diff --git a/include/usbhost/usbhost.h b/include/usbhost/usbhost.h
index 04c494d..f7cc52e 100644
--- a/include/usbhost/usbhost.h
+++ b/include/usbhost/usbhost.h
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@
  */
 int usb_device_get_unique_id(struct usb_device *device);
 
+int usb_device_get_unique_id_from_name(const char* name);
+
 /* Returns the USB vendor ID from the device descriptor for the USB device */
 uint16_t usb_device_get_vendor_id(struct usb_device *device);
 
diff --git a/libusbhost/usbhost.c b/libusbhost/usbhost.c
index 613dbaa..98ccf7c 100644
--- a/libusbhost/usbhost.c
+++ b/libusbhost/usbhost.c
@@ -270,6 +270,13 @@
     return bus * 1000 + dev;
 }
 
+int usb_device_get_unique_id_from_name(const char* name)
+{
+    int bus = 0, dev = 0;
+    sscanf(name, USB_FS_ID_SCANNER, &bus, &dev);
+    return bus * 1000 + dev;
+}
+
 uint16_t usb_device_get_vendor_id(struct usb_device *device)
 {
     struct usb_device_descriptor* desc = (struct usb_device_descriptor*)device->desc;