Patent US5848294A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5848294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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PCI computer system with multiple legacy devices
Assignee: Appian Graphics Corp
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Filing: 1996-10-17
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2016-10-17
Abstract
Abstract The novel computer system (10) includes a host computer CPU (12), a first VGA graphics chip (14) associated with a first monitor (16), a second VGA graphics chip (18) associated with a second monitor (20) and a chip manager application running on the host computer CPU (12). The chips (14 and 18) are interconnected to the CPU (12) via PCI buses (24 and 26). The chip manager application manages access to shared computer system resources by the chips (14 and 18) so as to allow for multiple VGA-chip initialization and avoid conflicts. The invention thereby allows for use of multiple VGA devices in a PCI computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/1423; G06F3/1438
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A computer system, comprising: a PCI compliant I/O subsystem; a first legacy device of a first type associated with the PCI compliant I/O subsystem, when in an active state the first legacy device utilizing a particular resource of the computer system; a second legacy device of the same first type associated with the PCI compliant I/O subsystem, when in an active state the second legacy device also utilizing the particular resource of the computer system; and a configuration control subsystem, independent of the first and second legacy devices, for controlling operation of the first and second legacy devices such that the devices can operatively share the particular resource of the computer system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer system, comprising: a PCI compliant I/O subsystem; a first legacy device of a first type associated with the PCI compliant I/O subsystem, when in an active state the first legacy device utilizing a particular resource of the computer system; a second legacy device of the same first type associated with the PCI compliant I/O subsystem, when in an active state the second legacy device also utilizing the particular resource of the computer system; and a configuration control subsystem, independent of the first and second legacy devices, for controlling operation of the first and second legacy devices such that the devices can operatively share the particular resource of the computer system.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for drawing in a multiple VGA monitor, PCI computer system, comprising the steps of: interconnecting first and second VGA monitors to the PCI computer system; activating a first VGA chip associated with the first monitor using PCI configuration space of the PCI computer system, the first VGA chip utilizing a particular resource of the PCI computer system; operating the PCI computer system to draw on the first monitor; deactivating the first VGA chip associated with the first monitor; activating a second VGA chip associated with the second monitor, using PCI configuration space of the PCI computer system, the second VGA chip also utilizing the particular resource of the PCI computer system; and operating the PCI computer system to draw on the second monitor.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for drawing in a multiple VGA monitor, PCI computer system, comprising the steps of: interconnecting first and second VGA monitors to the PCI computer system; activating a first VGA chip associated with the first monitor using PCI configuration space of the PCI computer system, the first VGA chip utilizing a particular resource of the PCI computer system; operating the PCI computer system to draw on the first monitor; deactivating the first VGA chip associated with the first monitor; activating a second VGA chip associated with the second monitor, using PCI configuration space of the PCI computer system, the second VGA chip also utilizing the particular resource of the PCI computer system; and operating the PCI computer system to draw on the second monitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 1 in which the first and second legacy devices are first and second VGA chips driving respective first and second VGA monitors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 1 in which the particular resource includes at least one of a memory address space, an I/O address space, an interrupt request line, and a DMA channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 in which the particular resource includes at least one of a memory address space, an I/O address space, an interrupt request line, and a DMA channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4787085A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |