Docking station for portable computer

• US 7,143,198 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Cheon-moo, Lee, Il-han
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HAROLD J
• Application Number:
  US10/679,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 710/2, 710/72, 710/300, 710/8, 710/36, 710/38
• US Class Current: 710/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A network connection state can be conveniently changed to a wired or a wireless connection state according to whether a portable computer body is attached to a docking station including an Access Point part or not.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable computer, which is detachably attached to a portable computer body, and the portable computer which includes a wired network adapter and a wireless network adapter,

the docking station comprising:

a network connection part into which a network signal is inputted;

an Access Point part to generate a wireless network signal for a wireless network connection according to the network signal provided from the network connection part; and

a switching part connected between the network connection part and the Access Point part to determine an attachment state and detachment state of the portable computer body and the docking station, and to alternate between a wired LAN connection and a wireless LAN connection according to the attachment or detachment state of the portable computer body and the docking station, by transmitting the network signal provided from the network connection part directly to the wired network adapter to establish the wired LAN connection or the Access Point part to wirelessly transmit the wireless network signal to the wireless network adapter provided in the portable computer body, thereby establishing the wireless LAN connection,

wherein the Access Point part is integrated within the docking station.

2. The docking station for the portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the switching part allows the network signal provided from the network connection part to be transmitted to the wired network adapter provided in the portable computer body when the portable computer body is attached to the docking station.

3. The docking station of claim 2, wherein the switching part allows the network signal provided from the network connection part to be transmitted to the Access Point part when the portable computer body is detached from the docking station.

4. The docking station for the portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the switching part allows the network signal provided from the network connection part to be transmitted to the Access Point part when the portable computer body is detached from the docking station.

5. The docking station for the portable computer according to claim 4, wherein the Access Point part transmits the wireless network signal generated by a transmitted network signal to the wireless network adapter provided in the portable computer body when the portable computer body is detached from the docking station.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the wired network adapter and the wireless network adapter are provided for a local area network (LAN) connection.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the wired network adapter and the wireless network adapter are provided for an Internet connection.

8. A system comprising:

a network;

a portable computer, comprising;

a wired network adapter, and

a wireless network adapter; and

a docking station to physically connect to the portable computer, comprising;

a network connecting unit to receive a network signal from the network,

a switching unit connected between the network connecting unit and an access point unit of the docking station, to determine an attachment state and detachment state of the portable computer and the docking station, and to selectively transmit the network signal from the network connecting unit to the access point unit when the portable computer is not physically connected to the docking stations and to selectively transmit the network signal from the network connecting unit directly to the wired network adapters when the portable computer is physically connected to the docking station, and

the access point unit to generate a wireless network signal from the network signal and to wirelessly transmit the wireless network signal to the wireless network adapter when the portable computer is not physically connected to the docking station,

wherein the access point unit is integrated within the docking station.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the network is an Internet.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a docking port having a ground connection pin,

wherein the switching unit determines whether the portable computer is physically connected to the docking station based on a state of the ground connection pin of the docking port.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the state of the ground connection pin changes according to attachment/detachment of the portable computer to/from the docking station.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a network signal from a network;

determining whether a portable computer is physically connected to a docking station via a switching part within the docking station;

selectively transmitting the network signal directly to a wired network adapter that is included in the portable computer via the switching part, when the portable computer is physically connected to the docking station; and

selectively transmitting the network signal via the switching part, to an Access Point part which is integrated within the docking station, the Access Point part generating a wireless network signal from the network signal, and wirelessly transmitting the wireless network signal to a wireless network adapter that is included in the portable computer when the portable computer is not physically connected to the docking station.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the network is an Internet.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the docking station comprises a docking port, the method further comprising:

determining whether the portable computer is physically connected to the docking station based on a state of a ground connection pin of the docking port.

17. A computer-readable storage medium that provides instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving a network signal from a network;

determining whether a portable computer is physically connected to a docking station via a switching part within the docking station;

selectively transmitting the network signal directly to a wired network adapter that is included in the portable computer via the switching part, when the portable computer is physically connected to the docking station; and

selectively transmitting the network signal via the switching part, to an Access Point part which is integrated within the docking station, the Access Point part generating a wireless network signal from the network signal, and wirelessly transmitting the wireless network signal to a wireless network adapter that is included in the portable computer when the portable computer is not physically connected to the docking station.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN).

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the network is an Internet.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the docking station comprises a docking port, the method further comprising:

determining whether the portable computer is physically connected to the docking station based on a state of a ground connection pin of the docking port.

21. A method, comprising:

determining whether a portable computer is physically connected to a docking station via a switching part within the docking station;

selectively transmitting a network signal via the switching part, directly to a wired network adapter that is included in a portable computer when the portable computer is physically connected to a docking station; and

selectively transmitting the network signal via the switching part, to an Access Point part that is integrated within the docking station, the Access Point part generating a wireless network signal from the network signal, and wirelessly transmitting the wireless network signal to a wireless network adapter that is included in the portable computers, when the portable computer is not physically connected to the docking station.