Handheld computing unit with merged mode

• US 8,195,928 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• 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): PATEL, NITIN C
• Application Number:
  US12/393,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A handheld computing unit includes a hardware section, an application section, and an operating system section. The hardware section and operating system section are operable to: detect another device; determine whether to merge functionality with the other device; and when it is determined to merge functionality with the other device, initiate a reboot of the handheld computing unit and of the other device in a merged mode, wherein, in the merged mode, the hardware section and a hardware section of the other device function as a single hardware section and the operating system section and an operating system section of the other device function as a single operating system section.

Claims

1. A handheld computing unit comprises:

a hardware section;

an application section; and

an operating system section operably coupled to the hardware section and the application section, wherein the hardware section and operating system section;

detect an additional device;

determine whether to merge functionality with the additional device by;

determining an identity of the additional device;

determining whether, based on the identity, the additional device is capable of merging functionality with the handheld computing device; and

when the additional device is capable of merging functionality with the handheld computing device, detecting an indication for establishing a merged mode; and

when it is determined to merge functionality with the additional device, initiate a reboot of the handheld computing unit and of the additional device in the merged mode, wherein, in the merged mode, the hardware section and a hardware section of the additional device function as a single hardware section and the operating system section and an operating system section of the additional device function as a single operating system section.

2. The handheld computing unit of claim 1 further comprises the hardware section and operating system detecting the additional device by:

establish a wireless communication with the additional device to determine information regarding the additional device.

3. The handheld computing unit of claim 1 further comprises the hardware section and operating system determining whether to merge functionality with the additional device by:

establishing a wireless communication with the ether additional device;

via the wireless communication, transmitting a request message regarding the additional device'"'"'s ability to merge functionality; and

via the wireless communication, receiving an affirmative response to the request message.

4. The handheld computing unit of claim 1 further comprises the hardware section and operating system rebooting the handheld computing unit and the additional device by:

transmitting a request for the additional device to shutdown a current mode of operation and enter into a merge mode pre-boot state;

shutting down a current mode of the handheld computing unit;

retrieving a merged mode operating system boot loader from a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory of the hardware section;

executing the merged mode operating system boot loader to retrieve a handheld merged mode operating system from the handheld computing unit and other merged mode operating system from the additional device; and

loading the handheld merged mode operating system and the other merged mode operating system into main memory of the hardware section to produce a merged mode operating system.

5. The handheld computing unit of claim 4 further comprises the hardware section and operating system retrieving the merged mode operating system boot loader by:

determining an identity of the additional device; and

retrieving a specific merged mode operating system boot loader based on the identity of the additional device.

6. The handheld computing unit of claim 1 further comprises the hardware section and operating system:

detect an end to the merged mode;

send an end merge mode message to the additional device;

shutdown the merged mode operating system; and

retrieve a stand-alone mode operating system boot loader.

7. The handheld computing unit of claim 1, wherein the hardware section comprises:

a processing module;

main memory;

a memory controller coupled to the main memory and the processing module;

a millimeter wave (MMW) transceiver coupled to the memory controller; and

an input/output (IO) controller coupled to the memory controller.

8. The handheld computing unit of claim 1, wherein the hardware section further comprises:

a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory that includes at least a portion of the operating system section, the operating system section including;

a power on self test (POST) section; and

a boot loader section that includes;

a standalone operating system boot loader;

a docked mode operating system boot loader; and

a merged mode operating system boot loader.

9. A handheld computing unit comprises:

a hardware section;

an application section; and

an operating system section operably coupled to the hardware section and the application section, wherein the hardware section and operating system section;

detect an additional device;

determine whether to merge functionality with the additional device via an intermediary device by;

determining an identity of the additional device;

determining whether, based on the identity, the additional device is capable of merging functionality with the handheld computing device via the intermediary device; and

when the additional device is capable of merging functionality with the handheld computing device via the intermediary device, detecting an indication for establishing a merged mode; and

when it is determined to merge functionality with the additional device via the intermediary device, initiate a reboot of the handheld computing unit, the intermediary device, and the additional device in the merged mode, wherein, in the merged mode, the hardware section and a hardware section of the additional device function as a single hardware section via the intermediary device and the operating system section and an operating system section of the additional device function as a single operating system section via the intermediary device.

10. The handheld computing unit of claim 9 further comprises the hardware section and operating system detecting the additional device by:

establish a communication link with the additional device via the intermediary device to determine information regarding the additional device.

11. The handheld computing unit of claim 9 further comprises the hardware section and operating system determining whether to merge functionality with the additional device via the intermediary device by:

establishing a wireless communication with the intermediary device;

transmitting a request message to the intermediary device that requests the intermediary device establish a communication with the additional device;

via the wireless communication, transmitting a request message regarding the additional device'"'"'s ability to merge functionality to the intermediary device, wherein the request message further includes a request for the intermediary device to forward the message to the additional device; and

via the wireless communication, receiving an affirmative response to the request message.

12. The handheld computing unit of claim 9 further comprises the hardware section and operating system rebooting the handheld computing unit and the additional device by:

transmitting a message to the intermediary device, wherein the message request that the additional device shutdown a current mode of operation and enter into a merge mode pre-boot state;

shutting down a current mode of handheld computing unit;

retrieving a merged mode operating system boot loader from a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory of the hardware section;

executing the merged mode operating system boot loader to retrieve a handheld merged mode operating system from the handheld computing unit, an intermediary merged mode operating system from the intermediary device, and other merged mode operating system from the additional device; and

loading the handheld merged mode operating system, intermediary merged mode operating system, and the other merged mode operating system into main memory of the hardware section to produce a merged mode operating system.

13. The handheld computing unit of claim 12 further comprises the hardware section and operating system retrieving the merged mode operating system boot loader by:

determining an identity of the additional device; and

retrieving a specific merged mode operating system boot loader based on the identity of the additional device.

14. The handheld computing unit of claim 9 further comprises the hardware section and operating system:

detect an end to the merged mode;

send an end merge mode message to the intermediary device;

shutdown the merged mode operating system; and

retrieve a stand-alone mode operating system boot loader.

15. The handheld computing unit of claim 9, wherein the hardware section comprises:

a processing module;

main memory;

a memory controller coupled to the main memory and the processing module;

a millimeter wave (MMW) transceiver coupled to the memory controller; and

an input/output (TO) controller coupled to the memory controller.

16. The handheld computing unit of claim 9, wherein the hardware section further comprises:

a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory that includes at least a portion of the operating system section, the operating system section including;

a power on self test (POST) section; and

a boot loader section that includes;

a standalone operating system boot loader;

a docked mode operating system boot loader; and

a merged mode operating system boot loader.

17. A handheld computing unit comprises:

a processing module;

main memory;

a memory controller operably coupled to the processing module and the main memory;

an input/output (TO) controller coupled to the memory controller; and

a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory that includes;

a power on self test (POST) section; and

a boot loader section that includes;

a standalone operating system boot loader for establishing a standalone mode in which the handheld computing unit operates as a stand-alone computing unit;

a docked mode operating system boot loader for establishing a docked mode with an additional device in which the handheld computing unit functions as a stand-alone computing unit with limited access to the additional device; and

a merged mode operating system boot loader separate from the docked mode operating system boot loader, the merged mode operating system boot loader for establishing a merged mode with the additional device in which the processing module and a processing module of the additional device function as a single processing module.

18. The handheld computing unit of claim 17, wherein the boot loader section further comprises:

a first device merged mode operating system boot loader for establishing a first merged mode with a first additional device; and

a second device merged mode operating system boot loader for establishing a second merged mode with a second additional device.

19. The handheld computing unit of claim 17, wherein the boot loader section further comprises:

an intermediary merged mode operating system boot loader.

20. The handheld computing unit of claim 17, wherein the processing module:

detects an additional device;

determines whether to merge functionality with the additional device by;

determining an identity of the additional device;

determining whether, based on the identity, the additional device is capable of merging functionality with the handheld computing device; and

when the additional device is capable of merging functionality with the handheld computing device, detecting an indication for establishing a merged mode; and

when it is determined to merge functionality with the additional device, initiate a reboot of the handheld computing unit and of the additional device in the merged mode by;

shutting down a current mode of handheld computing unit;

retrieving the merged mode operating system boot loader from the basic input/output system (BIOS) memory;

executing the merged mode operating system boot loader to retrieve a handheld merged mode operating system from the handheld computing unit and other merged mode operating system from the additional device; and

loading the handheld merged mode operating system and the other merged mode operating system into main memory of the hardware section to produce a merged mode operating system.