Information Handling System Docking with Coordinated Power and Data Communication
First Claim
1. An information handling system comprising:
- a housing;
a processor disposed in the housing, the processor operable to execute instructions for processing information;
memory disposed in the housing, the memory interfaced with the processor and operable to store the instructions and information;
a docking manager disposed in the housing, the docking manager operable to manage interactions with an external docking station through a docking port;
a docking port disposed in the housing and having plural data lanes, the docking manager operable to adapt the data lines to selected of plural protocols; and
wireless networking resources disposed in the housing and operable to support wireless networking interfaces through one or more wireless protocols;
wherein the docking manager is further operable to coordinate assignment of the wireless networking resources to networking tasks in cooperation with the external docking station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A docking station connects through a docking port and docking cable with an information handling system to support communication between the information handling system and docking station peripherals. On initial interface, one data lane of the docking port establishes a temporary management interface, such as an I2C management bus, to configure the docking station. After configuration, a docking manager, virtual wireless access point and power block cooperate to assign data lanes of the docking port and wireless communication resources to information transfer and power transfer functions based upon processing and communication tasks performed at the information handling system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An information handling system comprising:
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a housing; a processor disposed in the housing, the processor operable to execute instructions for processing information; memory disposed in the housing, the memory interfaced with the processor and operable to store the instructions and information; a docking manager disposed in the housing, the docking manager operable to manage interactions with an external docking station through a docking port; a docking port disposed in the housing and having plural data lanes, the docking manager operable to adapt the data lines to selected of plural protocols; and wireless networking resources disposed in the housing and operable to support wireless networking interfaces through one or more wireless protocols; wherein the docking manager is further operable to coordinate assignment of the wireless networking resources to networking tasks in cooperation with the external docking station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for interfacing an information handling system with a docking station, the method comprising:
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detecting a cable connection between the docking station and the information handling system; configuring one or more data lanes of the cable connection to communicate peripheral information between the docking station and the information handling system; and selectively communicating between the information handling system and plural peripherals through the cable and through wireless networking resources based upon assignments of wireless networking resources made by the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A docking station comprising:
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a housing; one or more docking ports disposed at the housing, each docking port configured to interface with an information handling system docking connector; one or more peripheral ports disposed at the housing, each peripheral port configured to interface with a peripheral device; wireless networking resources disposed in the housing and configured to interface with one or more information handling systems and one or more peripherals through one or more wireless protocols; a docking manager disposed in the housing and interfaced with the one or more docking ports, the docking manager operable to assign tasks to data lanes of the one or more docking ports for supporting operation of an information handling system; and a virtual wireless access point disposed in the housing and interfaced with the docking manager, the virtual wireless access point operable to assign wireless communication tasks to the wireless networking resources based upon tasks assigned to the data lanes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification