Hybrid computer add in device for selectively coupling to personal computer or solely to another add in device for proper functioning

• US 5,890,016 A
• Filed: 05/07/1996
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Tso, Michael Man-Hak
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, David
• Application Number:
  US08/643,948
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/486, 395/281, 395/887, 395/893, 395/884, 395/822, 455/343
• US Class Current: 710/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A personal computer add in device unit having functionality in a stand alone environment away from a personal computer. In one embodiment, a hybrid add in device has a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) client interface for interfacing with a PCMCIA host interface of a personal computer and a PCMCIA host interface and for interfacing with a PCMCIA client interface of another add in device.

Claims

1. A first hybrid computer add in device comprising:

a client interface for coupling to a host interface of a personal computer; and

a host interface for coupling to a client interface of a second add in device, said first hybrid computer add in device being portable and capable of having functionality when coupled to said personal computer and capable of having functionality when coupled only to said second add in device in a stand alone environment away from said personal computer.

2. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 1 wherein said client interface further comprises a female connector for coupling to a male connector.

3. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 1 wherein said host interface further comprises a male connector for coupling to a female connector of a second add in device.

4. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 1 further comprises a cellular wireless modem.

5. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 4 comprising host software for performing start-up operations when said first hybrid computer add in device is coupled to a second add in device.

6. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 1 wherein said client interface further comprises a client software for performing standard configuration tasks.

7. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 1 wherein said software module comprises a tuples with client information.

8. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 1 having a PCMCIA configuration.

9. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 1 having a universal serial bus configuration.

10. A first hybrid computer add in device comprising:

first means for interfacing to a host interface of a personal computer; and

second means for interfacing to a client interface of a second add in device, said first hybrid computer add in device being portable and capable of having functionality when coupled to said personal computer and capable of having functionality when coupled only to said second add in device in a stand alone environment away from said personal computer.

11. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 10 wherein said first means for interfacing further comprises a first means for coupling to a male connector of a personal computer.

12. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 10 wherein said second means for interfacing further comprises second means for coupling to a female connector of a second add in device.

13. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 10 further comprises:

software; and

means for processing said software module.

14. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 13 wherein said software module comprises a means for performing start-up operations when said first hybrid computer add in device and a second add in device are coupled.

15. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 13 wherein said software module comprises a means for performing standard configuration tasks.

16. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 13 wherein said software module comprises a tuples with client information.

17. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 10 having a PCMCIA configuration.

18. The first hybrid computer add in device of claim 10 having a universal serial bus configuration.

19. A method for providing functionality to two add in devices comprising the steps of:

docking a client interface and female connector of an add in device to a host interface and a male connector of a hybrid computer add in device; and

interfacing a host software of said hybrid computer add in device with a client software of an add in device, said hybrid computer add in device being portable and capable of having functionality when coupled to a personal computer and capable of having functionality when coupled only to said add in device in a stand alone environment away from said personal computer.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of performing initial start-up operations and configuration using said host software.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of sending communication request to said hybrid computer add in device in response to a user interface application request for data, said sending performed by said add in device, said user interface application residing in said add in device.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of receiving said data from a remote source, said receiving performed by said hybrid computer add in device.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of receiving said data from said hybrid computer add in device, said receiving performed by said add in device.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of routing said data to said user interface application requesting said data.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said hybrid computer add in device has a PCMCIA configuration.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said hybrid computer add in device has a universal serial bus configuration.