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:
Aug. 09, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2001
James L. Eichler, Jr., Bartonville, TX (US);
Casey W. Irwin, Dallas, TX (US);
James L. Eichler, Jr., Bartonville, TX (US);
Casey W. Irwin, Dallas, TX (US);
Efficient Networks, Inc., Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
In one aspect of the invention, a method for identifying an available peripheral component interconnect (PCI) slot in a computing device includes identifying at least one PCI slot in the computing device. The method also includes identifying any PCI devices coupled to a PCI bus. The PCI bus is coupled to the PCI slot. The method further includes determining if any of the identified PCI slots are available without requiring physical inspection of the PCI slots. An available PCI slot comprises an identified PCI slot that is not coupled to an identified PCI device.