Green Power USB Dock. (02-Feb-2010)
USB docks have many USB devices attached to them, as the dock is a USB hub (one in many out). Devices can include printers, scanners, backup drives, keyboard, mouse, etc. Every time you attach the USB dock cable to your notebook the notebook operating system will cause the dock to turn on every device, and then scan every device to load the correct drivers. The problem is printers and/or backup devices are used very infrequently. Turning on and scanning each time wastes time, causes noise (turning on a printer), and wastes electricity. Our solution only turns on frequently used devices (keyboard, mouse) and does not turn on infrequently used devices on USB cable attach, yet still allow infrequently used devices to work when needed.
Green Power
USB
Dock.The user creates a profile for the dock telling the dock
USB
controller whichUSB
ports to turn on during dock cable attach. EachUSB
connector is one port on theUSB
controller. Each port has an unique number. As an example, the dock may contain fourUSB
ports. Ports 1 and 3 are frequently used devices (mouse and keyboard). Ports 0 and 2 are infrequently used devices (backup drive and printer). The user would create a profile telling the dock to only power devices attached to ports 1 and 3. Now only the mouse and keyboard drivers are scanned and added to the operating system when the dock cable is attached to the notebook. Only when devices attached to the dock change will the profile need to be changed. We can also automate this process by running a setup program in the dock when a device is attached to the dock. The dock can then decide what is attached and make this decision byUSB
device class. Now we need a method to allow the user to use the infrequently used devices when needed. Here are some different methods. We can create a button/icon on the desktop for each infrequently used device. Selecting the icon will tell the dock to turn on the device allowing the OS to load the driver. The advantage of this approach is it adds zero complexity to the dock. The disadvantage is it requires a user action before the device can be used and has a delay while the driver is...
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