PORT REPLICATING APPARATUS

• US 20080059681A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chia, Benjamin Pei-Ming, Lodolo, Luca, Frappereau, Frederic, Stone, Jason, Stacey, Jonathan, Wilson, Christopher Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,898 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

A docking assembly including a port replicating apparatus is disclosed. The docking assembly includes a port replicating apparatus including (i) a housing having a major dimension defined by a first terminal end and a second terminal end, (ii) at least one interface for connecting to a portable electronic device, and (iii) a plurality of connectors in the housing for connecting to a plurality of peripheral devices. A base is also included in the docking assembly. It is capable of mechanically coupling to at least the first terminal end of the housing of the port replicating apparatus, such that the major dimension of the housing is vertically oriented.

Claims

1. A docking assembly comprising:

a port replicating apparatus comprising (i) a housing having a major dimension defined by a first terminal end and a second terminal end, (ii) at least one interface in the housing for connecting to a portable electronic device, and (iii) a plurality of connectors in the housing for connecting to a plurality of peripheral devices; and

a base capable of mechanically coupling to at least the first terminal end of the housing of the port replicating apparatus, such that the major dimension of the housing is vertically oriented.

2. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein the first terminal end includes a female connector and the base includes a male connector.

3. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein the first terminal end includes a first physical connector for connecting to the base and wherein the port replicating apparatus comprises a second physical connector for connecting the port replicating apparatus to a platform, wherein the major dimension is horizontally oriented when the port replicating apparatus is attached to the platform.

4. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein the port replicating apparatus comprises a removable foot, wherein the removable foot lies flat against a surface of the housing in a first position, and wherein the removable foot props a lateral end of the housing up so that an upper surface of the housing forms an angle with a surface upon which the port replicating apparatus is disposed.

5. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least two connectors with different physical configurations.

6. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein the port replicating apparatus comprises a video graphics chip.

7. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein the port replicating apparatus comprises a PCI Express to PCI bridge coupling the interface and at least one of the connectors.

8. The docking assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least one universal serial bus port.

9. A method of using the docking assembly of claim 1 comprising:

obtaining the port replicating apparatus; and

placing the port replicating apparatus on the base such that the major dimension is vertically oriented.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

connecting the portable electronic device to the interface; and

connecting peripheral devices to the connectors.

16. A system comprising:

the port replicating apparatus of claim 1;

a portable computer comprising a card slot;

a card disposed in the card slot; and

a cable connecting the interface in the port replicating apparatus and the card.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the card is a PCI Express card.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a mass storage device connected to the first connector.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the connectors is a video connector, and wherein the system includes a video terminal connected to the video connector.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the port replicating apparatus further comprises a universal serial bus to Ethernet adapter coupled to the interface.

11. A port replicating apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an interface in the housing for connecting to a portable electronic device, the interface being adapted for use with a switching, serial bus architecture; and

a plurality of connectors in the housing for connecting to a plurality of peripheral devices, the plurality of connectors including a first universal serial bus connector electrically coupled to the interface via a universal serial bus hub, and a second universal serial bus connector separately coupled to the interface without an intervening universal serial bus hub.

12. The port replicating apparatus of claim 11 wherein the interface is a PCI Express interface.

13. The port replicating apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plurality of connectors further comprises at least one video connector, and wherein the port replicating apparatus further comprises a video graphics chip coupled to the at least one video connector.

14. The port replicating apparatus of claim 11 wherein the interface is a PCI Express interface and wherein the port replicating apparatus further includes a PCI Express to PCI bridge.

15. The port replicating apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a PCI to universal serial bus bridge coupled to the first universal serial bus port.

21. A port replicating apparatus comprising:

a housing having a major dimension defined by a first terminal end and a second terminal end;

at least one interface in the housing for connecting to a portable electronic device;

a plurality of connectors in the housing for connecting to a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein at least one of the peripheral devices comprises a display device; and

at least one input element on the housing of the port replicating apparatus, wherein the at least one input element controls the operation of the display device.

22. The port replicating apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one input element comprises at least one button.

23. The port replicating apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one input element causes the display device to operate in a clone mode, an extended mode, or an off mode.

24. A system comprising:

the port replicating apparatus of claim 21;

the display device operatively connected to a connector in the plurality of connectors; and

the portable electronic device operatively connected to the at least one interface.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a laptop computer.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a computer readable medium comprising code for causing the at least one input element to control the operation of the display device.

27. A method comprising:

obtaining a port replicating apparatus comprising (i) a housing having a major dimension defined by a first terminal end and a second terminal end, (ii) at least one interface in the housing for connecting to a portable electronic device, (iii) a plurality of connectors in the housing for connecting to a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein the plurality of peripheral devices comprises a display device, and, (iv) at least one input element on the housing of the port replicating apparatus, wherein the at least one input element controls the operation of the display device;

attaching the portable electronic device to the port replicating apparatus;

attaching the display device to at least one connector in the port replicating apparatus; and

manipulating the at least one input element on the port replicating apparatus to control the operation of the display device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the portable electronic device is a laptop computer.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein manipulating the at least one input element on the port replicating apparatus to control the operation of the display device causes the display device to operate in a clone mode.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein manipulating the at least one input element on the port replicating apparatus to control the operation of the display device causes the display device to operate in an extended mode.