System for docking a portable computer to a host computer without suspending processor operation by a docking agent driving the bus inactive during docking
US5632020A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 20, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/4031
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system includes a bus arbiter for providing immediate access to a bus in response to an external requirement or event. In a dockable computer system capable of hot docking or warm docking, the bus arbiter grants exclusive, non-preemptive access to the buses to the docking agent which is capable of quieting (rendering inactive) the bus of the portable computer and docking station in response to a notice signal. The notice signal is indicative of a change of states from the undocked state to the docked state or from the docked state to the undocked state. The notice signal may be provided from software, a user-actuated switch, or an infrared signal. In an audio-capable computer, the bus arbiter provides exclusive non-preemptive access to the digital signal processing peripheral device so that audio glitches are avoided. The arbiter preferably includes an override circuit for countermanding the fairness scheme employed by the bus arbiter and granting immediate bus access in response to the external event or condition. The bus arbiter preferably is able to provide fixed or rotating priority for bus accesses of other peripheral devices on the bus. The arbiter is preferably in…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.