Dell Products Inc.

Texas Instruments Corporation

Dell USA L P

La Vaughn F Watts, Jr

Gary Douglas Huber

Ronald D Shaw

Erica J Scholder

Howard A Shoobe

Nobuyuki Albert Sato

James E Dailey

Yi Zhang

Kofi Nkisah Dadzie

In order to continually receive messages in a dual personal computer system (PC) and personal digital assistant system (PDA) computer architecture, the PC system is deactivated to conserve battery power while the PDA continues to receive messages. As PDA memory is filled with messages, messages that are synchronized and archived with the PC system aredeleted and space is freed for incoming messages. When new and non-synchronized messages completely fill the PDA memory array, the PC system is reactivated or the user is informed.

Combination personal data assistant and personal computing system dynamic memory reclamation

In order to continually receive messages in a dual personal computer system (PC) and personal digital assistant system (PDA) computer architecture, the PC system is deactivated to conserve battery power while the PDA continues to receive messages. As PDA memory is filled with messages, messages that are synchronized and archived with the PC system are deleted and space is freed for incoming messages. When new and non-synchronized messages completely fill the PDA memory array, the PC system is reactivated or the user is informed.

An integrated computer system includes a computer system, having at least a display, a chassis, a memory, a power supply and a communication interface, and a personal digital communications (PDC) system, having at least a display, a memory, a battery and a communication interface. The computer chassis is configured to removably retain the PDC system in a docked mode, and when in said docked mode the PDC system is operable to communicate with the computer system through the respective communication interfaces and the computer system is operable to send data from the computer memory to the PDC system. The PDC system is operable to receive said data and store said data in the PDC memory and to display at least a subset of said data on the PDC display when the computer system is powered on or off.

Removable personal digital assistant in a dual personal computer/personal digital assistant computer architecture

A method for detecting temperature and activity associated with a processor, results of the detecting being used for controlling power dissipation associated with the processor and/or apparatus and/or system employing the same.

Method for detecting temperature and activity associated with a processor and using the results for controlling power dissipation associated with a processor

In order to provide desirable features of a low power personal digital (PDA) and a powerful computing personal computer (PC), the PDA and the PC are combined as one integrated computer architecture. When low power consumption is desired, the PDA controls the computer architecture, and when increased computing power is needed the PC is given control of the computer architecture. To maintain portability feature of a small size PDA a removable or detachable PDA is integrated into the chassis housing the computer architecture. The PDA is housed in a package that may be placed in an expansion bay or connected to the exterior of the chassis. The PDA has its own separate memory, input device, display and battery so it can operate independently. Interface connections are provided on the PDA in order to connect to the computer architecture.

In order to overcome the relatively short battery life and the relatively long delay between the activation and the actual functioning of a typical mobile computing system, the mobile computing system is provided with a personal computer (PC) architecture system and a personal digital assistant (PDA) architecture system, and a common display and shared peripherals. Interfacing to the systems is a super input output or embedded controller (SIO/EC) that acts as a slave device to whatever system has control of computing system. The SIO/EC controls a quick switch which blocks or allows communication along communication busses connecting the systems to the SIO/EC. A user can selectively change, by way of a user interface to the SIO/EC, to whatever system that is desired by the user.

Method of operating combination personal data assistant and personal computing device

A computer system including a processor, an access token communicator capable of being coupled to the processor and adapted to read an access token, an input device coupled to the processor that is able to receive verification data that confirms authorized access of the access token, and software executable on the processor that includes instructions to control access to the processor and including code to access the access token and the verification data, code to verify the validity of the access token using the verification data, code to set security policies in the processor, and code to control access to resources in the processor based on the security policies. In addition, a method for reading an access token, verifying the validity of the access token, setting security policies in a computer system, and unlocking a computer system and a nonvolatile storage device attached to the computer system.

Portable computer system with hierarchical and token-based security policies

A communication apparatus including a wireless communication device, a network interface device and a receptacle assembly body. A data transfer portion is attached to the receptacle assembly body. The data transfer portion is electrically connected to the network interface device. A wireless communication portion is attached to receptacle assembly body. The wireless communication portion is electrically connected to the wireless communication device. A single receptacle assembly can be used to separately interconnect a plurality of types of communication devices to an electronic device in a space efficient and cost effective manner.

Wireless communication apparatus

A computer comprises a central processing unit, at least one fan disposed for providing cooling to the at least one central processing unit, and a thermal manager. The thermal manager monitors a temperature of the central processing unit and dynamically controls a throttling of the central processing unit and the at least one fan according to a thermal management algorithm.

Computer system thermal lap management method and apparatus

A real-time power conservation and thermal management apparatus and method for portable computers employs a monitor () to determine whether a CPU may rest based upon a real-time sample of the CPU activity and temperature levels and to activate a hardware selector() to carry out the monitor's determination. If the monitor determines the CPU may rest, the hardware selector reduces CPU clock time (); if the CPU is to be active, the hardware selector returns the CPU to its previous high speed clock level (). Switching back into full operation from its rest state occurs without a user having to request it and without any delay in the operation of the computer while waiting for the computer to return to a 'ready' state. Furthermore, the monitor adjusts the performance level of the computer to manage power conservation and thermal management in response to the real-time sampling of CPU activity () and temperature (). Such adjustments are accomplished within the CPU cycles and do not affect the user's perception of performance and do not affect any system application software executing on the computer.

Processor having real-time power conservation and thermal management

A real-time thermal management and power conservation apparatus and method for computers employs a monitor to determine whether a CPU may rest based upon a real-time sampling of temperature and CPU activity levels and activates a hardware selector to carry out the monitor's determination. If the monitor determines the CPU may rest, the hardware selector reduces or stops CPU clock time; if the CPU is to be active, the hardware selector returns the CPU to its previous high speed clock level. Switching back into full operation from its rest state occurs without a user having to request it and without any delay in the operation of the computer while waiting for the computer to return to a 'ready' state. Furthermore, the monitor adjusts the performance level of the computer to manage power conservation and thermal management in response to the real-time sampling of temperature and CPU activity levels. Such adjustments are accomplished within the CPU cycles and do not affect the user's perception of performance and do not affect any system application software executing on the computer.

Real-time computer thermal management and power conservation

In order to provide continuous communication ability in a computer architecture that integrates a computer (PC) architecture system and a personal digital assistant (PDA) architecture system, a common communication device is provided. Independent access is made available to the communication device to either the PC or the PDA depending on which system is in control. A switch isolates either the PC or PDA to control of the communication device and other common peripherals. The PDA can be a slave device to the PC, with both systems synchronized with one another and able to exchange information and data. Because the PDA consumes much less power than the PC, the PDA can remain active while the PC is shut off. Because the PDA has the ability to communicate the computer continues to receive and transmit messages and information.

Combination personal data assistant and personal computing device with master slave input output

A method including but not limited to detecting a docking device class circuit present on a bus, and obtaining a description of at least one device in a docking station from the docking device class circuit. In one embodiment the method further includes but is not limited to controlling the at least one device via commands appropriate to the bus. In one embodiment, circuitry is utilized to effect the foregoing-described method. In addition, a related docking station having a docking device class circuit is described.

Docking station for use with a portable computer system

A method for filtering events in a computing system using a low power device, Personal Data Assistant is provided. The filtering is done without the involvement of the processor of the computing system. The filtering of events include authorizing requests from wireless devices before the processor's resources are utilized. In a mobile computing system, pre filtering by low power device reduces the amount of time the processor needs to be active. The personal digital assistant also provides certain functionality of computing system and access to the resources of computing system without bringing up the system in a full power mode. When the processor is in active state, the personal digital assistant continues to authorize access requests from wireless device and also provides a peer-to-peer communication and exchange of general information with other wireless devices.

Method of filtering events in a combinational computing device

A portable system is provided with both an ISPCA processing section, a non-standard personal computer architecture (NSPCA) processing section and a common section including apparatus common to both processing sections. The NSPCA processing section operates under an operating system such as the WINDOWS&reg; CE operating system, having reduced functionality, but being capable of &ldquo;instant-on&rdquo; operation. The data processing system includes controllable reduced power (and reduced functionality) mode wherein only the NSPCA processing is activated. The data processing system can controllably be transferred to a higher power (and full functionality) mode operating by activating the ISPCA processing section. In this manner, the processing section that is not an integral part of the data processing system can be detachably coupled thereto.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

La Vaughn F Watts, Jr