Base for a Tablet Computer

• US 20140215114A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,110,840 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 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

An example of a base apparatus for use by a tablet computer is disclosed. The base apparatus can include a first peripheral device capable of operating according to a first wireless communication protocol; a first demultiplexer coupled to the first peripheral device; and a first wireless communication module coupled to the first demultiplexer. The first demultiplexer is to transmit signals received from the first peripheral device to the tablet computer in a wired way or transmit signals received from the first peripheral device to the first wireless communication module based on whether the tablet computer is connected to or detached from the base apparatus. The first wireless communication module is to transmit wirelessly signals received from the first demultiplexer to the tablet computer.

Claims

1. A base apparatus for use by a tablet computer, comprising:

a first peripheral device to operate according to a first wireless communication protocol;

a first demultiplexer coupled to the first peripheral device; and

a first wireless communication module coupled to the first demultiplexer;

wherein the first demultiplexer is to transmit signals received from the first peripheral device to the tablet computer in a wired way or transmit signals received from the first peripheral device to the first wireless communication module based on whether said tablet computer is connected to or detached from said base apparatus; and

said first wireless communication module is to transmit wirelessly signals received from the first demultiplexer to the tablet computer.

2. The base apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first peripheral device is an input device that operates according to a low speed wireless communication protocol.

3. The base apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second peripheral device to operate according to a second different wireless communication protocol;

a second demultiplexer coupled to the second peripheral device; and

a second wireless communication module coupled to the second demultiplexer;

wherein the second demultiplexer is to transmit signals received from the second peripheral device to the tablet computer in a wired way or transmit signals received from the second peripheral device to the second wireless communication module based on whether said tablet computer is connected to or detached from said base; and

said second wireless communication module is to transmit wirelessly signals received from the second demultiplexer to the tablet computer.

4. The base apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second peripheral device is a storage device that operates according to a high speed wireless communication protocol.

5. The base apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector that docks to the tablet computer, wherein the first demultiplexer couples to the connector so that when the connector docks to the tablet computer, the first demultiplexer transmits signals to the connector.

6. A hybrid computing system, comprising:

a base device comprising a number of components that operate according to different wireless communication protocols;

a tablet computing device detachably coupled to said base device;

wherein each of the components communicate with the tablet computing device according to a respective one of the different wireless communication protocols when the tablet computing device is detached from the base device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said different wireless communication protocols at least include a low-speed wireless communication protocol and a high-speed wireless communication protocol.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said low-speed wireless communication protocol is Bluetooth protocol and said high-speed wireless communication protocol is a WLAN protocol.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein one of the components that operates according to the Bluetooth protocol is an input device and another of the components that operates according to the WLAN protocol is a storage device.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the base device further comprises:

a demultiplexer coupled to each of the components; and

a wireless controller coupled to the demultiplexer;

wherein said demultiplexer is to detect that the tablet computing device is detached from the base device and direct a signal from a component coupled thereto towards the wireless controller and the wireless controller is to transmit the signal received from the demultiplexer to the tablet computing device wirelessly.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the base device further comprises:

a connector to dock to the tablet computing device.

12. A method for operating a hybrid computing system, which includes a base device and to tablet computer that detachably couples to the base device, said method comprises:

detecting if the tablet computer is detached from the base device;

if the detachment is detected, wirelessly transmitting signals from components within the base device that operate according to different wireless communication protocols to the tablet computer through separate communication links.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

if it is detected that the tablet computer is connected to the base device, transmitting said signals to the tablet computer through wires.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

disabling a wireless communication function in the base device upon detecting that the tablet computer is connected to the base device.