System of co-located computers in a framework including removable function modules for adding modular functionality
First Claim
1. A system comprising a plurality of computing systems, the system comprising:
- a cage having a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive a computer card;
a plurality of computer cards, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage;
a removable function module, wherein the removable function module is operable to electrically couple to the plurality of computer cards, wherein the removable function module is operable to provide additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for configuring a system in which one or more centrally located computers are coupled to one or more human interfaces (HIs), and in which removable function modules are used to provide additional functionality to the computers. Each computer includes all the elements that make up a standard personal computer, such as a PC motherboard with a microprocessor CPU, memory, and network and interface logic, configured on a single card, and is called a computer card. The system includes a cabinet, or cage, with slots for accepting a plurality of computer cards, and a cage connector which couples to each inserted computer card. A removable function module engages the cage connector via a module connector. The use of the cage connector as an intermediate connection between the computer cards and the function module allows removal and/or exchange of computer cards without the need to disconnect the cables from the cage, as well as removal and/or exchange of the function module without the need to disconnect the computer cards. Each removable function module includes cable connectors corresponding to each computer card slot which may couple to one or more cables for communicating with external systems, such as networks and/or human interface devices, and circuitry which provides additional functionality to the computer cards. Each removable function module may include multiple circuit boards to provide multiple additional functions to the system, such as network processes, switching, routing, analog and digital telephony, video, audio, or other functions.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system comprising a plurality of computing systems, the system comprising:
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a cage having a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive a computer card; a plurality of computer cards, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage; a removable function module, wherein the removable function module is operable to electrically couple to the plurality of computer cards, wherein the removable function module is operable to provide additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 40)
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11. A system comprising a plurality of computing systems, the system comprising:
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a cage having a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive a computer card; a plurality of computer cards, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage; wherein the cage further includes a cage connector positioned proximate to each of the slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector includes a plurality of computer card connectors which are each configured to couple to one of the computer cards when the computer cards are inserted into slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector further includes a plurality of second connectors electrically coupled to the plurality of computer card connectors; and a removable function module, wherein the removable function module is operable to couple to the plurality of second connectors, wherein the removable function module is operable to provide additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for configuring a plurality of computing systems, the method comprising:
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inserting a plurality of computer cards into a cage, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage, wherein the cage comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive one of the computer cards; and attaching a first removable function module to electrically connect with the plurality of computer cards, wherein the first removable function module provides a first additional functionality to each of the at least a subset of the plurality of computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for configuring a plurality of computing systems, the method comprising:
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inserting a plurality of computer cards into a cage, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computer card includes a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage, wherein the cage comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive one of the computer cards, wherein the cage further includes a cage connector positioned proximate to each of the slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector includes a plurality of computer card connectors which are each coupled to one of the computer cards when the computer cards are inserted into the slots of the cage, wherein the cage connector further includes a plurality of second connectors electrically coupled to the plurality of computer card connectors; attaching a first removable function module to the plurality of second connectors, wherein the first removable function module provides a first additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage; and attaching one or more cables to the first removable function module, wherein the one or more cables couple the first removable function module to one or more of a plurality of human interface devices located remotely from the cage. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system, comprising:
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a cage comprising slots for at least two computer cards, wherein each slot allows a computer card to be inserted and removed; at least two computer cards in at least two slots of the cage, wherein each computer card comprises a computing system, wherein each computer card comprises a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage; a cage connector with multiple edge connector receiving slots, wherein each of the at least two computer cards has an edge connector that is received into a respective edge connector receiving slot of the cage connector when the computer card is inserted into the cage; a removeable function module coupled to at least two computer cards through the cage connector, wherein the removeable function module is capable of interacting with each of the at least two computer cards to add functionality to each of the at least two computer cards. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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41. A system comprising a plurality of computing systems, the system comprising:
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a cage having a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots is configured to receive a computer card; a plurality of computer cards, wherein each computer card comprises a respective computing system of the plurality of computing systems, wherein each computing system comprises a personal computer including a processor and a memory for executing at least one application program, and logic operable to encode signals for transmission to a respective remote location to communicate with a respective at least one human interface device at the remote location, wherein the remote location is more than 20 feet from the cage, wherein each personal computer comprised on each of the plurality of computer cards interfaces with a separate set of human interface devices, including at least a monitor and a keyboard, to provide personal computer functionality to a user of the separate set of human interface devices; a removable function module, wherein the removable function module is operable to electrically couple to the plurality of computer cards, wherein the removable function module is operable to provide additional functionality to each of the computer cards comprised in the slots of the cage.
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Specification