Apparatus and method for docking of mobile device supporting docking station

• US 8,166,224 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Seung-Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiura, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US12/487,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 710301-306
• US Class Current: 710/304
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

An apparatus and method for docking of a mobile device supporting a docking station are provided. The apparatus includes a connection detector, an undock execution unit, and a hotdock execution unit. The connection detector performs a function for transitioning to a hotdock mode. The undock execution unit performs a function for transitioning from the hotdock mode to an undock mode. The hotdock execution unit performs a function for transitioning from the undock mode to the hotdock mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus of a mobile device supporting a docking station, the apparatus comprising:

a connection detector for performing a function for transitioning to a hotdock mode when a physical connection that enables docking with the docking station is detected;

an undock execution unit for performing a function for transitioning from the hotdock mode to the undock mode when a transition command to an undock mode is detected in a state comprising the physical connection that enables docking with the docking station; and

a hotdock execution unit for, while physically connected after transitioning from the hotdock mode to the undock mode, refreshing a signal for detecting the physical connection that enables docking with the docking station when a transition command to the hotdock mode is detected before a physical disconnection with the docking station, to transition from the undock mode in the state comprising the physical connection that enables docking to the hotdock mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transition command to the hotdock mode and the transition command to the undock mode are input through one of a specific function button associated with the mobile device, a combination of key input, and software manipulation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal for detecting the physical connection that enables docking comprises a reference signal that is grounded while connecting with the docking station and a signal generated while connecting with the docking station.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hotdock execution unit comprises:

a circuit for generating the reference signal; and

a switch for switching on/off a connection of the circuit and a ground circuit of the docking station,

wherein the reference signal is refreshed by temporarily turning off the switch when the transition command to the hotdock mode is detected.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supplying unit for supplying power to the docking station; and

a docking driver for enabling use of a chipset managing ports of the docking station.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the power supplying unit supplies power to the docking station according to an instruction of the connection detector and the hotdock execution unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the docking driver recognizes the chipset managing the ports of the docking station and processes a data exchange between the docking station and the mobile device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection detector comprises at least one of a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a specified controller or Memory Controller Hub (MCH), and an Input-output Controller Hub (ICH).

9. An operation method of a mobile device supporting a docking station, the method comprising:

transitioning to a hotdock mode when a physical connection that enables docking with the docking station is detected;

transitioning from the hotdock mode to the undock mode when a transition command to an undock mode is detected in a state comprising the physical connection that enables docking with the docking station; and

while physically connected after transitioning from the hotdock mode to the undock mode, refreshing a signal for detecting the physical connection that enables docking with the docking station when a transition command to the hotdock mode is detected before a physical disconnection with the docking station, to transition from the undock mode in the state comprising the physical connection that enables docking to the hotdock mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transition command to the hotdock mode and the transition command to the undock mode are input through one of a specific function button associated with the mobile device, a combination of key input, and software manipulation.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal for detecting the physical connection that enables docking comprises a reference signal that is grounded while connecting with the docking station and a signal generated while connecting the docking station.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the refreshing of the reference signal comprises temporarily turning off a switch for switching on/off a connection of a circuit which generates the reference signal and a ground circuit of the docking station.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the transitioning to the hotdock mode comprises:

supplying power to the docking station; and

enabling use of a chipset managing ports of the docking station.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the enabling use of a chipset managing ports of the docking station comprises recognizing the chipset managing the ports of the docking station and processing a data exchange between the docking station and the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein a physical connection that enables docking with the docking station is detected using at least one of a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a specified controller or Memory Controller Hub (MCH), and an Input-output Controller Hub (ICH).