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:
May. 02, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 27, 2000
Henry F. Lada, Cypress, TX (US);
Joseph A. Lightfoot, Cypress, TX (US);
Henry F. Lada, Cypress, TX (US);
Joseph A. Lightfoot, Cypress, TX (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An insertion and identification scheme between the main unit of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or handheld device and an option pack. Upon insertion, the hardware interface invokes a device manager on the main unit that interrogates the option pack on its features without significantly impacting battery life. The interrogation includes data on drivers, applications, configuration and miscellaneous requirements of the option pack. This identification process allows the option pack to store information, drivers and applications on the option pack, so the main unit does not have to use its memory to store information on a large number of option packs. Further, the insertion scheme provides a means of checking the power availability in the main unit before allowing the option pack to fully power-on.