Texas Instruments Corporation

Robert E Tonsing

LaVaughn F Watts, Jr

Robert R Moore

Gary Joseph Verdun

Larry D Mitcham

Kevin D Davis

John Charles Linn

Jason M Brewer

Tom Grimm

Keith L Perrin

The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking system and method for connecting a portable computer to a docking station and method for coupling the docking station to an external monitor and an external keyboard and a technique for customizing the hardware configuration in the docking station for optimum performance. In a preferred embodiment, the technique for customizing the program hardware in the docking station is capable of customizing common hardware in various docking stations.

Computer docking system having means for customizing the hardware configuration in a docking station for optimum performance

A method of configuring a mobile computer (H3) among different computer network configurations (N1, N2). In this method, the mobile computer is connected (18) to a first network medium in various steps. In one step, a network interface circuit (NIC) of the mobile computer is coupled to communicate with the first network medium. In another step, the mobile computer is configured to have an IP address allocated for the first network medium. Next, there is the step (20) of performing a program operation on the mobile computer to determine whether a dynamic configuration protocol is available on the first network medium. Another step performs a program operation to store an indicator in a storage resource of the mobile computer representing whether a dynamic configuration protocol is available on the first network medium. Next, the mobile computer is disconnected (22) from the first network medium, including uncoupling the network interface circuit of the mobile computer from communicating with the first network medium. Next, the mobile computer is connected (24) to a second network medium, including coupling the network interface circuit of the mobile computer to communicate with the second network medium, and performing a program operation on the mobile computer to request a user interface input. In response to the user interface input, the method performs a program operation to store (29) the IP address allocated for the first network medium in a persistent storage resource included within the mobile computer if the indicator indicates that a dynamic configuration protocol is not available on the first network medium. Also in response to the user interface input, the method performs a program operation on the mobile computer to configure (32) the mobile computer to have an IP address allocated for the second network medium by transmitting along the second network medium the IP address allocated for the second network medium from a server computer to the mobile computer.

System with program for automating protocol assignments when newly

The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking system having connection means for connecting a portable computer to a docking station, and means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to underlying software in the central processing unit (CPU) of the portable computer. In a preferred embodiment, the means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to underlying software in the central processing unit (CPU) of the portable computer sets up and doses Windows applications, closes DOS applications, and closes files.

Computer docking system with means for allowing a microprocessor in a

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Troy, TX, United States of America

Robert E Tonsing