Automatic reconfiguration of alterable systems

Details Automatic reconfiguration of alterable systems Automatic reconfiguration of alterable systems

1992-07-08

1996-03-05

Kriess, Kevin A.

Boots, shoes, and leggings

364DIG1, 3642802, 364280, 364268, G06F 1108, G06F 900

Patent

active

054974909

ABSTRACT:
A computer unit and multiple I/O adapter units are interconnectable in a variety of different plug attachment configurations which may be frequently altered in normal use of the system. An arrangement is provided for automatically initializing adapter units which are currently connected to the computer unit to operating states uniquely suited to the current configuration of connections. In the arrangement, non-volatile storage means retentively stores multiple sets of configuration state information, each set corresponding to a different configuration of connections between the adapter units and the computer unit. Means operating during each initialization of the system detects identities (ID's) of adapter units currently connected to the computer unit, and compares them to ID's associatively stored with the configuration state information. When a corresponding set of ID's is found, the associated configuration state information is retrieved and used for initializing the currently connected adapter units to operating states uniquely suited to the detected configuration of ID's. In the disclosed embodiment, information associated with the adapter unit configuration existing when system power was last turned off is stored in both a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) and in a reserved area of a hard disk drive (HDD) which holds information associated with both the presently existing adapter configuration and previously existing configurations. Detected ID's of currently connected adapter units are compared first to identity information in NVRAM, and if a match is detected the associated state information in NVRAM is used to initialize the currently connected adapter units. If a mismatch is detected, the detected unit ID's are compared to sets of ID's contained in index functions stored in the HDD. If a match is found in this comparison, configuration state information associated with the respective index function is retrieved, written to NVRAM and applied to the currently connected adapter units. This arrangement is particularly useful for automatically initializing portable computer systems which can operate either standalone or docked/connected to one or more desktop expansion units.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4403303 (1983-09-01), Howes et al.
patent: 5014193 (1991-05-01), Garner et al.
patent: 5038320 (1991-08-01), Heath et al.
patent: 5247682 (1993-09-01), Kondou et al.
patent: 5265238 (1993-11-01), Canova, Jr. et al.

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