Mobile computing systems which automatically reconfigure to operate any devices attached to a docking module upon connection to the docking station
First Claim
1. A computing system comprising:
- a plurality of powerless mobile modules, each having a multitude of possible computing states;
a plurality of docking modules, each docking module having an interface by means of which said docking module is capable of being removably connected to at least one of the powerless mobile modules, each docking module signaling to a mobile module upon connection the identity and description of any devices attached to that docking module;
each powerless mobile module having a central processing unit, a memory, a disk, and a docking interface, each powerless mobile module also having stored therein at least software for recording in said mobile module the state of said mobile module prior to said module being removed from connection to a docking module, each mobile module being responsive to connection in a docking module to configure to operate any devices attached to the docking module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computing system includes a plurality of mobile modules, each having a multitude of possible computing states, and a plurality of docking modules, each docking module having an interface by means of which said docking module is capable of being removably connected to at least one of the powerless mobile modules. Each powerless mobile module has a central processing unit, a memory, a disk, and a docking interface, each powerless mobile module also having therein at least software for recording in that mobile module the state of that mobile module prior to that module being removed from connection to a docking module. The mobile module automatically reconfigures when connected to a docking module. It is preferred that the connection between the docking modules and the mobile modules be wireless. It is also preferred that the mobile module have no display permanently connected thereto.
135 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computing system comprising:
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a plurality of powerless mobile modules, each having a multitude of possible computing states;
a plurality of docking modules, each docking module having an interface by means of which said docking module is capable of being removably connected to at least one of the powerless mobile modules, each docking module signaling to a mobile module upon connection the identity and description of any devices attached to that docking module;
each powerless mobile module having a central processing unit, a memory, a disk, and a docking interface, each powerless mobile module also having stored therein at least software for recording in said mobile module the state of said mobile module prior to said module being removed from connection to a docking module, each mobile module being responsive to connection in a docking module to configure to operate any devices attached to the docking module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computing system comprising;
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a plurality of powerless mobile modules, each having a multitude of possible computing states;
a plurality of docking modules, each docking module having an interface by means of which said docking module is capable of being removably connected to at least one of the powerless mobile modules, each docking module signaling to a mobile module upon connection the identity and description of any devices attached to that docking module;
each powerless mobile module have a central processing unit, a memory, a disk, and a docking interface, said powerless mobile module also having stored therein at least software for recording in said mobile module the state of said mobile module prior to said mobile module being removed from connection to a docking module, each mobile module further being responsive to signals from said docking module to configure to operate with any devices attached to the docking module;
each of said docking module interfaces and said mobile module docking interfaces being wireless, so that power and data are transferred between the docking modules and the powerless mobile modules without a wire connection therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A computing systems comprising:
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a plurality of displayless mobile modules, each having a multitude of possible computing states;
a plurality of docking modules, each docking module having an interface by means of which said docking module is capable of being removably interconnected to at least one of the displayless mobile modules, each docking module configured to signal to a mobile module upon connection the identity and description of any devices attached to that docking module;
each displayless mobile module having a central processing unit, a memory, a disk, and a docking interface, said displayless mobile module also having stored therein at least software for recording in said mobile module the state of said mobile module prior to said module being removed from connection to a docking module, each mobile module being responsive upon connection to a docking module to configure to operate with any devices attached to the docking module. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of configuring mobile computing modules capable of use with a plurality of docking modules, comprising the steps of:
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storing device drivers in a mobile module, said device drivers being those drivers required by the mobile module at a first docking module;
upon connection of said mobile module to another docking module, automatically identifying to the mobile module the device drivers required by said another docking module;
automatically loading into said mobile module upon connection any device drivers required at said another docking module which were not required at said first docking module;
providing a memory, a disk, and a docking interface for each mobile module, and storing in said mobile module at least software for recording in said mobile module the state of said mobile module prior to said mobile module being removed from connection with said first docking module; and
identifying to said mobile module upon connection with the another docking module the identity and description of any devices attached to that docking module, said mobile module being responsive to connection to configure to operate with any devices attached to the another docking module.
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Specification