Method for performing hot docking of a portable computer into a docking station

• US 6,493,782 B1
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Watts, Lavaughn F., Verdun, Gary J., Juenger, Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Application Number:
  US08/587,176
• Time in Patent Office: 2,520 Days
• Field of Search: 395/281-283, 361/686, 710/300-304
• US Class Current: 710/300
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allowing hot docking of a portable computer (15) into a docking station (20) comprising the steps of making a physical connection (210) between the computer (15) and the docking station (20) wherein the docking station (20) is communicably linked (44) to one or more peripheral devices (35, 40). A system interrupt signal is generated (240) and detected (250) by the system processor (17) causing all activity along the connection path between the computer (15) and the docking station (20) to be suspended (250).

Claims

1. A method for interfacing a portable computer to an expansion base unit having peripherals maintained in a powered-down state prior to said interfacing, comprising the steps of:

inserting said portable computer into said expansion base unit;

initiating a physical connection between said portable computer and said expansion base unit without employing buffers, on at least signal lines on the peripheral option side of said physical connection, to prevent data corruption;

generating an interrupt signal in said portable computer in response to said initial physical connection;

detecting said interrupt signal interrupt signal in said portable computer;

suspending all activity on a plurality of signal pathways in said portable computer connected to the portable computer side of said physical connection;

completing said physical connection between said portable computer and said expansion base unit;

thereafter applying power to said plurality of peripheral devices communicably linked to said expansion base unit; and

restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said portable computer and said expansion base unit are in equivalent power states.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said portable computer and said expansion base unit are in different power states.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of signal pathways support a peripheral component interface standard.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further including the steps of:

resetting each of said plurality of peripheral devices to a native operational mode;

determining which of each said plurality of peripheral devices are active; and

updating a resource configuration within said portable computer.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said step of updating said resource configuration within said portable computer further includes assigning a plurality of port and interrupt designation to each active peripheral device.

7. A method for interfacing a portable computer system to an expansion base unit having a docking bay, wherein said portable computer system and said expansion base unit are in equivalent or different power states and wherein said expansion base unit is communicably attached to a plurality of peripheral devices maintained in a powered-down state prior to said interfacing, said method comprising the steps of:

placing said portable computer system in said docking bay;

initiating a connection between a plurality of signal pathways in said portable computer terminating in a first connector on said portable computer system and a plurality of signal pathways terminating in a second connector on said expansion base unit;

detecting in said portable computer system an interrupt signal generated by the initial connection of said first connector and said second connector;

checking status of at least one of said plurality of signal pathways in said computer system;

suspending all activity along said plurality of signal pathways in said computer system;

detecting in said expansion base unit said initial connection of said first connector and said second connector;

applying power to said plurality of peripheral components;

completing said connection between said portable computer system and said expansion base unit; and

restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further including the steps of:

resetting each of said plurality of peripheral devices to a native operational mode;

determining which of each said plurality of peripheral devices are active; and

updating a resource configuration within said portable computer system.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said connection between said portable computer system and said expansion base unit is accomplished using a set of contacts.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of updating said resource configuration within said portable computer system further includes assigning a plurality of port and interrupt designations to each active peripheral device.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said determining step is implemented within a peripheral component interface (“

PCI”

) based bus architecture.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said portable computer system suspends all activity along said PCI based bus architecture for a predetermined amount of time once said interrupt signal is detected.

13. A method for connecting a computing device to a peripheral option communicably linked to a plurality of peripheral components, comprising the steps of:

initiating connection of an electrical connector on said computing device to an electrical connector on said peripheral option;

generating a system interrupt signal in said computing device in response to said initial electrical connection;

detecting said system interrupt signal in said computing device;

suspending all activity on a bus, within said computing device, coupled to said connector on said computing device;

detecting said initial electrical connection in said peripheral option

applying power to said plurality of peripheral components;

completing said connection of said electrical connector on said computing device to said electrical connector on said peripheral option; and

restoring said activity on said bus.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said detecting said initial electrical connection in said peripheral option is performed by a controller connected to said connector on said peripheral option.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said controller applies said power to said plurality of peripheral components.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 further including the steps of:

resetting said plurality of peripheral components;

determining which of said plurality of peripheral components are active;

making a device assignment for each active peripheral component; and

reconfiguring a system resource configuration to reflect said device assignment.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of making a device assignment for each active peripheral component includes assigning a plurality of port and interrupt designations.

18. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said interrupt signal is generated on a dedicated set of pins on said electrical connector on said computing device.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said computing device communicates with said plurality of peripheral components via a peripheral component interface based bus architecture.

20. A portable computer/peripheral option system, comprising:

a portable computer having a processor and a plurality of signal pathways coupling said processor to a connector on said portable computer;

a peripheral option having a controller coupling a connector on said peripheral option to a plurality of peripheral components;

a means within said portable computer for detecting an interrupt signal generated by an initial coupling of said connector on said portable computer to said connector on said peripheral option;

a means within said portable computer for suspending all activity on said plurality of signal pathways upon detection of said interrupt signal;

a means within said peripheral option for detecting said initial coupling of said connector on said portable computer to said connector on said peripheral option;

a means within said peripheral option for applying power to said plurality of peripheral components upon detection of said initial coupling of said connector on said portable computer to said connector on said peripheral option; and

means for restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways in response to a complete coupling of said connector on said portable computer to said connector on said peripheral option.

21. The system of claim 20, further including a system configuration program within said portable computer for identifying, via said controller, said peripheral component assignments.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said system configuration program comprises a Basic Input Output System setup routine for enabling proper communications between said computer and said plurality of peripheral devices.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said plurality of signal paths support a peripheral component interface standard.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein a controller is said means within said peripheral option for applying power to said plurality of peripheral components upon detection of said initial coupling of said connector on said portable computer to said connector on said peripheral option.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said processor restores said activity on said plurality of signal pathways in response to a complete coupling of said connector on said portable computer to said connector on said peripheral option.