Two computers cooperating via interconnected busses
First Claim
1. A first computer for use with a second computer, the second computer having a second bus and a second central processing unit that runs a second operating system that provides a user interface, the first computer comprising:
- a first bus for connection to the second bus; and
a first central processing unit configured to run a first operating system that provides a user interface and configured to cooperate with the second central processing unit such that the first and second computers operate in at least first and second alternative modes when the first and second buses are connected, the first mode using the first central processing unit and the second mode using only the second central processing unit.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first computer is capable of being used with a second computer. The second computer has a second bus and a second central processing unit that runs a second operating system that provides a user interface. The first computer includes a first bus for connection to the second bus. The first computer also has a first central processing unit configured to run a first operating system that provides a user interface and configured to cooperate sometimes with the second central processing unit such that the first and second computers operate with one of the central processing units as a single computer when the first and second buses are connected.
77 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A first computer for use with a second computer, the second computer having a second bus and a second central processing unit that runs a second operating system that provides a user interface, the first computer comprising:
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a first bus for connection to the second bus; and a first central processing unit configured to run a first operating system that provides a user interface and configured to cooperate with the second central processing unit such that the first and second computers operate in at least first and second alternative modes when the first and second buses are connected, the first mode using the first central processing unit and the second mode using only the second central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 31, 32, 33)
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18. A method comprising:
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providing a first computer having a first central processing unit that runs a first operating system; providing a second computer having a second central processing unit that runs a second operating system that provides a user interface; connecting a bus of the first computer to a bus of the second computer; and at a first time, operating the first and second computers in a first mode using the first central processing unit but not the second central processing unit; and at a second time, operating the first and second computers in a second mode using the second central processing unit but not the first central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer system comprising:
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a second computer having; a second bus, a peripheral device accessible via the second bus, and a second central processing unit that runs a second operating system that provides a user interface; and a first computer having; a first bus for connection to the second bus, and a first central processing unit configured to run a first operating system and configured to cooperate with the second central processing unit; wherein the first and second computers are configured to operate in at least two alternative modes when the first bus is coupled to the second bus, one of the alternative modes using the first central processing unit but not the second central processing unit and the other of the two alternative modes using the second central processing unit but not the first central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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34. A first computer for use with a second computer, the second computer having a second bus and a second central processing unit that runs a second operating system that provides a user interface, the first computer comprising:
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a first bus for connection to the second bus; and a first central processing unit configured to run a first operating system that provides a user interface and configured to cooperate with the second central processing unit such that the first and second computers operate in a diagnostic mode and a run time mode when the first and second buses are connected, the first and second computers using the first central processing unit in the run time mode and using only the second central processing unit in the diagnostic mode.
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35. A computer system comprising:
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a central processing unit; a user input device coupled for access by the central processing unit; a user output device coupled for access by the central processing unit; and a memory storing a plurality of program instructions, the program instructions being executed by the central processing unit and comprising; a set of computer instructions for determining if the computer system is coupled to a second computer system that includes a second central processing unit, a system memory and a plurality of devices; a set of computer instructions for determining whether the computer system is to run in a diagnostic mode if the computer system is coupled to the second computer system; a set of computer instructions for configuring the system in a diagnostic mode if it is determined that the computer system is to run in a diagnostic mode; and a set of computer instructions to enable the second central processing unit to access the user input device and the user output device if it is not determined that the computer system is to run in a diagnostic mode. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; system memory coupled for access by the processor; a plurality of devices coupled for access by the processor; a memory storing a plurality of program instructions, the program instructions being executed by the processor and comprising computer instructions for; testing the system memory and the plurality of devices; if errors are found during the testing, writing a message to a memory storage unit to indicate to a portable computer that the computer system is entering a diagnostic mode; and disabling the processor so that the portable computer can be coupled to diagnose a cause of the errors found during testing. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; system memory coupled for access by the processor; a plurality of devices coupled for access by the processor; a memory storing a plurality of program instructions, the program instructions being executed by the processor and comprising computer instructions for; determining whether the computer system is coupled to a second computer system; if the computer system is coupled to a second computer system, writing a message to the second computer system indicating that the computer system intends to utilize a user interface device of the second computer system; determining whether the second computer system has acknowledged the message indicating that the computer system intends to utilize a user interface device of the second computer system; and after receiving an acknowledgment from the second computer, accessing the user interface device by the central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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Specification