Computer having removable input/output device

• US 8,589,597 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Adachi, Masaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Mamo, Elias
• Application Number:
  US11/710,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,457 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A computer is disclosed that includes a switching part configured to detect connection of an external computer to the computer upon the connection, and to determine, in response to the detection of the connection of the external computer, that the output signal of the external computer be received and output to the output part of the computer.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a first body, including a first processor located within said first body, said first body having structure without an alpha-numeric display; and

a second body including a user interface and a second processor located within the second body, the second body being removably attachable to the first body, the second body operating as a computer independently of the first body when unconnected from the first body,

wherein the user interface of the second body is a display for the first body, when the first body is connected to the second body, and

wherein the first body is configured to serve as a docking station for the second body, and

wherein the first body utilizes only a display of the second body, when the first body is connected to the second body,

wherein the second body includes a peripheral device controller, the second body having a processing function as a computer, the second processor being configured to be remotely connectable to the first body through data communications,

wherein the second body is configured to remotely log off the first body automatically upon recognizing that the user interface is being attached to the first body, and to remotely log on the first body automatically upon recognizing that the user interface is being detached from the first body.

2. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a switching part configured to detect a connection of an external computer to the computer system upon the connection; and

to determine, in response to the detection of the connection of the external computer, that an output signal of the external computer be received and output to an output part, and a signal input through an input part be input to the external computer.

3. The computer system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

a connection of the external computer to the computer system is detected upon the connection; and

it is determined, in response to the detection of the connection of the external computer, that the signal input through the input part of the computer system be input to the external computer.

4. The computer system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

when another computer is connected as the external computer to the computer system, a signal indicating the connection is provided to the computer system.

5. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second processor includes a peripheral device controller.

6. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second body is configured to detect an attachment of the second body to the first body upon the attachment, and to detect a detachment of the second body from the first body upon the detachment, the computer system further comprising:

a switching part configured to determine, in response to the detection of the attachment of the second body to the first body, that an output signal of the first body be received and output to a display of the user interface, and a signal input through an input device of the user interface be input to the first body; and

to determine, in response to the detection of the detachment of the second body, that an output signal of the second processor be output to the display of the user interface, and the signal input through the input device of the user interface be input to the second processor.

7. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case of performing a remote connection of the second body to the first body through the data communications, the remote connection is performed after the first body in one of a shutdown state, a suspended state, and a hibernation state is started or returned to operation in response to a remote start packet transmitted to the first body from the second body.

8. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first body notifies the second body of the returning to operation after the first body receives the remote start packet from the second body and is returned.

9. The computer system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first body recognizes one of a real secondary storage unit and a virtual secondary storage unit managed by the second body as a secondary storage unit through the data communications.

10. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the user interface of the second body is also an input device for the first body, when the first body is connected to the second body.

11. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second processor is lower in power consumption than the first processor.

12. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the second processor is suspended in response to the second body being docked to the first body, and operation of the first processor is suspended in response to the second body being disconnected from the first body.