Scalable docking architecture for portable computers
First Claim
1. A computer docking system comprising:
- a portable computer including a CPU, at least one first communications bus, a first logic interface electrically connected to the at least one first communications bus, and a first docking connector electrically connected to the first logic interface; and
a dock including a second docking connector for mating with the first docking connector, a second logic interface electrically connected to the second docking connector, and at least one second communications bus electrically connected to the second logic interface;
wherein the first logic interface determines a carrier bandwidth of the at least one second bus and the second logic interface determines a carrier bandwidth of the at least one first bus;
wherein upon determining the respective carrier bandwidths of the at least one first and second communications buses, the first and second logic interfaces determine a maximum carrier bandwidth supported by both the dock and the portable computer for use in communications between the dock and the portable computer; and
wherein the first logic interface encodes signals to be transmitted to and decodes signals received from the dock via the first and second docking connectors and the second logic interface encodes signals to be transmitted to and decodes signals received from the portable computer via the first and second docking connectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Customer requirements for portable computers are grouped into logical functional groupings, which are further grouped into logical bandwidth levels. On the notebook side, all required signals for a specific logical functional grouping are combined into a single carrier with the necessary bandwidth for the signals within the logical bandwidth level. This combined signal is then passed through a docking connector. The individual signals are regenerated on the docking solution side of the connector. Logic on both the notebook and docking solution sides of the connector enables the respective devices to identify which carrier bandwidths are supported on both sides of the docking connector and settle on the greatest common denominator. Additionally, the signals combined into the carrier can be programmed, in which case the docking solution and the notebook negotiate the features that are and are not supported in each individual case.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer docking system comprising:
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a portable computer including a CPU, at least one first communications bus, a first logic interface electrically connected to the at least one first communications bus, and a first docking connector electrically connected to the first logic interface; and
a dock including a second docking connector for mating with the first docking connector, a second logic interface electrically connected to the second docking connector, and at least one second communications bus electrically connected to the second logic interface;
wherein the first logic interface determines a carrier bandwidth of the at least one second bus and the second logic interface determines a carrier bandwidth of the at least one first bus;
wherein upon determining the respective carrier bandwidths of the at least one first and second communications buses, the first and second logic interfaces determine a maximum carrier bandwidth supported by both the dock and the portable computer for use in communications between the dock and the portable computer; and
wherein the first logic interface encodes signals to be transmitted to and decodes signals received from the dock via the first and second docking connectors and the second logic interface encodes signals to be transmitted to and decodes signals received from the portable computer via the first and second docking connectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer system for connection to a dock comprising:
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a CPU;
at least one first communications bus;
a first logic interface electrically connected to the at least one first communications bus; and
a first docking connector electrically connected to the first logic interface for electrical connection to a second docking connector of the dock;
wherein when the computer system is connected to the dock via the first and second docking connectors, the first logic interface determines a carrier bandwidth of at least one second communications bus of the dock;
wherein upon determining respective carrier bandwidths of the at least one first and second communications buses, the first logic interface determines a maximum carrier bandwidth supported by both the dock and the computer system for use in communications between the dock and the computer system; and
wherein the first logic interface encodes signals to be transmitted to and decodes signals received from the dock via the first and second docking connectors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A dock for connecting to a portable computer, the dock comprising:
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a first docking connector for mating with a second docking connector of the portable computer;
a first logic interface electrically connected to the first docking connector; and
at least one first communications bus electrically connected to the first logic interface;
wherein when the portable computer is connected to the dock via the first and second docking connectors, the first logic interface determines a carrier bandwidth of at least one second communications bus of the portable computer;
wherein upon determining the respective carrier bandwidths of the at least one first and second communications buses, the first logic interface determines a maximum carrier bandwidth supported by both the dock and the portable computer for use in communications between the dock and the portable computer; and
wherein the first logic interface encodes signals to be transmitted to and decodes signals received from the portable computer via the first and second docking connectors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of implementing a scalable docking architecture for portable computers, the method comprising:
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including in a portable computer a first logic interface, wherein the first logic interface is electrically connected between a first communications bus of the portable computer and a first docking connector;
including in a dock electrically connectable to the portable computer via a second docking connector designed for mating with the first docking connector a second logic interface, wherein the second logic interface is electrically connected between a second communications bus of the dock and the second docking connector;
the first logic interface determining capabilities of the dock, including a carrier bandwidth of the second communications bus;
the second logic interface determining capabilities of the portable computer, including a carrier bandwidth of the first communications bus;
the first and second logic interfaces determining a greatest common carrier bandwidth supported by both the portable computer and the dock;
the first logic interface encoding signals to be sent to and decoding signals received from the dock; and
the second logic interface encoding signals to be sent to and decoding signals received from the portable computer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification