SAS, and said 1394, said multi-personality bus switch being coupled with said third protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit said non-USB signals received via said plurality of non-USB socket contacts to said third protocol processor if said external device communicates using said third protocol.  
   
   
       63 . The host computer of  claim 61  wherein said first socket-pin row is disposed on a first interior wall of said extended cavity and said second socket-pin row is disposed on at least one of said first interior wall of said extended cavity and a second interior wall of said extended cavity that is opposite said first interior wall, wherein said first socket-pin row consists of four pins and said second socket-pin row consists of at least one of 8 pins and 6 pins.  
   
   
       64 . The host computer of  claim 62  further comprising a software personality selector circuit coupled to said multi-personality bus switch, said software personality selector circuit being configured to configure said multi-personality bus switch, responsive to said host computer receiving said non-USB signals, to employ one of said second protocol processor or said third protocol processor for communication, said non-USB signals are configured to be analyzed by said host processor to ascertain a personality of said external device, a result of an analysis of said non-USB signals enabling said software personality selector circuit to configure said multi-personality bus switch for said communication.  
   
   
       65 . A method for facilitating communication with a peripheral device, comprising: 
 providing a host computer including 
 providing a host processor;  
 providing a set of protocol processors having at least a first protocol processor and a second protocol processor, said set of protocol processors being operatively coupled to communicate with said host processor, said first protocol processor being configured to process a first protocol and said second protocol processor being configured to process a second protocol different from said first protocol; and  
 providing an extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) socket configured to facilitate communication between said host processor and an external device configured to be detachably coupled with said extended USB socket, said extended USB socket including 
 an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of an industry-standard Series A USB socket, said length of said cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket being about 9 mm;  
 a plurality of USB socket contacts arranged in a first socket-pin row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB socket, said plurality of USB socket contacts being disposed in said cavity and configured to carry USB signals; and  
 a plurality of non-USB socket contacts arranged in a second socket-pin row parallel to said first socket-pin row, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being configured to carry non-USB signals;  
 
   wherein said extended USB socket is configured to be mechanically and electrically compatible with both an industry-standard Series A USB connector and an extended USB connector, said extended USB connector including an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB connector, said length of said pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB connector being about 12 mm, and a plurality of USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a first connector-pin row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB connector, said plurality of USB connector contacts being configured to carry said USB signals, and a plurality of non-USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a second connector-pin row parallel to said first connector-pin row, said plurality of non-USB connector contacts being configured to carry said non-USB signals, and wherein when said extended USB socket couples with said industry-standard Series A USB connector, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts are configured such that said plurality of non-USB socket contacts do not electrically contact either USB pins in said industry-standard Series A USB connector or a metal cover of said industry-standard Series A USB connector, and wherein said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being disposed in a position that is on an opposite substrate side relative to said plurality of USB socket contacts, thereby preventing said plurality of non-USB socket contacts from electrically coupling with said plurality of USB connector contacts configured to carry said USB signals in said industry-standard Series A USB connector when said industry-standard Series A USB connector is fully inserted into said extended USB socket.    
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 65  further comprising: 
 providing a multi-personality bus switch operatively coupled to said plurality of non-USB socket contacts and said second protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit said non-USB signals received via said plurality of non-USB socket contacts to said second protocol processor if said external device communicates using said second protocol.    
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66  wherein said first protocol is USB and said second protocol represents a non-USB protocol including one of PCI-EX, SATA, SAS, and 1394.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising: 
 sending a USB reset command from said host computer to said peripheral device;    sending a USB read status command from said host computer to said peripheral device;    receiving status information from said peripheral device;    examining, using said host processor, whether there exists mode identification data indicating that said peripheral device support said non-USB protocol;    instructing, if said mode identification data indicates that said peripheral device supports said non-USB protocol, said peripheral device to initiate communication using said non-USB protocol;    receiving ready status data from said peripheral device responsive to said instructing said peripheral device to initiate said communication using said non-USB protocol;    employing, if said ready status data indicates that said peripheral device is ready to communicate using said non-USB protocol, said second protocol processor to communicate with said peripheral device using said non-USB protocol; and    performing, is said ready status data fails to indicate that said peripheral device is ready to communicate using said non-USB protocol, one of communicating using USB protocol and attempting to enable said peripheral device to communicate in said non-USB protocol.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 67  wherein said first socket-pin row is disposed on a first interior wall of said extended cavity and said second socket-pin row is disposed on at least one of said first interior wall of said extended cavity and a second interior wall of said extended cavity that is opposite said first interior wall.  
   
   
       70 . A peripheral device, comprising: 
 a device processor;    a set of protocol processors having at least a first protocol processor and a second protocol processor, said set of protocol processors being operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said first protocol processor being configured to process a first protocol and said second protocol processor being configured to process a second protocol different from said first protocol; and    an extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector configured to facilitate communication between said device processor and a host computer configured to be detachably coupled with said extended USB connector, including 
 an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of an industry-standard Series A USB connector, said length of said pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB connector being about 12 mm;  
 a plurality of USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a first connector-pin row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB connector, said plurality of USB connector contacts being configured to carry USB signals; and  
 a plurality of non-USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a second connector-pin row parallel to said first connector-pin row, said plurality of non-USB connector contacts being configured to carry non-USB signals;  
   wherein said extended USB connector is configured to mechanically and electrically compatible with both an industry-standard Series A USB socket and an extended USB socket, said extended USB socket including an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket, said length of said cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket being about 9 mm, and a plurality of USB socket contacts arranged in a first socket-pin row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB socket, said plurality of USB socket contacts being disposed in said cavity and configured to carry said USB signals, and a plurality of non-USB socket contacts arranged in a second socket-pin row parallel to said first socket-pin row, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being configured to carry said non-USB signals, and wherein when said extended USB connector couples with said industry-standard Series A USB socket, said plurality of non-USB connector contacts are configured such that said plurality of non-USB connector contacts do not electrically contact either USB pins in said industry-standard Series A USB socket or a metal cover of said industry-standard Series A USB socket, and wherein said plurality of non-USB connector contacts being disposed in a position that is on an opposite substrate side relative to said plurality of USB connector contacts, thereby preventing said plurality of non-USB connector contacts from electrically coupling with said plurality of USB socket contacts configured to carry said USB signals in said industry-standard Series A USB socket when said extended USB connector is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket.    
   
   
       71 . The peripheral device of  claim 70  wherein said first protocol is USB, said first protocol processor receives communication from said host computer when said host computer communicates in said first protocol irrespective whether a external device employs said industry-standard Series A USB socket or said extended USB socket.  
   
   
       72 . The peripheral device of  claim 70  further comprising a multi-personality bus switch operatively coupled to said plurality of non-USB connector contacts and said second protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit said non-USB signals received via said plurality of non-USB connector contacts to said second protocol processor if said host computer communicates using said second protocol, said second protocol represents one of PCI-EX, SATA, SAS, and 1394.  
   
   
       73 . The peripheral device of  claim 72  wherein said set of protocol processors further includes a third protocol processor operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said third protocol processor being configured to process a third protocol different from said first protocol and said second protocol, said third protocol represents another one of said PCI-EX, said SATA, said SAS, and said 1394, said multi-personality bus switch being coupled with said third protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit said non-USB signals received via said plurality of non-USB connector contacts to said third protocol processor if said host computer communicates using said third protocol, said non-USB signals are analyzed by said device processor to ascertain a personality of said host computer, a result of an analysis of said non-USB signals enabling a software personality selector circuit, which is coupled to said multi-personality bus switch, to configure said multi-personality bus switch to employ one of said second protocol processor or said third protocol processor for communication.  
   
   
       74 . The peripheral device of  claim 72  wherein said first connector-pin row is disposed on a first side of said extended pin substrate and said second connector-pin row is disposed on at least one of said first side of said extended pin substrate and a second side of said extended pin substrate that is opposite said first side of said extended pin substrate, wherein said first connector-pin row consists of four pins and said second connector-pin row consists at least one of 8 pins and 6 pins.  
   
   
       75 . The peripheral device of  claim 72  wherein said second connector-pin row is recessed below a surface of said extended pin substrate.  
   
   
       76 . The peripheral device of  claim 72  further comprising: 
 a mode light emitting diode (LED) for indicating which protocol is currently employed for communication by said peripheral device;    a reset circuit for resetting said peripheral device; and    a write-protect mechanism, said write-protect mechanism, when activated, prevents a user from inadvertently writing to said peripheral device.    
   
   
       77 . A method for facilitating communication with a host computer, comprising: 
 providing a peripheral device including 
 providing a device processor;  
 providing a set of protocol processors having at least a first protocol processor and a second protocol processor, said set of protocol processors being operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said first protocol processor being configured to process a first protocol and said second protocol processor being configured to process a second protocol different from said first protocol; and  
 providing an extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector configured to facilitate communication between said device processor and said host computer that is configured to be detachably coupled with said extended USB connector, said extended USB connector including 
 an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of an industry-standard Series A USB connector, said length of said pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB connector being about 12 mm;  
 a plurality of USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a first row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB connector, said plurality of USB connector contacts being configured to carry USB signals; and  
 a plurality of non-USB connector contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a second row parallel to said first row, said plurality of non-USB connector contacts being configured to carry non-USB signals;  
 
   wherein said extended USB connector is configured to mechanically and electrically compatible with both an industry-standard Series A USB socket and an extended USB socket, said extended USB socket including an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket, said length of said cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket being about 9 mm, and a plurality of USB socket contacts arranged in a first socket-pin row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB socket, said plurality of USB socket contacts being disposed in said cavity and configured to carry said USB signals, and a plurality of non-USB socket contacts arranged in a second socket-pin row parallel to said first socket-pin row, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being configured to carry said non-USB signals, and wherein when said extended USB connector couples with said industry-standard Series A USB socket, said plurality of non-USB connector contacts are configured such that said plurality of non-USB connector contacts do not electrically contact either USB pins in said industry-standard Series A USB socket or a metal cover of said industry-standard Series A USB socket, and wherein said plurality of non-USB connector contacts being disposed in a position that is on an opposite substrate side relative to said plurality of USB connector contacts, thereby preventing said plurality of non-USB connector contacts from electrically coupling with said plurality of USB socket contacts configured to carry said USB signals in said industry-standard Series A USB socket when said extended USB connector is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket.    
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 77  further comprising: 
 providing a multi-personality bus switch operatively coupled to said plurality of non-USB connector contacts and said second protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit said non-USB signals received via said plurality of non-USB connector contacts to said second protocol processor if said host computer communicates using said second protocol, wherein said first protocol is USB and said second protocol represents a non-USB protocol including one of PCI-EX, SATA, SAS, and 1394.    
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising: 
 receiving a USB reset command from said host computer;    receiving a USB read status command from said host computer; and    responding to said host computer with status information, including mode identification data indicating that said peripheral device supports said non-USB protocol.    
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising 
 receiving an extended mode enable command from said host computer, said extended mode enable command enabling said peripheral device to communicate in said non-USB protocol;    receiving a read status command from said host computer;    responding to said host computer with a ready status signal indicating to said host computer that said peripheral device could be communicating using said non-USB protocol and via said plurality of non-USB connector contacts;    configuring said multi-personality bus switch to enable said second protocol processor to be employed for communication using said non-USB protocol; and    initializing said peripheral device for said communication using said non-USB protocol.    
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 78  wherein a first connector-pin row is disposed on a first side of said extended pin substrate and a second connector-pin row are disposed on at least one of said first side of said extended pin substrate and a second side of said extended pin substrate that is opposite said first side, said second connector-pin row is recessed below a surface of said extended pin substrate, said first connector-pin row consists of four pins and said second connector-pin row consists of 6 pins.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising: 
 providing a mode light emitting diode (LED) for indicating which protocol is currently employed for communication by said peripheral device;    providing a reset circuit for resetting said peripheral device; and    providing a write-protect mechanism, said write-protect mechanism, when activated, prevents an unauthorized user from inadvertently writing to said peripheral device.