Method for implementing communication drivers in an intelligent docking station/handheld personal computer system

• US 20030172217A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Synosphere LLC (iBiz Technology Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Synosphere LLC (iBiz Technology Corp.)
• Inventors: Scott, Bryan, Divakaran, Saneesh, Perales, Ramon
• Application Number:
  US10/093,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20030172217A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• 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-enabled data element at a docking station enabled co-processor, performs a driver conversion to convert the device-enabled 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 enabled 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-enabled 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. In a personal digital assistant, a method of transferring a data element between an intelligent docking station and a handheld computer, the method comprising:

detecting a docking event when a personal digital assistant (PDA) docks with an intelligent docking station (IDS);

initiating the PDA; and

pushing data from the PDA to the IDS.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating replaces PDA-based top-level device drivers with IDS-based top-level device drivers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the docking event is initiated in software by a user of the PDA.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein pushing data pushes packets of data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the top-level device driver is a video driver.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting an undocking.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising toggling from the IDS-based top-level device drivers to PDA-based top-level device drivers.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying an error message.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein pushing is done by a communication driver.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a docking event is done by a communication driver.

11. In an intelligent docking station, a method of transferring a data element between the intelligent docking station and a handheld computer, the method comprising:

detecting a docking event when a personal digital assistant (PDA) docks with an intelligent docking station (IDS);

detecting data; and

passing data from an IDS port to an appropriate location in the IDS.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting recognizes data on the IDS port.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting is initiated when a flag condition chnages.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein passing data passes packets of data from the IDS port to the IDS operating system.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving the data packet at a top-level device driver in the IDS.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising detecting an undocking.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising displaying an error message.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein passing is accomplished by a communication driver.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting a docking event is accomplished by a communication driver.

20. A data storage device that enables the transferring a data element between the intelligent docking station and a handheld computer in an intelligent docking station, by:

detecting a docking event when a personal digital assistant (PDA) docks with an intelligent docking station (IDS);

detecting data; and

passing data from an IDS port to an appropriate location in the IDS.