Method of transmitting identification data from an option pack to a main unit before the option pack is fully powered

• US 7,269,746 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lada, Henry F., Lightfoot, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen; Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANCHUS III, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US09/722,889
• Time in Patent Office: 2,479 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 713/340, 710/8, 710/301, 717/11
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or handheld device comprising a main unit and an option pack, wherein the option pack stores all of the application software and drivers. Upon insertion, the hardware interface invokes a device manager on the main unit that interrogates a memory device on the option pack. The interrogation includes data on drivers, applications, configuration and miscellaneous requirements of the option pack. This identification process allows the option pack to store information, drivers and applications on the option pack, so the main unit does not have to use its memory to store information on a large number of option packs. Once the option pack and its applications are identified, the device manager on the main unit retrieves the applications and drivers from a separate memory device on the option pack and downloads the applications and drivers onto the main unit. Upon de-installation of the option pack from the main unit, the applications and drivers are removed from the main unit.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a personal digital assistant comprising a main unit and an option pack comprising the acts of:

(a) coupling the option pack with the main unit, the option pack comprising a first memory device configured to store one or more applications and drivers associated with the one or more applications, and a second memory device configured to store identification data, the main unit comprising a device manager configured to receive the identification data from the second memory device, a power supply, and a third memory device, wherein the first memory device is different from the second memory device;

(b) transmitting the identification data from the second memory device to the device manager, before the option pack is fully powered; and

(c) downloading the one or more applications and associated drivers from the first memory device to the third memory device.

2. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein act (a) comprises coupling the option pack with the main unit via a 100-pin connector.

3. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the device manager comprises a driver to oversee the main unit and the option pack interaction.

4. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first memory device comprises a flash memory or a read only memory (ROM).

5. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second memory device comprises an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

6. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the third memory device comprises no applications and associated drivers prior to the act of downloading the applications and associated drivers from the first memory device to the third memory device.

7. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the third memory device is configured to temporarily store one or more applications and associated drivers.

8. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the third memory device is configured to store the one or more applications and associated drivers temporarily, the one or more applications being received from the first memory device.

9. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the identification data comprises option pack feature information, option pack configuration, and option pack identification.

10. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein act (b) comprises the act of transmitting the identification data through a serial interface.

11. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, comprising the act of determining whether the power supply in the main unit has enough power to activate the option pack fully.

12. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, comprising the act of determining whether the third memory device on the main unit has enough memory capacity to receive the applications and associated drivers stored on the first memory device of the option pack.

13. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 10, wherein act (c) occurs after the device manager has determined that there is enough power in the power supply of the main unit to activate the option pack fully.

14. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein act (c) occurs after the device manager has determined that the third memory device on the main unit has enough memory capacity to receive the applications and associated drivers stored on the second memory device.

15. A method of inserting an option pack into a main unit of a personal digital assistant (PDA), comprising the acts of:

(a) powering-on the main unit;

(b) determining whether there is an option pack coupled to the main unit;

(c) providing an interrupt signal from the option pack to the main unit;

(d) interrupting the processing of the main unit;

(e) notifying the main unit that the option pack is present;

(f) transmitting identification information from a first memory device on the option pack to the main unit, before the option pack is fully powered; and

(g) downloading one or more software applications and associated drivers from a second memory device on the option pack to the main unit, wherein the first memory device is different from the second memory device.

16. The method, as set forth in claim 15, comprising the act of hot-plugging the option pack into the main unit.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 15, comprising the act of determining whether the main unit has enough power to enable the option pack.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 17, comprising the act of notifying a user as to whether the main unit has enough power to enable the option pack.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 15, comprising the act of determining whether the main unit has enough memory to store the applications and drivers available on the option pack.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 19, comprising the act of notifying a user as to whether the main unit has enough memory to store the applications and drivers available on the option pack.

21. A method of removing an option pack from a main unit of a personal digital assistant (PDA), wherein one or more applications and associated drivers have been downloaded to the main unit for use by the main unit, comprising the acts of:

(a) de-activating one or more signals configured to detect the presence of the option pack in the main unit;

(b) disabling control buffers;

(c) terminating the functionality of the one or more applications running on the main unit; and

(d) uploading the one or more applications and associated drivers from the main unit to the option pack.

22. A method of implementing a personal digital assistant comprising a main unit and an option pack comprising the acts of:

(a) coupling the option pack with the main unit, the option pack comprising a first memory device configured to store one or more applications and drivers associated with the one or more applications, and a second memory device configured to store identification data, the main unit comprising a device manager configured to receive the identification data from the second memory device, a power supply, and a third memory device, wherein the first memory device is different from the second memory device;

(b) transmitting the identification data from the second memory device to the device manager;

(c) downloading the one or more applications and associated drivers from the first memory device to the third memory device; and

(d) separating the option pack from the main unit, wherein separating the option pack from the main unit comprises uploading the one or more applications and associated drivers from the third memory device to the first memory device.

23. The method of implementing a personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the act of separating the option pack from the main unit comprises the act of removing the one or more applications and associated drivers from the third memory device.