Intelligent docking station for a handheld personal computer

• US 20030149817A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thrasher Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Thrasher Associates LLC
• Inventors: Scott, Bryan, Divakaran, Saneesh, Perales, Ramon
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]

Abstract

The invention transfers a data element from a device to a handheld computer. In general, the method receives a device-based data element at a docking station based co-processor, performs a driver conversion to convert the device-based data element into a bus-enabled data element, and places the bus-enabled data element on a handheld compatible bus. The method may also transform a data packet by detecting an input packet, retrieving a packet identifier (ID) from the input packet, and dispatching the input packet to a device driver based on the packet ID, the device driver capable of converting the input packet from a handheld computer packet type to a device packet type. The invention is also the systems that enable the method. As a device, the invention is an intelligent docking station. The intelligent docking station includes a co-processor capable of converting a hand held-based data element into a device enabled data element, a bus interface coupled to the co-processor, and a port coupled to the co-processor. The invention is also a system that incorporates the intelligent docking station.

Claims

1. An intelligent docking station, comprising:

a co-processor capable of converting a hand held-based data element into a device enabled data element;

a bus interface coupled to the co-processor; and

a port coupled to the co-processor.

2. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 further comprising a logic coupled between the co-processor and the port.

3. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 wherein the logic is a modem.

4. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 wherein the co-processor has a top-level device driver therein.

5. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 wherein the co-processor has a low-level device driver therein.

6. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 further comprising a communication driver coupled between the bus interface and the co-processor.

7. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 further comprising a device co-located within the IDS.

8. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 further comprising a handheld computer coupled to the bus interface.

9. The intelligent docking station of claim 1 further comprising a device coupled to the port.

10. The intelligent docking station of claim 9 wherein the device is a keyboard.

11. The intelligent docking station of claim 9 wherein the device is a monitor.

12. The intelligent docking station of claim 9 wherein the device is memory.

13. The intelligent docking station of claim 8 wherein the handheld computer is coupled to the bus interface via a wireless connection.

14. A handheld computer device capable of communication with an IDS, comprising:

a bus;

a communication driver coupled between the bus and a top-level device driver; and

a handheld device operating system in communication with the top-level device driver.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the top-level device driver is a keyboard driver.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the top-level device driver is a display driver.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the top-level device driver drives a device capable of being driven by an IDS in communication with the handheld computer.

18. A data storage device that maintains a method of transferring a data element from a device to a handheld computer, the method comprising:

receiving a device-based data element at a docking station based co-processor;

performing a driver conversion to convert the device-based data element into a bus-enabled data element; and

placing the bus-enabled data element on a handheld compatible bus.