Portable computer with shared expansion slot
First Claim
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1. A portable computer that is capable of being connected to a computer, the portable computer comprising:
- a processor;
a display device electrically connected to the processor for displaying output of the processor;
a communications module electrically connected to the processor for communicating with the computer, the communications module having a first mode and a second mode; and
an expansion slot electrically connected to the processor capable of accepting an expansion card for expanding capabilities of the processor;
wherein when the communications module is in the first mode the communications module allows communication between the expansion slot and the processor and prevents communication between the expansion slot and the computer, and when the communications module is in the second mode the communications module allows communication between the expansion slot and the computer and prevents communication between the expansion slot and the processor.
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Abstract
A portable computer includes a processor, a display device, an expansion slot with expansion card, and a communications module. The communications module having four modes that each restricts access in a different way to the expansion slot and corresponding expansion card resources by the processor and another computer. The mode of the communications module can be set by the communications module detecting states of a connection port and a wireless communications module of the portable computer. Alternatively, the mode of the communications module can be set by the processor and the other computer.
20 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A portable computer that is capable of being connected to a computer, the portable computer comprising:
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a processor;
a display device electrically connected to the processor for displaying output of the processor;
a communications module electrically connected to the processor for communicating with the computer, the communications module having a first mode and a second mode; and
an expansion slot electrically connected to the processor capable of accepting an expansion card for expanding capabilities of the processor;
wherein when the communications module is in the first mode the communications module allows communication between the expansion slot and the processor and prevents communication between the expansion slot and the computer, and when the communications module is in the second mode the communications module allows communication between the expansion slot and the computer and prevents communication between the expansion slot and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification