Dockable computer system capable of electric and electromagnetic communication

• US 5,668,977 A
• Filed: 05/06/1996
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Gephardt, Douglas D., Swanstrom, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHAMED, AYNI Y
• Application Number:
  US08/642,188
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/800, 395/309, 395/200, 395/700
• US Class Current: 703/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004

Abstract

A dockable computer system includes a portable computer (notebook or laptop) and a docking station (base unit). The portable computer and docking station both include a communication system so that messages can be communicated when the docking station is in an undocked state preparatory to a docked state. The communication system is preferably an infrared communication system. A communication protocol is also provided for generating an advance notice signal to warn of an impending dock. The communication protocol includes a CONNECT message, a CONNECT DETECTED message, and a CONFIRM message. Preferably, the CONNECT message is sent at a non-standard AT/PC baud rate. The communication system allows the dockable computer system to advantageously generate an advance notice signal of an impending dock and to transfer parameters necessary for the employment of sophisticated protective measures which protect the active buses of the portable computer and docking station during a docking event. Preferably, the portable computer performs an interrupt subroutine in response to receiving the CONNECT message. The notice signal is generated as part of the interrupt subroutine.

Claims

1. A dockable computer system including a host station and a mobile computer unit wherein said host station includes a station bus, and said mobile computer unit includes a unit bus, a unit processor and unit memory, wherein said mobile computer unit resides in at least two distinct states, a docked state in which said unit is operatively associated and physically communicating with said station and an undocked state in which said unit is physically separate from said station, and further wherein said mobile computer unit is in electromagnetic communication with said host station when said system is in said undocked state preparatory to assuming said docked state to transmit information via a wireless communication link between said unit and said station to prepare the dockable computer system for docking while said unit is, physically separate and physically proximate said station said information including prodock configuration information, said predock configuration information including bus speed information and identification information.

2. The dockable computer system of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic communication is infrared communication, and said prodock communication information includes peripheral device information.

3. The dockable computer system of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic communication is radio frequency communication, and said predock communication information includes peripheral device information.

4. The dockable computer system of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic communication is optical communication, and said predock communication information includes peripheral device information.

5. The dockable computer system of claim 1 wherein said host station enables said electromagnetic communication in response to said dockable computer system being in said undocked state prior to assuming said docked state.

6. A method of communicating docking parameters and data between a portable computer and a host station in a dockable computer system, said portable computer having a bus and said host station having a bus, said dockable computer system assumes a docked state and an undocked state, said bus of such host station being in physical electrical communication with said bus of said portable computer when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, said method comprising the steps of:

electromagnetically communicating said docking parameters via a wireless communication link to prepare the dockable computer system for docking between said portable computer and said docking station when said dockable computer system is in said undocked state preparatory to said docked state, said docking parameters being communicated while said portable computer is physically separate from said host station, said docking parameters including identification information and bus speed information; and

electrically communicating said data between said bus of said portable computer and said bus of said host station when said dockable computer system is in said docked state.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of electromagnetically communicating said data docking parameters includes electromagnetically communicating said data docking parameters in the infrared spectrum, and said docking parameters include peripheral device information.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of electromagnetically communicating said data docking parameters includes electromagnetically communicating said data docking parameters in the radio frequency spectrum, and said docking parameters include peripheral device information.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of electromagnetically communicating said data docking parameters includes electromagnetically communicating said data docking parameters in the visible light spectrum, and said docking parameters include peripheral device information.

10. A portable computer for use with a host station including a bus, said portable computer operable as a stand-alone computer or as an integrated computer system with said host station, said portable computer comprising:

a CPU;

a portable bus in physical electrical communication with said CPU, said portable bus being in physical electrical communication with said bus of said host station when said portable computer is operated as said integrated computer system; and

a communication system providing a wireless communication link for communicating messages to prepare the portable computer for docking as said integrated computer between said CPU and said host station prior to said portable computer changing from being operated as a stand-alone computer to being operated as said integrated computer system, said messages including a dock warning being and a predock configuration message, said messages being communicated while said portable computer is physically separate from said host station, said predock configuration message including bus speed and identification information.

11. The portable computer of claim 10 wherein said communication link is an electromagnetic communication link, and the predock configuration message includes peripheral device information about the portable computer.

12. The portable computer of claim 10 wherein said communication system is an audio communication link, and the predock configuration message includes peripheral device information about the portable computer.

13. The portable computer of claim 11 wherein said communication link is an infrared communication link, and the predock configuration message includes peripheral device information about the portable computer.

14. A dockable computer system assumes a docked state and an undocked state, said dockable computer system comprising:

a mobile computer having a bus; and

a host station having a bus, said bus of said host station being in physical electrical communication with said bus of said mobile computer when said dockable computer system is in said docked state, and said mobile computer being in electromagnetic communication via a wireless communication link with host station to prepare the dockable computer system for docking when said dockable computer system is in said undocked state preparatory to said docked state, said dockable computer system communicating predock configuration information via the wireless communication link when said dockable computer system is in an undocked state preparatory to said dock state, said prodock configuration information including bus speed information and identification information.

15. In a dockable computer system comprised of a host computer station, including a station bus, and a mobile computer unit including a unit bus, a unit processor and unit memory, wherein said system resides in at least two distinct states, a docked state in which said unit is operatively associated in physical communication with said station and an undocked state in which said unit is physically separate from said station, the improvement comprising a transmitter in at least one of said station or said unit programmable to send signals via a wireless communication link related to a connect message and a predock configuration message to prepare the dockable computer system for docking and a receiver in at least one of said unit or said station programmable to receive said connect message and said predock configuration message, said connect message and said predock message being sent while said host computer station is physically separate from said mobile computer unit, said predock configuration message indicating bus speed information and identification information.

16. The dockable computer system of claim 15 wherein said transmitter sends said connect message and prodock configuration message across an infrared communication link.

17. The dockable computer system of claim 15 wherein said transmitter and said receiver are both located on either said mobile computer unit or said station.

18. A method of providing configuration information and a notice signal in a dockable computer system including a station unit and a mobile computer unit, said mobile computer unit changing from being a stand-alone computer to being an integrated computer system in response to a docking event, said station unit and mobile computer unit being in communication across a wireless communication link while physically separate, said notice signal warning of said docking event, said method comprising:

providing a connect message between said units across said wireless communication link before said mobile computer unit is operable as an integrated computer system, said connect message including said configuration information, said configuration information including bus speed and identification information;

providing a connect detected message between said units across said wireless communication link in response to said connect message;

providing a connect detect confirm signal across said wireless communication link between said units in response to said connect detected signal; and

providing said notice signal in response to said connect detect confirm signal.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said connect message is provided at a non-standard Baud rate.

20. A method of providing configuration information and a notice signal in a dockable computer system including a portable computer and a host station, said system residing in at least two distinct states, a docked state in which said unit is operatively associated and physically communicating with said station and an undocked state in which said portable computer ie physically separate from said station, said system changing from said undocked state to said docked state in response to a docking event, portable computer and said host station communicating across a wireless communication link, said notice signal warning of said docking event, said method comprising:

providing a connect message across said wireless communication link from said host station to said portable computer when said system is in said undocked state, said connect including said configuration information, said configuration information including bus speed and identification information,

receiving said connect message and generating a connect signal in said portable computer;

performing an interrupt subroutine in said portable computer in response to said connect signals; and

providing said notice signal after said interrupt subroutine is initiated.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said connect message is provided at a non-standard Baud rate.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said interrupt subroutine generates said notice signal.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said connect message is provided when said system is in said undocked state preparatory to said docked state, and said connect message includes predock configuration information.