Expansion card

• US 6,209,050 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rapakko, Jouni, Savela, Vesa, Suomi, Arto, Rimpela, Riku, Heinonen, Petri, Heikkila, Jari-Pekka, Iho, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, XUAN MARIAN
• Application Number:
  US09/199,686
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 710/101, 710/102, 710/14, 710/105, 710/11, 713/1, 713/2
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

The invention relates to an expansion (1) arranged to operate in at least a first function mode. The expansion card comprises at least means (4, 6) for setting the function mode and means (2b, 13, 14) for connecting the expansion card to the expansion card connector (2a) of the electronic device. The expansion card (1) comprises further means (4) for generating a signal on turning on of the expansion card (1) and means (2b, 8, 11, 13) for transmitting the signal to an electronic device (3). The expansion card is also provided with means (4) for forming a message about setting the first function mode and means (2b, 8, 11, 13) for transmitting the message to the electronic device.

Claims

1. An expansion card arranged to be connected to an expansion card connector of an electronic device, which card is arranged to operate in at least a first function mode and which comprises at least:

means for setting the function mode;

means for connecting the expansion card to the expansion card connector of the electronic device,

means for generating a signal upon the turning on of the expansion card;

means for transmitting the signal to an electronic device;

means for forming a message about setting the first function mode; and

means for transmitting the message to the electronic device;

and wherein said expansion card further comprises;

means for receiving stored information about the function mode of the expansion card, said information being stored in the electronic device and transmitted to the expansion card in connection with a restart of the expansion card; and

means for returning the function mode of the expansion card in accordance with said information about the function mode of the expansion card.

2. The expansion card according to claim 1, comprising at least two function modes, and further comprising means for receiving a function mode setting message from the electronic device.

3. The expansion card according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter/receiver unit of a mobile station.

4. The expansion card according to claim 1, wherein the signal on turning on the expansion card is arranged to be generated at least in a situation of unexpected resetting of the expansion card.

5. A method for detecting the turning on of an expansion card connected to the expansion card connector of an electronic device and for setting a function mode, whereby the expansion card can be set in at least one of a first function mode and a second function mode, wherein in connection with the turning on of the expansion card, the following steps are taken in the expansion card:

a signal is generated and transmitted to the electronic device about the turning on of the expansion card,

the expansion card is set in the first function mode, and

a message is generated and transmitted to the electronic device about the setting of the first function mode,

and wherein the turning-on signal and the function mode setting message are received in the electronic device and the following steps are taken in the electronic device;

selecting the function mode to be set on the expansion card;

generating a function mode exchange message; and

transmitting the function mode exchange message to the expansion card;

conducting the exchange of the function mode to the selected function in the expansion card;

storing information about the function mode of the expansion card in the electronic device;

forming in the electronic device, in connection with the restart of the expansion card, a message comprising information in accordance with the stored information about the function mode of the expansion card; and

transmitting said message to the expansion card and setting the function mode of the expansion card to the mode indicated in said message.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the same message is used as the turning-on signal and the function mode setting message.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the expansion card comprises further the transmitter/receiver unit of a mobile station.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the signal on turning on of the expansion card is generated at least in a situation of unexpected resetting of the expansion card.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the commands complying with the first function mode can be transmitted between the expansion card and the electronic device by means of messages complying with the second function mode, wherein:

at the transmission stage, the messages complying with the first function mode are converted to messages complying with the second function mode, and

at the receiving stage, the messages complying with the first function mode are converted from the messages complying with the second function mode.

10. A mobile station which is arranged to operate in at least a first function mode and which comprises at least:

expansion card means arranged to be connected to an expansion card connector of an electronic device;

means for setting the function mode;

means for connecting the expansion card means to the expansion card connector of the electronic device,

means for generating a signal upon the turning on of the expansion card means;

means for transmitting the signal to the electronic device;

means for forming a message about setting the first function mode; and

means for transmitting the message to the electronic device;

and further comprising;

means for receiving stored information about the function mode of the expansion card from said electronic device, which information is in connection with the restart of the expansion card; and

means for returning the function mode of the expansion card in accordance with said information about the function mode of the expansion card.