Docking station supporting power inputs from a display

A method for providing power to a first Information Handling System (IHS) that is coupled to a docking station, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the docking station, a supply of DC power from an external power source;
• supplying DC power to the IHS via a docking port by which the IHS is coupled to the docking station;
• receiving video from the IHS via the docking port;
• detecting a connection from an external display at an I/O port of the docking station, wherein the I/O port receives a DC power input from the coupled external display;
• transmitting, via the I/O port, the video received from the IHS to the external display;
• and
• apportioning, by an embedded controller of the docking station, the DC power input received from the coupled external display between operations of the docking station and the DC power supplied to the IHS via the docking port, wherein, based on the apportionment by the controller, only the DC power input received from the coupled external display is used to power operations of the docking station and only the supply of DC power received from the external power source is routed to the IHS via the docking port.

A system comprising:

• an Information Handling System (IHS) coupled to a docking station, wherein the IHS is a laptop computer;
• and
• the docking station configured for providing power to the coupled IHS and further configured for providing the IHS with access to a plurality of I/O (Input/Output) devices coupled to the docking station, the docking station comprising:
• a power circuit receiving a supply of DC power from an external power source;
• a docking port used by the docking station to supply DC power to the IHS that is coupled to the docking station, wherein the docking port is also used to receive video from the IHS;
• an I/O port receiving a connection from an external display, wherein the I/O port receives a DC power input from the coupled external display, and wherein the I/O port also transmits the video from the IHS for display by the external display;
• and
• a controller configured to apportion the DC power input received from the coupled external display between operations of the docking station and the DC power supplied to the IHS via the docking port, wherein, based on the apportionment by the controller, only the DC power input received from the coupled external display is used to power operations of the docking station and only the supply of DC power received from the external power source is routed to the IHS via the docking port.