Computer having removable input/output device

• US 20070206019A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Adachi, Masaharu
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/520
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A computer is disclosed that includes a switching part configured to detect connection of an external computer to the computer upon the connection, and to determine, in response to the detection of the connection of the external computer, that the output signal of the external computer be received and output to the output part of the computer.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a switching part configured to detect a connection of an external computer to the computer upon the connection, and to determine, in response to the detection of the connection of the external computer, that an output signal of the external computer be received and output to an output part of the computer.

2. A computer, wherein:

a connection of an external computer to the computer is detected upon the connection; and

it is determined, in response to the detection of the connection of the external computer, that a signal input through an input part of the computer be input to the external computer.

3. A computer, comprising;

a switching part configured to detect a connection of an external computer to the computer upon the connection; and

to determine, in response to the detection of the connection of the external computer, that an output signal of the external computer be received and output to an output part of the computer, and a signal input through an input part of the computer be input to the external computer.

4. A computer, wherein:

when the computer is connected as an external computer to the computer as set forth in claim 3, a signal indicating the connection is provided to the computer as set forth in claim 3.

5. A computer, comprising:

a main body; and

an input/output part including an input part and an output part,

wherein the input/output part is removably provided on the main body.

6. The computer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the input/output part includes a processor including a peripheral device controller.

7. The computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the processor has a processing function as a computer; and

the input/output part functions as an independent computer upon detachment from the main body.

8. The computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the input/output part is configured to detect an attachment of the input/output part to the main body upon the attachment, and to detect a detachment of the input/output part from the main body upon the detachment, the computer further comprising:

a switching part configured to determine, in response to the detection of the attachment of the input/output part, that an output signal of the main body be received and output to the output part of the input/output part, and a signal input through the input part of the input/output part be input to the main body; and

to determine, in response to the detection of the detachment of the input/output part, that an output signal of the processor be output to the output part of the input/output part, and the signal input through the input part of the input/output part be input to the processor.

9. The computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor starts returning to operation upon the detachment of the input/output part from the main body.

10. The computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processor stops operating upon the attachment of the input/output part to the main body.

11. The computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein a processor provided in the main body starts returning to operation upon the attachment of the input/output part to the main body.

12. The computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processor provided in the main body stops operating upon the detachment of the input/output part from the main body.

13. The computer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the main body recognizes one of a real secondary storage unit and a virtual secondary storage unit managed by the processor of the input/output part as a secondary storage unit upon the attachment of the input/output part to the main body.

14. A computer, comprising:

a main body; and

an input/output part including an input part and an output part, the input/output part being removably provided on the main body,

wherein the input/output part includes a processor including a peripheral device controller, the processor having a processing function as a computer, the processor being configured to be remotely connectable to the main body through data communications.

15. The computer as claimed in claim 14, wherein in a case of performing the remote connection from the input/output part to the main body through the data communications, the remote connection is performed after the main body in one of a shutdown state, a suspended state, and a hibernation state is started or returned to operation in response to a remote start packet transmitted to the main body from the processor of the input/output part.

16. The computer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the main body notifies the input/output part of the returning to operation after the main body receives the remote start packet from the input/output device and is returned.

17. The computer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the main body recognizes one of a real secondary storage unit and a virtual secondary storage unit managed by the processor of the input/output part as a secondary storage unit through the data communications.

18. The computer as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processor of the input/output part recognizes a secondary storage unit managed by the main body as a secondary storage unit through the data communications.

19. The computer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the processor of the input/output part is configured to remotely log off the main body automatically upon recognizing that the input/output part is being attached to the main body, and to remotely log on the main body automatically upon recognizing that the input/output part is being detached from the main body.

20. The computer as claimed in claim 19, wherein the main body recognizes one of a real secondary storage unit and a virtual secondary storage unit managed by the processor of the input/output part as a secondary storage unit through the data communications.

21. The computer as claimed in claim 20, wherein the processor of the input/output part recognizes a secondary storage unit managed by the main body as a secondary storage unit through the data communications.