| abstract |
An apparatus ( 301 ) for communication according to a Universal Serial Bus, USB, specification, comprising: a first USB device ( 301 ) and a second USB device ( 306 ) for connecting operatively to a first USB host and a second USB host, respectively; an audio interface stage ( 320 ) configured to interface with an audio component such as a headset; and audio controller ( 316 ). n The audio controller ( 316 ) is configured with: a first channel ( 327 ), channelling audio signals between the first USB device and the audio interface stage ( 320 ), and a second channel ( 328 ), channelling audio signals between the second USB device and the audio interface stage ( 320 ); wherein the audio controller ( 316 ) automatically switches between the first channel ( 327 ) and the second channel ( 328 ) while giving priority to audio signals on the first channel over audio signals on the second channel. n Thereby respective software programs, among which one requires priority access to the audio component, running on one hardware apparatus, such as a personal computer, or on separate hardware apparatuses can be operatively connected to respective USB devices while sharing one audio component and while giving one of the respective software programs priority access to the audio component. |