Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Richard S Lin

Robert E Krancher

Monji G Jabori

Walter G Fry

Chi Wai So

David J Maguire

Paul Roberto Lalinde

James R Edwards

David J Delisle

Jeffrey Kevin Jeansonne

Thomas P Sawyers

Rahul V Lakdawala

Tim L Zhang

Derek Kanas

Fangyong Dai

Dallas M Barlow

Scott P Saunders

Xiang Ma

Jeff Jeansonne

John Chow

Robert C Hurbanis, Jr

Baosheng Zhang

Anura Neysadurai

Robin Lovelace

Combined audio and visual conferencing device

Speaker

An electronic device includes a transmit buffer, a receive buffer, a communication port, and a controller. The controller is to: communicate with a target device via a data link established via the communication port; determine a throughput ratio between the transmit buffer and the receive buffer; in response to a determination that the throughput ratio is above a threshold, transmit a request to the target device to change an aspect of the data link, where the request includes a payload size indicating an amount of data to be transmitted from the electronic device to the target device; and in response to receiving a grant message associated with the request, increase an amount of transmit lanes within the data link from the electronic device to the target device.

Data link changes based on requests

A number of systems and devices for stylus connectors are described herein. In one example, a stylus connector can include a first end to couple the stylus connector to a universal serial bus (USB) of a computing device and a second end to electrically couple a stylus to the USB of the computing device and structurally couple the stylus to the stylus connector.

Stylus connectors

In a method and system for assessing video quality, an analog video signal to be assessed is input. At least part of the incoming video signal is converted to digital values. The digital values are stored. A detector determines whether any stored digital value is outside an acceptable range.

Monitoring quality of video signals

A computer protection system comprises a mobile detection module adapted to detect at least one event indicating a likelihood of movement of a computer and, in response to detecting the at least one event, automatically place a drive device of the computer in a suspend state.

Computer protection system and method

An electronic device comprises a performance level indicator configured to determine an operational performance level for the electronic device based on a power capability of a power adapter coupled to the electronic device at least while the electronic device is non-operational.

Electronic device performance level indicator and method

A method for communicating between a computer and a data storage device comprises receiving, by a data storage device, information indicative of a plurality of commands and information indicative of a memory location in a computer associated with each of the plurality of commands. The method further comprises executing, by the data storage device, one of the plurality of commands. In one embodiment, executing the command comprises directly accessing the computer memory location associated with the command.

Communication between a computer and a data storage device

In at least some embodiments, a method comprises receiving an external card detection signal that indicates that a hot-pluggable card is coupled to a computer system and activating at least one reference clock signal of a scalable reference clock platform based on the external card detection signal. The method further comprises synchronizing clock signals embedded in data packets transmitted between the hot-pluggable card and the computer system with another clock signal bases on the at least one reference clock signal.

Methods and systems for a reference clock

A computer system with dynamic device identification redirection. The computer system may include a processor, a system memory, and a bridge logic device having a peripheral bus interface. The bridge logic device is associated with at least a first address line, which is also associated with a first peripheral device. The computer system may also include a logic device coupled to the peripheral bus that swaps a second address line for the first address line when a peripheral bus cycle is run to the first address line.

Dynamic PCI device identification redirection on a configuration space access conflict

A method and apparatus are disclosed for allowing a plurality of network connectors to utilize a single network controller within a docking station or portable device. A switching device connects the plurality of network connectors with the network controller. By connecting the network connectors into the switching device, the docking station and the portable device require a single network controller to handle the network communication. The switching device enables the network controller to continue to operate without disrupting the portable device when the network connection is changed from the docking station to the portable device or vice versa. The method and apparatus are useful in reducing the complexity of the total system while increasing functionality.

Port replication in an electronic device that allows for a single network controller

A system and method are disclosed for handling devices that assert a wake-up signal in an improper fashion. It is observed that any wake-up signals that remain asserted as the computer system enters a low-power mode are likely produced by non-compliant cards, and to assure proper functioning of the system, it is desirable for the computer system to selectively block assertion of asserted signals from non-compliant cards. In one embodiment the computer system includes an expansion bus coupled to a bus bridge, and a signal gate. The expansion bus includes a wake-up signal that the signal gate can be configured to isolate from the bus bridge. The signal gate is preferably controlled by the power management controller. The power management controller sets the signal gate to isolate the signal from the bus bridge if the controller determines that wake-up signal is being driven in a non-standard manner. The non-compliance may be determined by: (a) detecting a transition of the computer to a reduced power state; (b) pausing for a predetermined delay; and (c) sampling the wake-up signal to identify any asserted wake-up signals. In the presence of non-compliant expansion cards, the disclosed embodiments may advantageously assure correct operation of the system with minimal additional cost.

Handling of multiple compliant and non-compliant wake-up sources in a computer system

A computer system reroutes a configuration cycle intended for an unused system bus address line to the IDSEL, or equivalent, configuration chip select input pin of a device which uses the same system bus address line as another device on the system bus. The computer system has a PCI bus to which a programmable logic device and an electronically-controlled switch are connected. The programmable logic device detects PCI bus configuration cycles associated with a PCI bus AD line that is otherwise unused as a chip select during configuration cycles. When the logic device detects a configuration cycle associated with the unused AD line, the logic device asserts a control signal to the electronically-controlled switch. The switch then connects the previously unused AD line to the AD line that is connected to the IDSEL input pin of the PCI device that experiences the conflict. The PCI device then effectively responds to the configuration read or write cycle as if its IDSEL input pin was hardwired to the switched AD line.

A method for hot docking and hot undocking a portable computer and a docking station. The portable computer and docking station are physically coupled via a shared PCI bus and an expansion connector. Varying length pins in the expansion connector generate docking and undocking handshaking signals used by microcontrollers in the portable computer and docking station. The portable computer and docking station are functionally connected via low onresistance switches located in the portable computer. Following a docking event, closure of the switches connects the portion of the shared PCI bus in the docking station with the PCI bus in the portable computer. When the switches are open, the PCI busses are functionally isolated. Both the portable computer and the docking station also include a local arbiter for arbitrating and granting bus control requests from devices coupled to the shared PCI bus. These local arbiters may be placed into an idled state by either the operating system (through system BIOS) or by the microcontrollers. The arbiters are idled during docking and undocking events in order to inhibit bus cycles on the PCI bus, thereby preventing cycles from being lost. Following completion of a hot docking or undocking event, Plug-and-Play system reconfiguration is carried out so that all system resources may be recognized and properly utilized by the operating system.

Computer system implementing hot docking and undocking capabilities by

A method for hot docking and hot undocking a portable computer and a docking station. The portable computer and docking station are physically coupled via a shared PCI bus and an expansion connector. Varying length pins in the expansion connector generate docking and undocking handshaking signals used by microcontrollers in the portable computer and docking station. The portable computer and docking station are functionally connected via low on-resistance switches located in the portable computer. Following a docking event, closure of the switches connects the portion of the shared PCI bus in the docking station with the PCI bus in the portable computer. When the switches are open, the PCI busses are functionally isolated. Both the portable computer and the docking station also include a local arbiter for arbitrating and granting bus control requests from devices coupled to the shared PCI bus. These local arbiters may be placed into an idled state by either the operating system (through system BIOS) or by the microcontrollers. The arbiters are idled during docking and undocking events in order to inhibit bus cycles on the PCI bus, thereby preventing cycles from being lost. Following completion of a hot docking or undocking event, Plug-and-Play system reconfiguration is carried out so that all system resources may be recognized and properly utilized by the operating system.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Richard S Lin