Glossary
communication to/from the host. Hub specific status and control commands permit the host to
configure a hub and to monitor and control its ports.
Device
A logical or physical entity that performs a function. The actual entity described depends on the
context of the reference. At the lowest level, device may refer to a single hardware component, as
in a memory device. At a higher level, it may refer to a collection of hardware components that
perform a particular function, such as a Universal Serial Bus interface device. At an even higher
level, device may refer to the function performed by an entity attached to the Universal Serial Bus;
for example, a data/FAX modem device. Devices may be physical, electrical, addressable, and
logical.
Downstream
The direction of data flow from the host or away from the host. A downstream port is the port on a
hub electrically farthest from the host that generates downstream data traffic from the hub.
Downstream ports receive upstream data traffic.
Upstream
The direction of data flow towards the host. An upstream port is the port on a device electrically
closest to the host that generates upstream data traffic from the hub. Upstream ports receive
downstream data traffic.
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