Address mapping logic for transferring data between a peripheral device of a base function expander unit and a palmtop computer as if the peripheral was a peripheral of the computer
First Claim
1. An information storage and transfer device for use with a palmtop computer having an IC memory card drive for reading and writing IC memory cards of a proprietary format, an internal address bus and a data bus, said information storage and transfer device comprising:
- a local address bus including a first plurality of address signals and a second plurality of address signals;
an interface for coupling said second plurality of address signals of said local address bus to said internal address bus and said data bus of said palmtop computer, so as to allow data transfer between said palmtop computer and said information storage and transfer device;
an input and output port for connection to external devices;
a peripheral device; and
an address mapping logic circuit, coupled to said interface and said local address bus, for driving said first plurality of address signals in said local address bus, said address mapping circuit mapping said peripheral device and said input and output port each to an address of said palmtop computer, so as to allow data transfer between said palmtop computer and said peripheral device and said input and output port to occur over said interface as if said peripheral device and said input and output port are a peripheral device and an input and output port of said palmtop computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable information storage and transfer device for use with integrated circuit (IC) memory card-based palmtop computers obviates many operations traditionally requiring a desktop computer. An external floppy disk drive allows large amount of data and software programs to be made available to the IC memory card-based computer on floppy disks. In addition, two memory card slots are provided to allow reading and writing IC memory card under either the proprietary format of the palmtop computer or an industry standard format, such as Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMIA). Data interchange is thus between media written under disparate operating systems, file structures and basic input/output structures.
115 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An information storage and transfer device for use with a palmtop computer having an IC memory card drive for reading and writing IC memory cards of a proprietary format, an internal address bus and a data bus, said information storage and transfer device comprising:
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a local address bus including a first plurality of address signals and a second plurality of address signals; an interface for coupling said second plurality of address signals of said local address bus to said internal address bus and said data bus of said palmtop computer, so as to allow data transfer between said palmtop computer and said information storage and transfer device; an input and output port for connection to external devices; a peripheral device; and an address mapping logic circuit, coupled to said interface and said local address bus, for driving said first plurality of address signals in said local address bus, said address mapping circuit mapping said peripheral device and said input and output port each to an address of said palmtop computer, so as to allow data transfer between said palmtop computer and said peripheral device and said input and output port to occur over said interface as if said peripheral device and said input and output port are a peripheral device and an input and output port of said palmtop computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for providing an information storage and transfer device for use with a palmtop computer having an IC memory card drive for reading and writing IC memory cards of a proprietary format, an internal address bus and a data bus, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a local address bus including a first plurality of address signals and a second plurality of address signals; providing an interface for coupling said second plurality of address signals of said local address bus to said internal address bus and said data bus of said palmtop computer, so as to allow data transfer between said palmtop computer and said information storage and transfer device; providing an input and output port for connection to external devices; providing a peripheral device; and providing an address mapping logic circuit, coupled to said interface and said local address bus, for driving said first plurality of address signals in said local address bus, said address mapping circuit mapping said peripheral device and said input and output port each to an address of said palmtop computer, so as to allow data transfer between said palmtop computer and said peripheral device and said input and output port to occur over said interface as if said peripheral device and said input and output port are a peripheral device and an input and output port of said palmtop computer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification