Docking station for portable computer
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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Accused Products
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.
21 Citations
21 Claims
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-readable storage medium that provides instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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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.
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Specification