# US 10,311,004 B2 · Computing device interface connectors for peripheral component interconnect compliant devices and other devices

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- Number: US 10,311,004 B2
- Document ID: US10311004B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/161,843
- Filed: 2014-01-23
- Published: 2015-07-23
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-01-22
- Assignees: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
- Applicants: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
- Inventors: Warren D. Bailey; Gregory D. Sellman; Galan J. Willig
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311004B2

## CPC

- G06F 13/4027: {using bus bridges (G06F13/4022 takes precedence)}
- G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Computing device interface connectors for PCI compliant devices and other devices are disclosed. According to an aspect, an apparatus includes a PCI compliant device residing on a computing device. Further, the apparatus includes another device such as a network controller sideband interface (NCSI) compliant device residing on the computing device. The apparatus also includes an interface connector being communicatively connected to the PCI compliant device and the NCSI compliant device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
providing a computing device, the computing device comprising:
a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) compliant device;
a network controller sideband interface (NCSI) compliant device;
a port expander coupled to the interface connector; and
an interface connector, the interface connector includes two or more ground pins, wherein voltage is passed from the PCI compliant device and the NCSI compliant device to form a single interface;
communicatively connecting the interface connector to the PCI compliant device and the NCSI compliant device;
setting, by the port expander coupled to the interface connector, a value for a status register associated with the interface connector; and
communicating the value of the status register to the computing device,
wherein the value of the status register comprises an I/O register bit that specifies that a first thermal threshold has been met, a request for additional cooling without causing a warning level alert, a second thermal threshold has been met, and a computing device shutdown when the second thermal threshold has been met,
wherein the value of the status register being associated with a vital product data component that is communicatively connected to the interface connector of the apparatus; and
using the interface connector to connect the computing device to a network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory being communicatively connected to the interface connector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a PCI bus that communicatively connects the PCI compliant device to the interface connector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a NCSI bus that communicatively connects the NCSI compliant device to the interface connector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises primary and auxiliary power rails.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising powering the auxiliary power rail prior to powering the primary power rail.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the interface connector includes a pin for thermal monitoring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising signaling a thermal condition by use of the pin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the interface connector comprises a plurality of pins for communicatively connecting to at least one bus.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising using the at least one bus to communicate with the NCSI compliant device and the PCI compliant device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the interface connector includes one or more standby voltage pins.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising operating one of Wake on LAN (WoL) and Serial on LAN (SoL) on the one or more standby voltage pins.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a server communicatively connected to a network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the NCSI compliant device comprises a management controller.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the NCSI compliant device comprises a network controller.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the network controller comprises an Ethernet controller.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the interface connector comprises an Ethernet port.