Dual port usb interface

Abstract

A dual port interface is disclosed comprising a host port and a peripheral port. The host port and the peripheral port are defined using predetermined signals. In a preferred embodiment the dual port interface is used in a network comprising one or more dual port USB (DPUSB) connections. By use of the DPUSB interface, both one-to-one and one-to-many network topologies can be created. Use of the DPUSB interface also provides the opportunity of new types of devices such as memory cards and cables that will greatly increase the ease of use of many intelligent electronic devices such as cameras and PDAs.

1 . A single I/O interface comprising:
 a host port; and   a peripheral port, wherein the host port and the peripheral port are defined using predetermined signals.   
   
   
       2 . The interface of  claim 1  wherein the host and peripheral ports are USB ports. 
   
   
       3 . The interface of  claim 1  wherein two connected devices can have a peer-to-peer connection via the host port and peripheral port. 
   
   
       4 . The interface of  claim 1  wherein two connected devices can have a one-to-many relationship via the host port and peripheral port. 
   
   
       5 . The interface of  claim 1  wherein a device only needs one physical I/O port via the connector. 
   
   
       6 . The interface of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined signals comprise host differential data lines and peripheral differential data lines. 
   
   
       7 . A USB network comprising:
 a first device; the first device including a single I/O interface, the interface including a host port; and a peripheral port wherein the host port and the peripheral port are defined using predetermined signals; and   a second device for communicating with the first device, the second device using the predetermined signals.   
   
   
       8 . The USB network of  claim 7  wherein the predetermined signals are within a standard. 
   
   
       9 . The USB network of  claim 8  wherein the standard comprises the universal serial bus (USB) standard. 
   
   
       10 . The USB network of  claim 9  wherein the first and second devices can be any of a camera, computer, personal digital assistant, laptop device, handheld device, printer, and cellular telephone. 
   
   
       11 . The USB network of  claim 7  wherein the predetermined signals comprise host differential data lines and peripheral differential data lines. 
   
   
       12 . A device comprising:
 a processor; and   a single I/O interface coupled to the processor, the connector comprising a   host port; and a peripheral port, wherein the host port and the peripheral port are defined using predetermined signals.   
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the single I/O interface requires a connection to only one physical I/O port if the device is coupled to a device with a connector that includes a host port and a peripheral port which are defined using the predetermined signals. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the predetermined signals comprise host differential data lines and peripheral differential data lines.