US6023587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for resources under control of docking station when standalone and resources under control of central processing unit of portable computer when docked
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-02
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Granted: 2000-02-08
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Expires: 2016-05-02
Abstract
Abstract The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking station (12, 32, 58, 68, 76, 84, 90, 92, 94, 96) that can have its functionality reconfigured by a docked portable personal computer (10, 38, 62, 66, 74, 82). In at least one embodiment of the invention, the computer docking station is configured as a stand alone computer prior to docking with a portable computer, may have its functionality reconfigured when docked to the portable computer, and reconfigures itself to be a stand alone computer when undocked from the portable computer. In one embodiment of the invention, docking station resources are placed under the control of a docked portable computer. In another embodiment of the invention, docked portable computer resources are placed under the control of the docking station. The invention contemplates docking via direct connection, radio requency "RF" communications, infrared "IR" communications, 1394 high performance serial bus communications, or card bus communications, and/or combinations of one or more of these communications techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 LaVaughn F. Watts, Jr.
- 👤 John C. Linn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1632
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A computer docking station, comprising: a provision for user input; a provision for output; a microprocessor coupled to said user input and said output; an interface coupled to said microprocessor, said interface facilitating docking between said docking station and a stand alone portable computer, and docking station resources coupled to said microprocessor, said resources being under the control of said microprocessor when said docking station is a stand alone device and said resources being capable of being placed under the control of a central processing unit in said portable computer when said portable computer is docked to said computer docking station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer docking station, comprising: a provision for user input; a provision for output; a microprocessor coupled to said user input and said output; an interface coupled to said microprocessor, said interface facilitating docking between said docking station and a stand alone portable computer, and docking station resources coupled to said microprocessor, said resources being under the control of said microprocessor when said docking station is a stand alone device and said resources being capable of being placed under the control of a central processing unit in said portable computer when said portable computer is docked to said computer docking station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said user input is coupled to a keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said output is coupled to a display device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said user input is coupled to a keyboard and said output is coupled to a display device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The docking station of claim 1, further comprising memory for storing at least program instructions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The docking station of claim 1, further comprising core logic coupled to said microprocessor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said interface is an electrical connector that is directly connectable to a corresponding electrical connector in said portable computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said interface facilitates docking via radio frequency "RF" communications.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said interface facilitates docking via a 1394 high performance serial bus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said interface facilitates docking via a card bus interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein said interface facilitates docking via one of group of two or more different types of docking interfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The docking station of claim 1, wherein a PCI bus couples said microprocessor to said interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The docking station of claim 12 wherein said microprocessor is on a system card that is connected to said PCI bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The docking station of claim 12, wherein said docking station resources are available on cards that are coupleable to said PCI bus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The docking station of claim 1 wherein a PCI bus couples said microprocessor to a bridge and said bridge is coupled to said interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The docking station of claim 1 wherein a mux couples said microprocessor to a PCI bus and a bridge couples said interface to said PCI bus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The docking station of claim 16 wherein said mux and said microprocessor are on a system card that is connected to said PCI bus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The docking station of claim 16, wherein said microprocessor is on a system card that is connected to said mux.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
109 words
The computer docking station of claim 1, wherein said stand alone portable computer further comprises: a provision for user input; a provision for output; a microprocessor coupled to said user input and said output; an interface coupled to said microprocessor, said interface facilitating docking between said portable computer and said docking station, and portable computer resources coupled to said microprocessor, said resources being under the control of said microprocessor when said portable computer is a stand alone device and said resources being capable of being placed under the control of a central processing unit in said docking station when said portable computer is docked to said computer docking station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The portable computer of claim 19, wherein said user input is coupled to a keyboard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The portable computer of claim 19, wherein said output is coupled to a display device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The portable computer of claim 19, wherein said user input is coupled to a keyboard and said output is coupled to a display device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The portable computer of claim 19, further comprising memory for storing at least program instructions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The portable computer of claim 19, further comprising core logic coupled to said microprocessor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The portable computer of claim 19, wherein said interface is an electrical connector that is directly connectable to a corresponding electrical connector in said docking station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable computer of claim 19, wherein said interface facilitates docking via radio frequency "RF" communication.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer docking, comprising: a provision for user input; a provision for output; a microprocessor coupled to said user input and said output; an interface coupled to said microprocessor, said interface facilitating docking between said docking station and a stand alone portable computer, and docking station resources coupled to said microprocessor, said resources being under the control of said microprocessor when said docking station is a stand alone device, said docking station further being capable of taking control of resources in said portable computer when said portable computer is docked to said computer docking station.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer docking, comprising: a provision for user input; a provision for output; a microprocessor coupled to said user input and said output; an interface coupled to said microprocessor, said interface facilitating docking between said docking station and a stand alone portable computer, and docking station resources coupled to said microprocessor, said resources being under the control of said microprocessor when said docking station is a stand alone device, said docking station further being capable of taking control of resources in said portable computer when said portable computer is docked to said computer docking station.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
A computer docking station that is a stand alone computer having control over docking station resources prior to docking with a stand alone portable computer, is capable of placing docking station resources under the control of a docked portable computer, and returns to being a stand alone computer when the portable computer undocks from said docking station.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
57 words
A computer docking station that is a stand alone computer having control over docking station resources prior to docking with a stand alone portable computer, is capable of placing docking station resources under the control of a docked portable computer, and returns to being a stand alone computer when the portable computer undocks from said docking station.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-07 | 2003-08-09 | 2004-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-07 | 2007-08-09 | 2008-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-08-09 | 2012-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |