Computer system with configurable docking station
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a computer having at least one power input connection and at least one I/O connection grouped into a first port;
a docking station having at least one power output connection and at least one I/O connection grouped into a second port;
a cable having a first end connectable with the first port and a second end connectable with the second port, the cable providing an interconnection between the at least one power output connection of the docking station and the at least one power input connection of the computer, the cable providing interconnection between the at least one I/O connection of the computer and the at least one I/O connection of the docking station; and
at least one module mountable in the docking station, the docking station comprising at least one I/O port connectable with I/O connections of the at least one module to provide communication between the at least one module and at least one device external to the docking station;
the at least one module comprising at least one of GPS modules, IEEE 1394 Firewire communications modules, RS-232 I/O modules, RS-422 I/O modules, RS-485 I/O modules, MIL-STD-1553 bus modules, USB I/O modules, internet modules, modem communication modules, wireless LAN modules, radio communication modules, video modules, voice activation modules, biometrics activation modules, dismountable equipment interface modules, and sensor interface modules.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a computer having at least one power input connection and at least one I/O connection grouped into a first port. The system also includes a docking station that has at least one power output connection and at least one I/O connection grouped into a second port. The system further comprises a cable having a first end connectable with the first port and a second end connectable with the second port. The cable provides an interconnection between the at least one power output connection of the docking station and the at least one power input connection of the computer. The cable also provides interconnection between the at least one I/O connection of the computer and the at least one I/O connection of the docking station.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a computer having at least one power input connection and at least one I/O connection grouped into a first port; a docking station having at least one power output connection and at least one I/O connection grouped into a second port; a cable having a first end connectable with the first port and a second end connectable with the second port, the cable providing an interconnection between the at least one power output connection of the docking station and the at least one power input connection of the computer, the cable providing interconnection between the at least one I/O connection of the computer and the at least one I/O connection of the docking station; and at least one module mountable in the docking station, the docking station comprising at least one I/O port connectable with I/O connections of the at least one module to provide communication between the at least one module and at least one device external to the docking station; the at least one module comprising at least one of GPS modules, IEEE 1394 Firewire communications modules, RS-232 I/O modules, RS-422 I/O modules, RS-485 I/O modules, MIL-STD-1553 bus modules, USB I/O modules, internet modules, modem communication modules, wireless LAN modules, radio communication modules, video modules, voice activation modules, biometrics activation modules, dismountable equipment interface modules, and sensor interface modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a docking station including a plurality of I/O ports, each I/O port being terminated with an I/O port connector; at least one module supported in the docking station, the at least one module having I/O connections terminated with module I/O connectors, the module I/O connectors being connectable with a selected one of the I/O port connectors to configure the module I/O connections to communicate through the selected I/O port; and a computer including a power input connection and at least one I/O connection grouped into a first port, the docking station having a power output connection, at least one of the module I/O connections and the power output connection being grouped into a second port, the system further comprising a cable having a first end connectable with the first port and a second end connectable with the second port, the cable providing an interconnection between the power output connection of the docking station and the power input connection of the computer, the cable providing interconnection between the at least one I/O connection of the computer and the at least one of the module I/O connections. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a computer having at least one I/O connection provided to a first port; a docking station having a second port and at least one I/O port; a cable having a first end connectable with the first port and a second end connectable with the second port, the cable providing an interconnection between the at least one I/O connection of the computer and the second port of the docking station; a connector for providing interconnection between the second port and a selected I/O port of the docking station to provide I/O from an external device connected to the selected I/O port to the at least one I/O connection of the computer via the cable; and a plurality of modules that form a module stack mountable in the docking station, the modules in the module stack being interconnected to form a communication bus for providing communications between the modules, the at least one I/O port of the docking station being connectable with I/O connections of at least one of the modules in the module stack to provide communication between the at least one module and at least one device external to the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for configuring a computer system comprising the steps of:
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providing a computer having a power input connection and at least one I/O connection grouping the power input connection and I/O connections of the computer into a first port; providing a docking station having a power output connection and at least one I/O connection, the at least one I/O connection comprising at least one conductor; grouping the power output connection and I/O connections of the docking station into a second port; connecting a first end of a cable with the first port of the computer; connecting a second end of the cable with the second port of the docking station, the cable providing an interconnection between the power output connection of the docking station and the power input connection of the computer, the cable providing interconnection between the at least one I/O connection of the computer and the at least one I/O connection of the docking station; providing at least one module mountable in the docking station; providing the docking station with at least one I/O port connectable with I/O connections of the at least one module to provide communication between the at least one module and at least one device external to the docking station; grouping first ends of the conductors at the second port; and connecting second ends of the conductors with the I/O connections of the at least one module to provide communication between the at least one module and the computer via the cable. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for configuring a computer system comprising the steps of:
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providing a computer having at least one I/O connection linked to a first port; providing a docking station having a second port and at least one I/O port; connecting a first end of a cable with the first port; connecting a second end of the cable with the second port to provide an interconnection between the at least one I/O connection of the computer and the second port of the docking station; interconnecting the second port and a selected I/O port of the docking station with a connector to provide I/O from an external device connected to the selected I/O port to the at least one I/O connection of the computer via the cable; providing a plurality of modules that form a module stack mountable in the docking station, the modules in the module stack being interconnected to form a communication bus for providing communications between the modules; and connecting the at least one I/O port of the docking station with I/O connections of at least one of the modules in the module stack to provide communication between the at least one module and at least one device external to the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification