Information handling system featuring multi-processor capability with processor located in docking station

• US 20030221036A1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Konetski, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

An information handling system—docking station arrangement is disclosed. The information handling system includes a first processor coupled to a main memory and a first docking connector. The docking station includes a second docking connector which mates with the first docking connector of the information handling system. When the information handling system is docked with the docking station, the information handling system interrogates the docking station to determine if a second processor is present in the docking station. If the information handling system detects a second processor in the docking station, then the information handling system switches to a multi-processing mode in which both the first and second processors are employed to process information. However, if the information handling system does not detect a second processor, then the system uses the first processor to process information.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a first processor;

a first memory coupled to the first processor;

a docking connector, coupled to the first processor, for docking the system to a docking station; and

a multi-processor handler, coupled to the first processor, the first memory and the docking connector, for switching the information handling system to a multi-processor mode when the docking connector is docked to the docking station if the docking station includes a second processor.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the multi-processor handler switches the information handling system to a single processor mode when the docking connector is not docked to the docking station.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the multi-processor handler switches the information handling system to a single processor mode when the docking connector is docked to a docking station without a second processor.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first and second processors share the first memory when the docking connector is docked to the docking station.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the docking station includes a second memory, the multi-processor handler controlling data communication between the second processor and the second memory in the docking station when the docking connector is docked to the docking station.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the docking station includes a second memory and a memory interface to couple the second memory to the second processor.

7. An information handling system docking station combination comprising:

an information handling system including;

a first processor;

a first memory coupled to the first processor;

a first docking connector coupled to the first processor;

a docking station including;

a second processor;

a second docking connector, coupled to the second processor, for docking to the first docking connector;

the information handling system further including a multi-processor handler, coupled to the first processor, the first memory and the docking connector, for switching the information handling system to a multiprocessor mode when the information handling system is docked to the docking station and for switching the information handling system to a single processor mode when the information handling system is not docked to the docking station.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the first and second processors share the first memory when the first docking connector is docked to the second docking connector.

9. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the docking station includes a second memory coupled to the second docking connector, the multi-processor handler controlling data communication between the second processor and the second memory in the docking station when the information handling system is docked to the docking station.

10. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the docking station includes a second memory and a memory interface to couple the second memory to the second processor.

11. A docking station for docking with an information handling system including a first processor and a first memory, the docking station comprising:

a second processor; and

a docking connector coupled to the second processor to enable multi-processor operation when the information handling system is docked to the docking connector.

12. The docking station of claim 11 wherein the second processor shares the first memory with the first processor when the information handling system is docked to the docking connector.

13. The docking station of claim 11 further including a second memory.

14. The docking station of claim 13 further including a memory interface coupling the second memory to the second processor.

15. A method of operating an information handling system comprising:

providing an information handling system including a first processor coupled to a first memory and to a docking connector; and

switching the information handling system to a multi-processor mode when the docking connector is docked to a docking station if the docking station includes a second processor.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising processing with the first processor when the information handling system is not docked to a docking station.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising processing with the first processor when the information handling system is docked to a docking station without a second processor.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising sharing of the first memory by the first and second processors when the information handling system is docked to a docking station including a second processor.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing the docking station with a second memory.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing the information handling system with a multi-processor handler.

21. The method of claim 20 further including, sensing by the multiprocessor handler, when the information handling system is docked with a docking station including a second processor and in response the information handling system engages in multi-processing with both the first and second processors.

22. The method of claim 20 further including, sensing by the multiprocessor handler, when the information handling system is not docked with the docking station, the first processor performing processing when docking is not sensed.

23. A method of operating an information handling system comprising:

providing an information handling system including a first processor coupled to a first memory and to a first docking connector;

providing a docking station including a second docking connector which mates with the first docking connector;

connecting the first docking connector to the second docking connector;

detecting, by the information handling system, the presence of a second processor in the docking station if a second processor is present therein; and

multiprocessing, by the first and second processors, if the second processor was detected in the detecting step.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the first processor performing processing when the presence of a second processor is not detected in the detecting step.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the first processor performing processing when the first docking connector is not connected to the second docking connector.