METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COUPLING A LAPTOP OR OTHER PORTABLE OR HAND-HELD DEVICE TO A DOCKING SYSTEM USING AN ETHERNET INTERFACE

• US 20080104301A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Assouad, Simon, Lakhani, Vinod
• Granted Patent: US 7,746,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

Methods and systems for coupling a laptop or other portable or hand-held device to a docking system using an Ethernet Interface are disclosed and may comprise interfacing a portable computing device to a docking station using an Ethernet interface. Power may be applied from the docking station to the portable computing device via the Ethernet interface using power over Ethernet (POE) protocol. Audio, video, multimedia, control and/or data signals may be communicated between the docking station and the portable computing device via the Ethernet interface. Data exchanged between the portable computing device and the docking station may be encapsulated in Ethernet frames and tagged appropriately. The interface may be accomplished by directly coupling an Ethernet port of the docking station to an Ethernet port of the portable computing device, or by utilizing an Ethernet cable. The docking station may be an active or passive docking station.

Claims

1. A method for docking a computer, the method comprising:

interfacing a portable computing device to a docking station using an Ethernet interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising supplying power from said docking station to said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising powering said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface using power over Ethernet (POE) protocol.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating audio signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating video signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating multimedia signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating control signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating data signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said interfacing comprises directly coupling an Ethernet port of said docking station to an Ethernet port of said portable computing device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said interfacing comprises coupling an Ethernet port of said docking station to an Ethernet port of said portable computing device via an Ethernet cable.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said docking station is an active docking station.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said docking station is a passive docking station.

13. The method according to claim 1, comprising charging said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface using power over Ethernet (POE) protocol.

14. The method according to claim 1, comprising encapsulating and tagging data exchanged between said portable computing device and said docking station.

15. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating data generated from human interface devices between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

16. A system for docking a computer, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for interfacing a portable computing device to a docking station using an Ethernet interface.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits supply power from said docking station to said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits powers said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface using power over Ethernet (POE) protocol.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits communicates audio signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits communicates video signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

21. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits communicates multimedia signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

22. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits communicates control signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits communicates data signals between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.

24. The system according to claim 16, wherein said Ethernet port of said docking station couples directly an to an Ethernet port of said portable computing device.

25. The system according to claim 16, wherein said Ethernet port of said docking station couples to an Ethernet port of said portable computing device via an Ethernet cable.

26. The system according to claim 16, wherein said docking station is an active docking station.

27. The system according to claim 16, wherein said docking station is a passive docking station.

28. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits charges said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface using power over Ethernet (POE) protocol.

29. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits encapsulates and tags data exchanged between said portable computing device and said docking station.

30. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits communicates data generated from human interface devices between said docking station and said portable computing device via said Ethernet interface.