Method and apparatus for adding and removing components of a data processing system without powering down

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selective means includes: control logic means for enabling and disabling each of the switches whereby the physical connection is either established or removed; and power logic means for disabling power to the selected device to be removed.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each one of the switches includes: means for receiving a signal indicating whether to establish or remove the connection.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the Host Bridge means includes: means for informing the Control Logic which one of the devices is to be removed.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the Host Bridge includes: means for informing the control logic to isolate the device to be removed.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the control logic means includes: means, coupled to the arbiter, for gaining control over the primary bus prior to isolating and powering down the slot.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the control logic means includes: means for transmitting, during control over the primary bus, an enable signal to the switches corresponding to the secondary buses desired to be connected to the primary bus.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the transmitting means includes: means for transmitting, during control over the primary bus, a disable signal to the switches corresponding to the secondary buses desired to be removed from the primary bus.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the primary and secondary buses are peripheral component interconnect buses.

Claim 11

The data processing system of claim 5 wherein the control logic means includes: means, coupled to the arbiter, for gaining control over the primary bus prior to granting control to the master; means for disabling communication to the device to be removed; means for transmitting, during control over the primary bus, an enable signal to the switches corresponding to the secondary buses desired to be connected or disconnected to the primary bus.

Claim 12

A data processing system comprising: a primary bus; memory, coupled to the primary bus, for storing instructions; input means, coupled to the primary bus, for receiving input from a user; a central processing unit for executing the stored instructions; a display for displaying the results of the executed instructions and the received input; a plurality of secondary buses each having at least one slot for connecting additional devices; selective means for selectively establishing a physical connection from the primary bus to one of the secondary buses, and for removing the connection, the selective means including: a plurality of switches for establishing the physical connection from the primary bus to one of the secondary buses, and for removing the connection; an arbiter for receiving requests for control of the primary bus, and for selecting one of the requests as a master for the control; removing means for allowing each one of the devices to be removed without discontinuing power to the data processing system, the removing means including: means for detecting when a device resides within one of the slots; and means for detecting when an operator desires to remove one of the devices.

Claim 13

A data processing system comprising: a primary bus; memory, coupled to the primary bus, for storing instructions; input means, coupled to the primary bus, for receiving input from a user; a central processing unit for executing the stored instructions; a display for displaying the results of the executed instructions and the received input; a plurality of secondary buses each having at least one slot for connecting additional devices; selective means for selectively establishing a physical connection from the primary bus to one of the secondary buses, and for removing the connection, the selective means including: a plurality of switches for establishing the physical connection from the primary bus to one of the secondary buses, and for removing the connection; an arbiter for receiving requests for control of the primary bus, and for selecting one of the requests as a master for the control; removing means for allowing each one of the devices to be removed without discontinuing power to the data processing system, the removing means including: means for detecting when a device resides within one of the slots; and means for detecting when an operator desires to remove one of the devices.

Claim 14

The data processing system of claim 11 wherein the selective means includes: control logic means for enabling and disabling each of the switches whereby the physical connection is either established or removed; and power logic means for disabling power to the selected device to be removed.

Claim 15

The data processing system of claim 12 wherein each one of the switches includes: means for receiving a signal indicating whether to establish or remove the connection.

Claim 16

The data processing system of claim 13 wherein the selective means includes: means for informing the Control Logic which one of the devices is to be removed.

Claim 17

The data processing system of claim 14 wherein the selective means includes: means for informing the control logic to disable the device to be removed.