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AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsScott Swanstrom, Douglas D. Gephardt
Estimating the term…
A dockable computer system includes a portable computer (notebook or laptop) and a docking station (base unit). The portable computer and docking station both include a communication system so that messages can be communicated when the docking station is in an undocked state preparatory to a docked state. The communication system is preferably an infrared communication system. A communication protocol is also provided for generating an advance notice signal to warn of an impending dock. The communication protocol includes a CONNECT message, a CONNECT DETECTED message, and a CONFIRM message. Preferably, the CONNECT message is sent at a non-standard AT/PC baud rate. The communication system allows the dockable computer system to advantageously generate an advance notice signal of an impending dock and to transfer parameters necessary for the employment of sophisticated protective measures which protect the active buses of the portable computer and docking station during a docking event. Preferably, the portable computer performs an interrupt subroutine in response to receiving the CONNECT message. The notice signal is generated as part of the interrupt subroutine.
A dockable computer system including a host station and a mobile computer unit wherein said host station includes a station bus, and said mobile computer unit includes a unit bus, a unit processor and unit memory, wherein said mobile computer unit resides in at least two distinct states, a docked state in which said unit is operatively associated and physically communicating with said station and an undocked state in which said unit is physically separate from said station, and further wherein said mobile computer unit is in electromagnetic communication with said host station when said system is in said undocked state preparatory to assuming said docked state to transmit information via a wireless communication link between said unit and said station to prepare the dockable computer system for docking while said unit is, physically separate and physically proximate said station said information including prodock configuration information, said predock configuration information including bus speed information and identification information.
A method of communicating docking parameters and data between a portable computer and a host station in a dockable computer system, said portable computer having a bus and said host station having a bus, said dockable computer system assumes a docked state and an undocked state, said bus of such host station being in physical electrical communication with said bus of said portable computer when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, said method comprising the steps of:
A portable computer for use with a host station including a bus, said portable computer operable as a stand-alone computer or as an integrated computer system with said host station, said portable computer comprising:
A dockable computer system assumes a docked state and an undocked state, said dockable computer system comprising:
In a dockable computer system comprised of a host computer station, including a station bus, and a mobile computer unit including a unit bus, a unit processor and unit memory, wherein said system resides in at least two distinct states, a docked state in which said unit is operatively associated in physical communication with said station and an undocked state in which said unit is physically separate from said station, the improvement comprising a transmitter in at least one of said station or said unit programmable to send signals via a wireless communication link related to a connect message and a predock configuration message to prepare the dockable computer system for docking and a receiver in at least one of said unit or said station programmable to receive said connect message and said predock configuration message, said connect message and said predock message being sent while said host computer station is physically separate from said mobile computer unit, said predock configuration message indicating bus speed information and identification information.
A method of providing configuration information and a notice signal in a dockable computer system including a station unit and a mobile computer unit, said mobile computer unit changing from being a stand-alone computer to being an integrated computer system in response to a docking event, said station unit and mobile computer unit being in communication across a wireless communication link while physically separate, said notice signal warning of said docking event, said method comprising:
A method of providing configuration information and a notice signal in a dockable computer system including a portable computer and a host station, said system residing in at least two distinct states, a docked state in which said unit is operatively associated and physically communicating with said station and an undocked state in which said portable computer ie physically separate from said station, said system changing from said undocked state to said docked state in response to a docking event, portable computer and said host station communicating across a wireless communication link, said notice signal warning of said docking event, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.