The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1997
Earl Hardin Booth, III, Durham, NC (US);
Brian Ashley Carpenter, Cary, NC (US);
Robert Bedford Ferrier, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Russell Alan Resnick, Raleigh, NC (US);
William Walter Vetter, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A computer, and particularly a mobile client computer system, in which flexibility in use of the system is enhanced by a capability of receiving and dynamically recognizing a variety of what are here called docking options. Docking options are peripheral devices, such as radio transceivers, which can be selectively connected to and used with a mobile client system. A docked option is identified by an exchange of signals between the system and the option, accomplished through a plurality of input/output ports which together define an interface to the option.