Information handling system docking with coordinated power and data communication

• US 10,429,889 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2013
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramirez, Ernesto, Critz, Christian L, Quinn, Liam B, O'Neal, Sean P
• Primary Examiner(s): Yimer, Getente A
• Application Number:
  US13/962,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,245 Days
• Field of Search: 710303, 710304, 710305, 710306
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0044 specially adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0053 specially adapted for power saving

Abstract

A docking station connects through a docking port and docking cable with an information handling system to support communication between the information handling system and docking station peripherals. On initial interface, one data lane of the docking port establishes a temporary management interface, such as an I2C management bus, to configure the docking station. After configuration, a docking manager, virtual wireless access point and power block cooperate to assign data lanes of the docking port and wireless communication resources to information transfer and power transfer functions based upon processing and communication tasks performed at the information handling system.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed in the housing, the processor operable to execute instructions for processing information;

memory disposed in the housing, the memory interfaced with the processor and operable to store the instructions and information;

a docking manager disposed in the housing, the docking manager operable to manage interactions with an external docking station through a docking port; and

a docking port disposed in the housing, the docking port having plural pins in electrical communication with the docking manager, the docking port having a power pin interface to receive power from the external docking station and plural data lane-pins interfaced with plural data lanes to communicate information with the external docking station, the docking manager operable to adapt the data lanes to a selected of plural protocols;

wherein the docking manager configures a switch that assigns one or more data lane pins to receive power from the external docking port in response to one or more predetermined condition, the one or more predetermined conditions including at least power demand associated with components disposed in the housing of within a predetermined amount of power available through the power interface.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a docking station separate from the housing, the docking station having a docking manager and a docking port with a power interface and plural data lanes; and

a docking cable operable to connect to the docking station docking port and the housing docking port;

wherein the docking station manager configures a switch that assigns one or more data lanes to send power to through the cable to the housing docking port in response to one or more predetermined conditions.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:

a charger disposed in the housing and operable to charge a battery disposed in the housing; and

a power controller disposed in the housing and interfaced with the charger, the power controller selectively commanding the data lanes to adapt to receive power based upon the one or more predetermined conditions.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the predetermined conditions comprise a battery charge state of less than a predetermined amount.

5. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the predetermined conditions comprise data communication associated with the housing of less than a predetermined amount.

6. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the predetermined conditions comprise wireless communication resources associated with the housing of at least a minimum amount.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the docking manager selectively adapts only one data lane to receive power from the external docking port, the one data lane sharing a ground with the power interface.

8. A method for powering an information handling system from a docking station, the method comprising:

inserting a docking connector into a docking port of the information handling system, the docking connector and docking port having plural pins aligned to physically contact each other;

providing power from the docking station to the information handling system through a power interface pin of the docking port;

communicating information between the docking station and the information handling system through plural data lane pins of the docking port; and

configuring switching logic to assign one or more data lane pins to provide power from the docking station to the information handling system in response to one or more predetermined conditions, the power provided instead of communicating information over the one or more data lane pins;

wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprise at least power demand associated with components disposed in the information handling system of within a predetermined amount of power available through the power interface.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprise a battery charge at the information handling system of a predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprise predetermined wireless communication resources for communication of information between the information handling system and the docking station.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more predetermined conditions comprise predetermined wireless communication resources for communication of information between the information handling system and peripherals associated with the docking station.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein configuring switching logic to assign one or more data lane pins to provide power further comprises:

determining the one or more data lane pins to adapt to provide power;

adapting wireless resources of the information handling system to communicate information associated with the determined one or more data lane pins;

establishing communication through the wireless resources of the information associated with the determined one or more data lane pins; and

in response to establishing communication, providing power through the one or more determined data lane pins instead of communication.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein establishing communication further comprises:

compressing video information at the information handling system; and

sending the compressed video information from the information handling system to the display at least in part through a wireless interface.

14. A docking station comprising:

a housing;

one or more docking ports disposed at the housing, each docking port having plural pins configured to interface with an information handling system docking connector, each docking port having a power interface pin to provide power to the information handling system and plural data lane pins to communicate information with the information handling system;

one or more peripheral ports disposed at the housing, each peripheral port configured to interface with a peripheral device;

a docking manager disposed in the housing and interfaced with the one or more docking ports, the docking manager including switching logic for configuring one or more of the data lane pins of the one or more docking ports to provide power to the information handling system in response to one or more predetermined conditions, the power provided instead of communicating information, the one or more predetermined conditions including at least power demand from one of the docking ports of within a predetermined amount of power available through the one of the docking ports.

15. The docking station of claim 14 further comprising wireless resources to communicate with the information handling system, wherein the docking manager is further operable to configure the wireless resources to communicate information with the information handling system in response to a configuration of one or more data lanes to provide power.

16. The docking station of claim 14 wherein the peripheral ports comprise one or more display ports for communicating visual information from the information handling system to one or more displays, wherein the docking manager configures one or more of the data lanes of the one or more docking ports to communicate compressed visual information from the information handling system for presentation at the one or more displays in response to a configuration of one or more data lanes to provide power.

17. The docking station of claim 14 wherein the peripheral ports comprise one or more display ports for communicating visual information from the information handling system to one or more displays, the docking station further comprising wireless resources for communicating information with the information handling system, and wherein the docking manager, in response to a configuration of one or more data lanes to provide power, adjusts one or more of the data lanes of the one or more docking ports to communicate visual information from the information handling system for presentation at the one or more displays and to adjust the wireless resources to communicate data associated with the adjusted data lanes.

18. The docking station of claim 17 wherein the wireless resources communicate the data with a wireless USB protocol.