Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for coupling multiple computer peripherals to a computer system through a single I/O port is disclosed. The inventive apparatus includes an interface device having a first connector for coupling to the I/O interface of a computer system, a second connector for coupling a first computer peripheral to the I/O port and a third connector for coupling a second computer peripheral to the I/O port so that both peripherals are simultaneously coupled to the I/O port. Within the housing of the preferred embodiment of the interface device, control and data lines for receiving data associated with the I/O interface are coupled from the first connector to the third connector and control and data lines for transmitting data associated with the I/O interface are coupled from the first connector to the second connector. By separating the transmit and data functions of the I/O interface so they may be routed to separate connectors, computer peripherals of difference types, i.e., input and output, may be simultaneously coupled to the computer terminal. The device of the present invention may also be used to separate data functions having different hardware specifications and protocols supported by an I/O interface.

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First Claim