Integrated communication and information processing system

• US 20080155159A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Rivas, Mario A., Cole, Terry Lynn
• Application Number:
  US11/615,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155159A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for integrating an information processing system and a portable communication device. A first information processing system is coupled to a second information processing system through a connection such as a dock, cable, or wireless link. Once coupled, an interface connection manager is implemented to enable the second system to perform processing operations using the first system'"'"'s network connections and peripherals and vice-versa. The interface connection manager then establishes a communications channel between the coupled systems to a third information processing system, typically through a physical or wireless network connection. The interface connection manager similarly enables the first system to perform authentication operations by accessing an authentication module implemented in the second system. When physically coupled, a power management module manages the respective power states of the two systems to provide power from the first system'"'"'s power source to the second system.

Claims

1. A system for processing information, comprising:

a first information processing system operable to be coupled to a second information processing system;

processing logic to establish at least one communication channel operable to communicate information between said first and second information processing systems;

an interface connection bus operable to enable a plurality of interface connections between said first and second information processing systems; and

an interface connection manager operable to enable said second information processing system to perform information processing operations, wherein said second information processing system is connected to at least one input/output device interface of said first information processing system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second information processing system is operable to be physically coupled to said first information processing system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said physical coupling is through a cable, said cable comprising a plurality of interface connections.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said physical coupling is through a dock, said dock comprising a plurality of interface connections.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said dock comprises a PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot, said PCMCIA slot comprising a plurality of interface connections.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said dock comprises a receptacle, said receptacle configured to physically couple at least one said second information processing system comprising a predetermined form factor.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said dock comprises a receptacle configured to receive an adapter, said adapter operable to adapt said receptacle to physically couple said second information processing system comprising a predetermined form factor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said second information processing system is operable to be wirelessly coupled to said first information processing system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication channel is operable to communicate information between said first and said second information processing systems.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication channel is operable to communicate information from said first and said second information processing systems to a third information processing system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said communications channel comprises a network connection over a physical interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said communications channel comprises a network connection over a wireless interface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface connection manager is operable to detect the coupling of said first and said second information processing systems.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said interface connection manager is operable to determine the operational capabilities of said first and said second information processing systems upon said coupling.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said interface connection manager is operable to determine the operational status of said operational capabilities.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said interface connection manager uses said operational status to determine the optimal said communications channel connection to communicate information between said first and said second information processing systems.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said interface connection manager uses said operational status to determine the optimal communication channel connection to communicate information from said first and said second information processing systems to a third information processing system.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said coupling enables at least one power connection between said first and said second information processing systems when physically coupled.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said first information processing system comprises a power manager operable to manage the power states of said first and said second information processing systems through said interface connection bus.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said power manager is operable to provide power from said first information processing system to said second information processing system when said first and said second information processing systems are physically coupled.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said predetermined power state is used to control charging of a battery operable to power said second information processing system when said first and said second information processing systems are not physically coupled.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said coupling enables said second information processing system to connect to said I/O devices coupled to said first information processing system I/O device interfaces.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said first information processing system does not perform information processing operations while said connection is active.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said connection is operable to connect when said first information processing system is operating in a low power state.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein said coupling enables said first information processing system to connect to said I/O devices coupled to said second information processing system I/O device interfaces.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said second information processing system comprises an authentication module operable to perform authentication operations.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said authentication module comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM), said SIM comprising authentication information.

28. A method for processing information, comprising:

coupling a first information processing system to a second information processing system;

using processing logic to establish at least one communication channel operable to communicate information between said first and second information processing systems;

enabling a plurality of predetermined interface connections between said first and said second information processing systems over an interface connection bus; and

enabling said second information processing system to perform information processing operations by using an interface connection manager to connect at least one input/output device interface of said first information processing system to said second information processing system.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said second information processing system is operable to be physically coupled to said first information processing system.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said physical coupling is through a cable, said cable comprising a plurality of interface connections.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said physical coupling is through a dock, said dock comprising a plurality of interface connections.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said dock comprises a PCMCIA slot, said PCMCIA slot comprising a plurality of interface connections.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said dock comprises a receptacle, said receptacle configured to physically couple at least one said second information processing system comprising a predetermined form factor.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said dock comprises a receptacle configured to receive an adapter, said adapter operable to adapt said receptacle to physically couple said second information processing system comprising a predetermined form factor.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein said second information processing system is operable to be wirelessly coupled to said first information processing system.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein said communication channel is operable to communicate information between said first and said second information processing systems.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein said communication channel is operable to communicate information from said first and said second information processing systems to a third information processing system.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein said communications channel comprises a network connection over a physical interface.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein said communications channel comprises a network connection over a wireless interface.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein said interface connection manager is operable to detect the coupling of said first and said second information processing systems.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said interface connection manager is operable to determine the operational capabilities of said first and said second information processing systems upon said coupling.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said interface connection manager is operable to determine the operational status of said operational capabilities.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said interface connection manager uses said operational status to determine the optimal said communications channel connection to communicate information between said first and said second information processing systems.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said interface connection manager uses said operational status to determine the optimal communications channel connection to communicate information from said first and said second information processing systems to a third information processing system.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein said coupling enables at least one power connection between said first and said second information processing systems when physically coupled.

46. The method of claim 28, wherein said first information processing system comprises a power manager operable to manage the power states of said first and said second information processing systems through said interface connection bus.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said power manager is operable to provide power from said first information processing system to said second information processing system when said first and said second information processing systems are physically coupled.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said predetermined power state is used to control recharging of a battery, said battery operable to power said second information processing system when said first and said second information processing systems are not physically coupled.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein said coupling enables said second information processing system to connect to said I/O devices coupled to said first information processing system I/O device interfaces.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said first information processing system does not perform information processing operations while said connection is active.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein said connection is operable to connect when said first information processing system is operating in a low power state.

52. The method of claim 40, wherein said coupling enables said first information processing system to connect to said I/O devices coupled to said second information processing system I/O device interfaces.

53. The method of claim 28, wherein said second information processing system comprises an authentication module operable to perform authentication operations.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said authentication module comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM), said SIM comprising authentication information.