Interface technique for selecting type of connection
First Claim
1. In a portable computer system coupled to a communication interface, a method for selecting an application used with said communication interface, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) entering a mode for executing said application;
b) reading a resistance value of a pin on said communication interface, wherein said communication interface comprises a type of connection operable to couple said communication interface to a second computer system and wherein said type of connection is associated with a particular resistance value;
c) identifying said type of connection according to said resistance value read in said step b); and
d) selecting a form of said application used with said type of connection identified in said step c).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for automatically identifying the type of communication interface used to couple a portable computer system with a second computer system, and for selecting the form of an application that is used with the type of interface. For example, a debugger application is collaboratively executed on the computer systems over the interface. When entering the debugger mode, software executed on the portable computer system identifies the type of interface by reading a resistance value of a pin. After determining the type of interface, the form of the debugger used with the interface is automatically selected. A similar process is followed for other applications that depend on the type of interface. The user does not have to manually identify the type of interface. Instead, in response to a command that is independent of the type of interface, the proper form of the application is automatically selected.
15 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a portable computer system coupled to a communication interface, a method for selecting an application used with said communication interface, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) entering a mode for executing said application;
b) reading a resistance value of a pin on said communication interface, wherein said communication interface comprises a type of connection operable to couple said communication interface to a second computer system and wherein said type of connection is associated with a particular resistance value;
c) identifying said type of connection according to said resistance value read in said step b); and
d) selecting a form of said application used with said type of connection identified in said step c). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A portable computer system comprising:
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a bus;
a communication interface port coupled to said bus, said communication interface port operable to couple with a communication interface; and
a processor coupled to said bus;
said processor for performing a method for selecting an application used with a type of communication interface, said method comprising the steps of;
a) entering a mode for executing said application;
b) reading a resistance value of a pin on said communication interface, wherein said communication interface comprises a type of connection operable to couple said communication interface to a second computer system and wherein said type of connection is associated with a particular resistance value;
c) identifying said type of connection according to said resistance value read in said step b); and
d) selecting a form of said application used with said type of connection identified in said step c). - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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17. In a system comprising a portable computer system and a second computer system communicatively coupled using a communication interface, a method for selecting an application used with a type of communication interface, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) reading at said portable computer system a resistance value of a pin on said communication interface, wherein said communication interface comprises a type of connection operable to couple said communication interface to said second computer system;
b) identifying at said portable computer system a type of communication interface, wherein said type of communication interface is identified by said resistance value; and
c) selecting at said portable computer system an application corresponding to said type of communication interface, wherein said application is executed collaboratively on said portable computer system and on said second computer system.
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Specification