Micro personal digital assistant with a compressed BIOS system
First Claim
1. A digital assistant module that interfaces with a host computer, comprising:
- an on-board CPU that manages functions of the digital assistant module;
a memory connected to the CPU that stores data and executable routines;
a user-operable input apparatus;
a host interface adapted so as to provide communications between the digital assistant module and the host computer upon docking with the host computer, said host interface cooperating with a host interface of said host computer whereby a user of said host computer may select pre-arranged software mixes for loading into said memory; and
an enclosure that houses said CPU, said memory, said input apparatus, and said host interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also has a means for storing a security code. The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant has a compressed BIOS chip, and in yet another embodiment also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A digital assistant module that interfaces with a host computer, comprising:
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an on-board CPU that manages functions of the digital assistant module;
a memory connected to the CPU that stores data and executable routines;
a user-operable input apparatus;
a host interface adapted so as to provide communications between the digital assistant module and the host computer upon docking with the host computer, said host interface cooperating with a host interface of said host computer whereby a user of said host computer may select pre-arranged software mixes for loading into said memory; and
an enclosure that houses said CPU, said memory, said input apparatus, and said host interface.
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2. An information vending system, comprising:
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a data repository having stored thereon at least one of an information entity and a program entity; and
a communication link by which a stored entity may be streamed from a data repository to a handheld appliance;
wherein a user of the handheld appliance is enabled to connect the handheld appliance to the data repository, to select for purchasing at least one information entity or program entity stored on the data repository, and to initiate payment for the selected entity, and wherein the selected entity is streamed to the appliance in response to the payment. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A handheld appliance, comprising:
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an interface for communicating with an external system;
a means for browsing and selecting from a list of digital entities for sale, the list provided via the interface;
a means for initiating payment for one or more entities selected; and
a means for receiving and storing the one or more digital entities selected and for which payment was initiated. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29)
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28. A method for vending at least one of a digital information entity and a program entity, comprising steps of:
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(a) storing one or more entities to be vended in a data repository coupled to an intelligent vendor;
(b) providing a communication interface for the intelligent vendor, with which the vendor may stream the one or more digital entities;
(c) providing, via the communication interface, a list of one or more entities for sale in response to a request from a potential purchaser; and
(d) streaming, via the communication interface, one or more entities selected for purchase. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A machine-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for causing a handheld appliance to perform a method including;
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(a) establishing communication with a system for vending digital entities;
(b) requesting a list of one or more entities for sale;
(c) selecting a selected entity from the list; and
(d) downloading the selected entity. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A machine-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for causing a vending system to perform a method including:
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(a) establishing communication with an appliance;
(b) providing a list of one or more entities for sale;
(c) receiving from the appliance a selection of a selected entity; and
(d) streaming the selected entity to the appliance. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification