Dockable computer system capable of symmetric multi-processing operations
First Claim
1. A dockable computer system capable of assuming at least two states, a docked state and an undocked state, said dockable computer system comprising:
- a host station including a host bus and a general purpose host CPU coupled with said host bus, said host CPU having a host cache;
a portable computer including a computer bus, said host bus capable of electrical communication with said computer bus when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, said host bus being physically separate from said computer bus when said dockable computer system is in said undocked state, said portable computer having a general purpose portable CPU, said portable CPU having a portable cache coupled with said portable bus;
a main memory, said host CPU capable of directly communicating first data to and from said main memory and said host cache when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, and said portable CPU capable of directly communicating second data between said main memory and said portable cache when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, whereby said host CPU and said portable CPU are capable of symmetrical multi-processing operations when said dockable computer system is in said docked state;
a docking bridge; and
a connector bus, said docking bridge being coupled between said connector bus and said portable bus, said docking bridge being intermediate said host bus and said portable bus when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, wherein said docking bridge includes a multi-processing bus for communicating multi-processing support signals between said portable bus and said host bus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dockable computer system is capable of performing symmetrical multi-processing operations. More particularly, the dockable computer system includes a portable computer and a host station (docking station), each including a resident CPU. The dockable computer system is capable of operating in a docked state in which the portable computer is physically joined with the host station and an undocked state in which the portable computer is physically separate from the host station. In the docked state, the dockable computer system is capable of performing demanding computational tasks such as video conferencing as one of the CPUs in either the portable computer or host station is dedicated to the video conferencing operation. The dockable computer system preferably includes a communication channel for transmitting multi-processing support signals between the portable computer and the host station. Multi-processing support signals include synchronization signals, cache coherency signals, and interrupt distribution signals such as the LOCK signal, PLOCK signal, FLUSH signal, EADS signal, INTR signal or INTACK signal. The communication channel may be a dedicated bus or may be provided through a docking bridge between the portable computer and host station. The dockable computer system advantageously optimizes CPU resources when the dockable computer system is in a docked state.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A dockable computer system capable of assuming at least two states, a docked state and an undocked state, said dockable computer system comprising:
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a host station including a host bus and a general purpose host CPU coupled with said host bus, said host CPU having a host cache; a portable computer including a computer bus, said host bus capable of electrical communication with said computer bus when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, said host bus being physically separate from said computer bus when said dockable computer system is in said undocked state, said portable computer having a general purpose portable CPU, said portable CPU having a portable cache coupled with said portable bus; a main memory, said host CPU capable of directly communicating first data to and from said main memory and said host cache when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, and said portable CPU capable of directly communicating second data between said main memory and said portable cache when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, whereby said host CPU and said portable CPU are capable of symmetrical multi-processing operations when said dockable computer system is in said docked state; a docking bridge; and a connector bus, said docking bridge being coupled between said connector bus and said portable bus, said docking bridge being intermediate said host bus and said portable bus when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, wherein said docking bridge includes a multi-processing bus for communicating multi-processing support signals between said portable bus and said host bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of symmetrical multi-processing in a dockable computer system including a memory, a portable computer and a host station, said portable computer having a first general purpose CPU, a portable bus, a connector bus and a docking bridge and said host station having a second general purpose CPU and a host bus, said method comprising the steps of:
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performing first processing operations with said first CPU; simultaneously performing second processing operations with said second CPU; and transferring symmetrical multi-processing support signals from said host station to said portable computer and from said computer to said host station via said docking bridge, when said host station is docked with said portable computer, wherein said docking bridge being coupled between said connector bus and said portable bus, said docking bridge being intermediate said host bus and said portable bus when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, wherein said docking bridge includes a multi-processing bus for communicating multi-processing support signals between said portable bus and said host bus. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system comprising:
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a main memory; a main general purpose CPU; a main bus coupled to said main memory and said main CPU; a host general purpose CPU; a host bus coupled to said host CPU; and an interface coupled to said main bus and said host bus, said host CPU communicating with said main CPU and said main memory across said host bus, said interface and said main bus, said interface including a communication channel for communicating symmetrical multi-processing support signals, wherein said interface includes; a docking bridge; and a connector bus, said docking bridge being coupled between said connector bus and said main bus, said docking bridge being intermediate said host bus and said main bus when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, wherein said docking bridge includes a multi-processing bus for communicating multi-processing support signals between said main bus and said host bus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In a dockable computer system comprised of a host computer station, including a host general purpose CPU and a station bus, and a mobile computer unit including a general purpose unit CPU and a unit bus, wherein said system is capable of residing in at least two distinct states, a docked state in which said unit is operatively associated with said station and an undocked state in which said unit is physically separate from said station, the improvement comprising:
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a dedicated channel circuit in operative communication with said mobile computer unit and said host computer unit when said system is in said docked state for communicating symmetrical multi-processing support signals between said mobile computer unit and said host computer station, wherein said dedicated channel circuit includes; a docking bridge and a connector bus, said docking bridge being coupled between said connector bus and said unit bus, said docking bridge being intermediate said station bus and said unit bus when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, wherein said docking bridge includes a multi-processing bus for communicating multi-processing support signals between said unit bus and said station bus. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A docking bridge for use in a dockable computer system including a general purpose host CPU coupled to a host bus and a general purpose portable CPU coupled to a portable bus, the docking bridge comprising:
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a first bus coupled to said portable bus; a second bus coupled to said host bus when said system is docked; a data path circuit including a first buffer and a second buffer coupled between said first bus and said second bus, said data path circuit receiving first data on said first bus and storing said first data in said first buffer for at least one clock cycle and providing said first data on said second bus, said data path circuit receiving second data on said second bus and storing said second data in said second buffer for at least one said clock cycle and providing said second data on said first bus; and a docking bus arbiter coupled to said first bus and said second bus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification