Extended computing unit with stand-alone application

• US 7,870,321 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers; Paul R
• Application Number:
  US12/326,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 710301-304, 713 1- 2
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

An extended computing unit includes a connection module, memory, and hardware. The memory is operable to store one or more computer-level user applications, one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications, an exclusive extended computing unit operating system, and an operating system extension of a computer-level operating system. When the connection module is not coupled to a handheld computing unit, the hardware is operable to execute the extended computing unit exclusive operating system, detect a request for activation of an extended computing unit exclusive user application of the one or more extended computing unit exclusive user applications, and execute a least a portion of the extended computing unit exclusive user application.

Claims

1. An extended computing unit comprises:

a connection module;

memory operable to store;

one or more computer-level user applications executable by a handheld computing unit or by the handheld computing unit in combination with the extended computing unit;

one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications executable by the extended computing unit apart from the handheld computing unit;

an exclusive extended computing unit operating system executable by the extended computing unit apart from the handheld computing unit; and

an operating system extension of a computer-level operating system, the operating system extension operable to augment a primary operating system executed by the handheld computing unit when the connection module is coupled to the handheld computing unit; and

hardware coupled to the connection module and to the memory, wherein, when the connection module is not coupled to the handheld computing unit, the hardware is operable to;

execute the extended computing unit exclusive operating system;

detect a request for activation of an extended computing unit exclusive user application of the one or more extended computing unit exclusive user applications; and

execute a least a portion of the extended computing unit exclusive user application.

2. The extended computing unit of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises:

first memory for storing the one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications and the exclusive extended computing unit operating system; and

second memory for storing the one or more computer-level user applications and the operating system extension of a computer-level operating system.

3. The extended computing unit of claim 1, wherein the hardware comprises:

first hardware for executing the extended computing unit exclusive operating system, detecting the request for activation of the extended computing unit exclusive user application, and executing the least a portion of the extended computing unit exclusive user application; and

second hardware operable when the connection module is connected to the handheld computing, wherein the second hardware executes, in combination with hardware of the handheld computing unit, at least one of;

at least a portion of a computer-level user application of the one or more computer-level user applications; and

at least a portion of the operating system extension.

4. The extended computing unit of claim 1 further comprises the memory operable to:

store one or more exclusive extended computing unit system applications.

5. The extended computing unit of claim 1, wherein the hardware comprises at least one of:

a processing module;

a memory controller;

an input/output controller;

an input/output interface module;

a peripheral component interface module;

a graphics processing unit; and

a graphics card interface module.

6. The extended computing unit of claim 1 further comprises, when the connection module is coupled to the handheld computing unit:

the hardware is operable, in combination with hardware of the handheld computing unit, to execute at least one of;

at least a portion of a computer-level user application of the one or more computer-level user applications;

at least a portion of a computer-level system application; and

at least a portion of the operating system extension.

7. The extended computing unit of claim 1, wherein the one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications includes one or more of:

a voice over internet application;

an internet radio application;

an internet television application;

an internet video playback application; and

an entertainment device control application.

8. An integrated circuit (IC) comprises:

memory operable to temporarily store at least a portion of at least one of;

one or more computer-level user applications executable by a handheld computing unit or the handheld computing unit in combination with the extended computing unit;

one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications executable by the extended computing unit apart from the handheld computing unit;

an exclusive extended computing unit operating system executable by the extended computing unit apart from the handheld computing unit; and

an operating system extension of a computer-level operating system, the operating system extension operable to augment a primary operating system executed by the handheld computing unit when the connection module is coupled to the handheld computing unit; and

hardware operable, when the IC is in a non-coupled mode with respect to the handheld computing unit, to;

execute the extended computing unit exclusive operating system;

detect a request for activation of an extended computing unit exclusive user application of the one or more extended computing unit exclusive user applications; and

execute a least a portion of the extended computing unit exclusive user application.

9. The IC of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises:

first memory for temporarily storing at least a portion of at least one of;

the one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications; and

the exclusive extended computing unit operating system; and

second memory for temporarily storing at least a portion of at least one of;

the one or more computer-level user applications; and

the operating system extension of a computer-level operating system.

10. The IC of claim 8, wherein the hardware comprises:

first hardware for executing the extended computing unit exclusive operating system, detecting the request for activation of the extended computing unit exclusive user application, and executing the least a portion of the extended computing unit exclusive user application; and

second hardware operable when the IC is in a coupled mode with respect to the handheld computing unit, wherein the second hardware executes, in combination with hardware of the handheld computing unit, at least one of;

at least a portion of a computer-level user application of the one or more computer-level user applications; and

at least a portion of the operating system extension.

11. The IC of claim 8 further comprises the memory operable to:

store one or more exclusive extended computing unit system applications.

12. The IC of claim 8, wherein the hardware comprises at least one of:

a processing module;

a memory controller;

an input/output controller;

an input/output interface module;

a peripheral component interface module;

a graphics processing unit; and

a graphics card interface module.

13. The extended computing unit of claim 8 further comprises, when the IC is in a coupled mode with respect to the handheld computing unit:

the hardware is operable, in combination with hardware of the handheld computing unit, to execute at least one of;

at least a portion of a computer-level user application of the one or more computer-level user applications;

at least a portion of a computer-level system application; and

at least a portion of the operating system extension.

14. An extended computing unit comprises:

a connection module;

memory operable to store;

one or more computer-level user applications executable by a handheld computing unit or by the handheld computing unit in combination with the extended computing unit;

an operating system extension of a computer-level operating system, the operating system extension operable to augment a primary operating system executed by the handheld computing unit when the connection module is coupled to the handheld computing unit;

one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications executable by the extended computing unit apart from the handheld computing unit; and

an exclusive extended computing unit operating system executable by the extended computing unit apart from the handheld computing unit;

hardware coupled to the connection module and to the memory, wherein, when the connection module is coupled to the handheld computing unit, the hardware is operable, in combination with hardware of the handheld computing unit, to execute at least one of;

at least a portion of a computer-level user application of the one or more computer-level user applications; and

at least a portion of the operating system extension; and

wherein when the connection module is not coupled to a handheld computing unit, the hardware is operable to;

execute the extended computing unit exclusive operating system;

detect a request for activation of an extended computing unit exclusive user application of the one or more extended computing unit exclusive user applications; and

execute a least a portion of the extended computing unit exclusive user application.

15. The extended computing unit of claim 14 further comprises:

the memory storing a computer-level system application; and

when the connection module is coupled to a handheld computing unit, the hardware is operable, in combination with hardware of the handheld computing unit, to execute at least a portion of a computer-level system application.

16. The extended computing unit of claim 14, wherein the memory comprises:

first memory for storing the one or more exclusive extended computing unit user applications and the exclusive extended computing unit operating system; and

second memory for storing the one or more computer-level user applications and the operating system extension of a computer-level operating system.

17. The extended computing unit of claim 14, wherein the hardware comprises:

first hardware for executing the extended computing unit exclusive operating system, detecting the request for activation of the extended computing unit exclusive user application, and executing the least a portion of the extended computing unit exclusive user application; and

second hardware operable when the connection module is connected to the handheld computing, wherein the second hardware executes, in combination with hardware of the handheld computing unit, at least one of;

the at least a portion of a computer-level user application of the one or more computer-level user applications; and

the at least a portion of the operating system extension.

18. The extended computing unit of claim 14, wherein the hardware comprises at least one of:

a processing module;

a memory controller;

an input/output controller;

an input/output interface module;

a peripheral component interface module;

a graphics processing unit; and

a graphics card interface module.