Universal docking station

A docking station for interfacing a plurality of peripherals to a physically remote portable computer having a CardBus interface, wherein the remote portable computer generates output signals for designated peripherals, and the peripheral devices generate input signals for the portable computer, the docking station comprising:

• a) a CardBus interface configured to communicate input and output signals with the CardBus interface of the portable computer;
• b) a circuit converting output signals generated by the portable computer CardBus interface into a form compatible with the designated peripherals;
• c) a circuit routing said converted signals to said designated peripherals;
• d) a circuit converting input signals generated by the peripheral devices into a form compatible with the portable computer CardBus interface;
• and
• e) a circuit prioritizing access by the input signals to said CardBus interface.

A method for interfacing a remote standard peripheral device to a portable computer via a CardBus interface, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) driving data to be written to the peripheral device on the CardBus interface;
• b) converting said output signals from said portable computer CardBus interface into a form compatible with said designated peripheral device;
• c) routing said converted signal to said designated peripheral device;
• and
• d) converting said input signal from the designated peripheral device into a form compatible with said portable computer CardBus interface.

A universal docking station for connecting a physically remote portable computer CardBus interface to a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein at least one of the peripheral devices is a user input device, at least one of the user input devices is capable of receiving a write command, and the portable computer is capable of writing data, the universal docking station comprising:

• a) a CardBus interface adapted to be coupled to the physically remote portable computer CardBus interface;
• b) peripheral control units adapted to be coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices;
• c) a docking station control unit coupled to the docking station CardBus interface and the peripheral control units;
• and
• d) wherein the docking station control unit selectively transfers data between the docking station CardBus interface and one of the peripheral control units.

A computer system, comprising:

• a) a portable computer having a PCMCIA interface, said portable computer capable of generating output signals for designated peripheral devices;
• b) a physically remote control unit interfacing with said portable computer PCMCIA interface;
• c) a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to said control unit, with at least one of said peripheral devices being a user input device capable of generating input signals, and
• d) said control unit comprising a circuit:
• i) converting said output signals from said portable computer PCMCIA interface into a form compatible with said designated peripheral device;
• ii) routing said converted signal to said designated peripheral device;
• iii) converting said input signal from the designated peripheral device into a form compatible with said portable computer CardBus interface;
• and
• iv) prioritizing access to said PCMCIA interface by said input signals.

A docking station for interfacing a plurality of peripherals to a physically remote portable computer having a PCMCIA interface, wherein the remote portable computer generates output signals for designated peripherals, and the peripheral devices generate input signals for the portable computer, the docking station comprising:

• a) a PCMCIA interface configured to communicate input and output signals with the PCMCIA interface of the portable computer;
• b) a circuit converting output signals generated by the portable computer PCMCIA interface into a form compatible with the designated peripherals;
• c) a circuit routing said converted signals to said designated peripherals;
• d) a circuit converting input signals generated by the peripheral devices into a form compatible with the portable computer PCMCIA interface;
• and
• e) a circuit prioritizing access by the input signals to said PCMCIA interface.

A method for interfacing a remote standard peripheral device to a portable computer via a PCMCIA interface, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) driving data to be written to the peripheral device on the PCMCIA interface;
• b) converting said output signals from said portable computer PCMCIA interface into a form compatible with said designated peripheral device;
• c) routing said converted signal to said designated peripheral device;
• and
• d) converting said input signal from the designated peripheral device into a form compatible with said portable computer PCMCIA interface.

A universal docking station for connecting a physically remote portable computer PCMCIA interface to a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein at least one of the peripheral devices is a user input device, at least one of the user input devices is capable of receiving a write command, and the portable computer is capable of writing data, the universal docking station comprising:

• a) a PCMCIA interface adapted to be coupled to the physically remote portable computer PCMCIA interface;
• b) peripheral control units adapted to be coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices;
• c) a docking station control unit coupled to the docking station PCMCIA interface and the peripheral control units;
• and
• d) wherein the docking station control unit selectively transfers data between the docking station PCMCIA interface and one of the peripheral control units.