# US 8,543,948 B2 · Structure for PCI-E based POS terminal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,948 B2 - Document ID: US8543948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/112,541 - Filed: 2008-04-30 - Published: 2008-08-28 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-07 - Assignees: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation - Applicants: John D. Landers, Jr.; David J. Steiner - Inventors: John D. Landers, Jr.; David J. Steiner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543948B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/59: Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable - H04L 67/56: Provisioning of proxy services (store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Exemplary embodiments describe a design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design for performing the functions of a PCI Express feature card remotely from a data processing system. The system is comprised of a circuit board connected to a PCI-E feature card. The PCI-E feature card is remotely located in comparison to the circuit board. Architecturally, the PCI-E feature card appears to the circuit board to be located at the circuit board. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-transitory machine readable storage medium including design data for at least one of designing, manufacturing, and testing a design, wherein, when executed by a processor, the design data implements the design comprising a point-of-sale system unit, wherein the point-of-sale system unit functions as a central server, and wherein the point-of-sale system unit comprises: a circuit board; and a PCI Express interface communicatively coupled to the circuit board and configured to couple, via a PCI Express communication channel, to a PCI Express feature card, wherein the PCI Express feature card is located in a point-of-sale terminal remote from the point-of-sale system unit, and wherein the PCI Express feature card appears architecturally to the circuit board to be located at the circuit board, wherein one or more point-of-sale input/output devices physically coupled to the point-of-sale terminal use the PCI Express feature card to provide input data to the point-of-sale system unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the PCI Express communication channel is a bus connecting the PCI Express interface and the PCI Express feature card. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the bus is a cable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the cable comprises an unshielded twisted pair cable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the PCI Express communication channel is a wireless connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the cable comprises a fiber optic cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a motherboard. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising a netlist that describes the point-of-sale system unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the design structure resides on the non-transitory machine readable storage medium as a data format used for an exchange of layout data of integrated circuits. ### Claim 10 A non-transitory machine readable storage medium including design data for at least one of designing, manufacturing, and testing a design, wherein when executed by a processor, the design data implements the design comprising a point-of-sale system unit and a PCI Express connection, wherein the point-of-sale system unit functions as a central server, and wherein the point-of-sale system unit comprises: a circuit board; and a PCI Express interface communicatively coupled to the circuit board and configured to couple, via a PCI Express connection, to a PCI Express feature card located remotely from the point-of-sale system unit and wherein the PCI Express feature card appears architecturally to the circuit board to be located at the circuit board, wherein the PCI Express connection comprises one of an unshielded twisted pair cable, a fiber optic cable, and a wireless connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the PCI Express interface is a PCI Express connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the circuit board is a motherboard. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the PCI Express feature card is located in a point-of-sale terminal. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory machine readable storage medium embodying a design structure for at least one of designing, manufacturing, and testing a design, wherein when executed by a processor, the design structure implements the design comprising a point-of-sale system unit and a separate point-of-sale terminal, wherein the point-of-sale system unit functions as a central server, and wherein the point-of-sale system unit comprises: a circuit board; and a PCI Express interface communicatively coupled to the circuit board and configured to couple to a PCI Express feature card located in the point-of-sale terminal, wherein the PCI Express feature card is connected to the circuit board via a bus and the PCI Express interface, and wherein the PCI express feature card appears architecturally to the circuit board to be located at the circuit board, wherein one or more point-of-sale input/output devices physically coupled to the point-of-sale terminal use the PCI Express feature card to provide input data to the point-of-sale system unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The design structure of claim 14, wherein the circuit board is a motherboard. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The design structure of claim 14, wherein the PCI Express connection comprises one of an unshielded twisted pair cable, a fiber optic cable, and a wireless connection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein one or more point-of-sale input/output devices physically coupled to the point-of-sale terminal use the PCI Express feature card to provide input data to the point-of-sale system unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein one or more point-of-sale input/output devices physically coupled to the point-of-sale terminal use the PCI Express feature card to provide input data to the point-of-sale system unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the circuit board of the point-of-sale system unit is communicatively coupled, via a plurality of PCI Express connections, to a plurality of PCI Express feature cards, wherein each of the plurality of PCI Express feature cards is located in a respective one of a plurality of remote point-of-sale terminals.