Hot plugging of an adapter card

Claim 3

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for returning said bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 4

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for activating an adapter reset signal for said adapter card to maintain said adapter card in a known state; and means for releasing said adapter reset signal subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 5

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector further comprises: means for detecting current being supplied to said adapter card.

Claim 6

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said driving means further comprises: means for sending on said bus a preempt signal.

Claim 7

The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising: means for dividing said preempt signal into one preempt signal that is sent on said bus to said adapter card and said other adapter cards and a second preempt signal that is sent to a processor coupled to said data processing system.

Claim 8

The system as recited in claim 6, further comprising: means for receiving from said processor a refresh request; and means for removing said second preempt signal that is sent to said processor in response to receipt to said refresh request, wherein said one preempt signal that is sent on said bus to said adapter card and said other adapter cards is maintained during this period of time when said second preempt signal that is sent to said processor is removed.

Claim 9

In a data processing system, a method for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled by a bus to said data processing system while said data processing system is powered, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; forcing all other adapter cards off said bus in response to said detecting of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said forcing step further comprises a step of driving said bus into an arbitration mode so as to seize control of said bus, wherein said driving step further comprises the step of sending on said bus a preempt signs; and returning said bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 10

In a data processing system, a method for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled by a bus to said data processing system while said data processing system is powered, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; forcing all other adapter cards off said bus in response to said detecting of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said forcing step further comprises a step of driving said bus into an arbitration mode so as to seize control of said bus, wherein said driving step further comprises the step of sending on said bus a preempt signs; and returning said bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 11

The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: activating an adapter reset signal for said adapter card to maintain said adapter card in a known state; and releasing said adapter reset signal subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 12

The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: dividing said preempt signal into one preempt signal that is sent on said bus to said adapter card and said other adapter cards and a second preempt signal that is sent to a processor coupled to said data processing system; receiving from said processor a refresh request; and removing said second preempt signal that is sent to said processor in response to receipt to said refresh request, wherein said one preempt signal that is sent on said bus to said adapter card and said other adapter cards is maintained during this period of time when said second preempt signal that is sent to said processor is removed.

Claim 13

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of detecting said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector further comprises the step of: detecting current being supplied to said adapter card.

Claim 14

A data processing system comprising a processor, a memory device, a storage device, an input device, and an output device coupled together via a system bus, said system including an MCA bus adaptable for coupling said processor to at least one adapter card, said system adaptable for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled to said MCA bus while said data processing system is powered, said system comprising: circuit means for detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; and control logic means, coupled to said circuit means, for forcing all other adapter cards off said MCA bus in response to detection of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said control logic means further comprises a means for driving said MCA bus into an arbitration mode so as to seize control of said MCA bus.

Claim 15

A data processing system comprising a processor, a memory device, a storage device, an input device, and an output device coupled together via a system bus, said system including an MCA bus adaptable for coupling said processor to at least one adapter card, said system adaptable for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled to said MCA bus while said data processing system is powered, said system comprising: circuit means for detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; and control logic means, coupled to said circuit means, for forcing all other adapter cards off said MCA bus in response to detection of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said control logic means further comprises a means for driving said MCA bus into an arbitration mode so as to seize control of said MCA bus.

Claim 16

The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said control logic means further comprises a means for returning said MCA bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 17

The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said circuit means includes electrical contacts on said connector that are elevated above other contacts on said connector so that said electrical contacts make contact with electrical contacts on said adapter card before said other contacts make contact with said adapter card, wherein said electrical contacts on said connector couple a voltage supply to said adapter card.

Claim 18

The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said control logic means further comprises: means for activating an adapter reset signal for said adapter card to maintain said adapter card in a known state; and means for releasing said adapter reset signal subsequent to notification, received from said circuit means, of a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 19

The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said driving means further comprises: means for sending on said MCA bus a preempt signal.

Claim 20

The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising: an analog switch for dividing said preempt signal into one preempt signal that is sent on said MCA bus to said adapter card and said other adapter cards and a second preempt signal that is sent to said processor coupled to said data processing system.

Claim 21

The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said control logic means further comprises: means for receiving from said processor a refresh request; and means for removing said second preempt signal that is sent to said processor in response to receipt to said refresh request, wherein said one preempt signal that is sent on said MCA bus to said adapter card and said other adapter cards is maintained during this period of time when said second preempt signal that is sent to said processor is removed.

Claim 26

In a data processing system, a method for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled by a bus to said data processing system while said data processing system is powered, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connectors; forcing all other adapter cards off said bus in response to said detecting of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; returning said bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter cards into said adapter card connector; activating an adapter reset signal for said adapter card to maintain said adapter card in a known state; and releasing said adapter reset signal subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 27

In a data processing system, a method for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled by a bus to said data processing system while said data processing system is powered, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connectors; forcing all other adapter cards off said bus in response to said detecting of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; returning said bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter cards into said adapter card connector; activating an adapter reset signal for said adapter card to maintain said adapter card in a known state; and releasing said adapter reset signal subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 28

In a data processing system, a method for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled by a bus to said data processing system while said data processing system is powered, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said detecting step further comprises the step of: detecting current being supplied to said adapter card; inserting of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; and returning said bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 29

In a data processing system, a method for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled by a bus to said data processing system while said data processing system is powered, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said detecting step further comprises the step of: detecting current being supplied to said adapter card; inserting of said adapter card into said adapter card connector; and returning said bus to a normal operating mode subsequent to a complete seating of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 30

A data processing system comprising a processor, a memory device, a storage device, an input device, and an output device coupled together via a system bus, said system including an MCA bus adaptable for coupling said processor to at least one adapter card, said system adaptable for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled to said MCA bus while said data processing system is powered, said system comprising: circuit means for detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said circuit means includes electrical contacts on said connector that are elevated above other contacts on said connectors so that electrical contacts may contact with electrical contacts on said adapter card before said other contacts make contact with said adapter card, wherein said electrical contacts on said connector couple a voltage supply to said adapter card; and control logic means, coupled to said circuit means, for forcing all other adapter cards off said MCA bus in response to detection of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.

Claim 31

A data processing system comprising a processor, a memory device, a storage device, an input device, and an output device coupled together via a system bus, said system including an MCA bus adaptable for coupling said processor to at least one adapter card, said system adaptable for permitting a hot plug insertion of an adapter card into an adapter card connector coupled to said MCA bus while said data processing system is powered, said system comprising: circuit means for detecting an insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector, wherein said circuit means includes electrical contacts on said connector that are elevated above other contacts on said connectors so that electrical contacts may contact with electrical contacts on said adapter card before said other contacts make contact with said adapter card, wherein said electrical contacts on said connector couple a voltage supply to said adapter card; and control logic means, coupled to said circuit means, for forcing all other adapter cards off said MCA bus in response to detection of said insertion of said adapter card into said adapter card connector.