Dockable computer system capable of symmetric multi-processing operations
US5625829A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/4081
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dockable computer system is capable of performing symmetrical multi-processing operations. More particularly, the dockable computer system includes a portable computer and a host station (docking station), each including a resident CPU. The dockable computer system is capable of operating in a docked state in which the portable computer is physically joined with the host station and an undocked state in which the portable computer is physically separate from the host station. In the docked state, the dockable computer system is capable of performing demanding computational tasks such as video conferencing as one of the CPUs in either the portable computer or host station is dedicated to the video conferencing operation. The dockable computer system preferably includes a communication channel for transmitting multi-processing support signals between the portable computer and the host station. Multi-processing support signals include synchronization signals, cache coherency signals, and interrupt distribution signals such as the LOCK signal, PLOCK signal, FLUSH signal, EADS signal, INTR signal or INTACK signal. The communication channel may be a dedicated bus or may be provided thr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.