Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral configuration
Utility Patent
1998-06-30
2001-01-02
Lee, Thomas C. (Department: 2782)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral configuration
C710S108000, C713S100000
Utility Patent
active
06170020
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the allocation of resources to peripheral devices on computers, such as portable personal computers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer systems generally provide different types of resources that it uses to interact with its peripheral devices. Some of the types of resources available include interrupt lines, direct memory access channels, input/output (IO) addresses, and memory addresses. As is well known, interrupt lines allow a peripheral to interrupt the processor, addresses allow the processor to access the peripheral, and DMA channels allow the peripheral to access memory directly.
These resources generally depend on hardware constraints, which tend to be fixed and bear directly on the cost of the computer. For example, building a computer with more interrupt lines may involve adding interrupt controller circuitry and widening the computer's bus, which requires additional circuit board or silicon real estate and a corresponding number of interconnections. And it would typically be very difficult to retrofit additional interrupt lines and controllers to a mass-produced computer.
For these reasons, computer manufacturers generally decide on a fixed set of resources that balances cost and versatility. This can make some configurations impossible and others very tricky, particularly if the computer is well-equipped. For example, a device may be required to act as a slave of another in order to save interrupt lines.
To compound the problem, the semiconductor technology underlying computer systems has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, permitting significant changes in the nature and sophistication of computer architecture. While these advances have greatly enhanced computer performance, maintaining software and peripheral compatibility in the wake of these changes has led in some instances to relatively complex interface issues. The so-called IBM-compatible family of computers and its progeny, for example, have evolved from a fairly simple 8-bit bus structure to a 32-bit bus structure with integrated memory management, multi-tasking support, and various speed enhancements. Along the way, certain early design decisions have led to constraints that need to be followed in order to maintain compatibility with earlier hardware and software. This can require users to shuffle memory addresses, IO addresses, DMA channels, and interrupt request assignments in a sometimes iterative process to achieve a harmonious co-existence of peripheral devices. Juggling these resources to achieve a desired configuration can be difficult and time-consuming, even for some of the most experienced computer users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one general aspect, the invention features a computer including a computer housing having a processor and a number of peripheral devices operatively connected to the processor, a docking connector mounted on the computer housing and operatively connected to the processor, a reservation module operative to reserve one of a plurality of resources for use by a peripheral device operatively connected to a docking station that is operatively connectable to the docking connector, and an allocation module responsive to an indication from the reservation module operative to allocate the one of the resources to one of the plurality of peripheral devices.
The processing module can include a fixed number of interrupt request lines and the resources can be the interrupt lines. The docking station can include a first peripheral connector and the allocation module can be operative to allocate the resource to a first of the peripheral devices connected to the first connector if the first of the peripheral devices is connected to the first connector, and to allocate the resource to a second of the peripheral devices if no peripheral device is connected to the first connector. The allocation module can be operative to deallocate the resource from the second of the peripheral devices if one of the peripheral devices is connected to the first connector while the resource is allocated to the second of the peripheral devices. The allocation module can be operative to deallocate the resource upon detecting a hot undock operation between the computer housing and the docking station. The computer can further include means operative to generate a system-level interrupt upon detecting a hot swap of one of the plurality of peripheral devices and the allocation module can be operative to deallocate the resource in response to the system-level interrupt. The allocation module can be operative to cause another of the peripheral devices to act as a slave to the one of the peripheral devices. The computer can further include means for calling the allocation module on boot-up of the computer. The computer can further include means for calling the allocation module on detecting a hot swap of one of the plurality of peripheral devices. The means for calling can be operative to generate a system management interrupt. The computer can further include a non-volatile volatile resource reservation storage location and the reservation module can be operative to store a resource reservation flag in the non-volatile resource reservation storage location. The reservation module can be operative to prompt a user to determine the desired state of a resource reservation flag.
In another general aspect, the invention features a computer including means for responding to a user reservation command to reserve one of a plurality of resources, and means for leaving the resource unallocated upon detecting the absence of peripheral devices at a first port, and for allocating the resource to the first peripheral device upon detecting the presence of the first peripheral device at the first port.
The computer can further include means for detecting the appearance of the first peripheral at the first peripheral port and the means for leaving and allocating can be responsive to the means for detecting the appearance. The computer can further include means for denying a request for the reserved resource for a second peripheral at a second peripheral port in response to the means for responding. The computer can further include means for reallocating the resource to a second peripheral device upon detecting the arrival of the second peripheral device. The computer can further include means for reallocating the resource to a second peripheral device upon detecting the removal of the first peripheral device.
In another general aspect, the invention features a method of operating a computer. The method includes steps of responding to a user reservation command to reserve one of a plurality of resources, leaving the resource unallocated upon detecting the absence of peripheral devices at a first port, and allocating the resource to the first peripheral device upon detecting the presence of the first peripheral device at the first port.
The method can further include the step of detecting the appearance of the first peripheral at the first peripheral port and the step of allocating can take place in response to the step of detecting the appearance. The method can further include the step of denying a request for the reserved resource for a second peripheral at a second peripheral port after the step of responding. The method can further include the step of reallocating the resource to a second peripheral device upon detecting the arrival of the second peripheral device. The method can further include the step of reallocating the resource to a second peripheral device upon detecting the removal of the first peripheral device.
Systems according to the invention may be advantageous in that they permit the user of a portable computer to easily choose to use the computer with or without some of its peripheral devices, depending on his or her particular needs. This is particularly beneficial when using a docking station with peripheral slots, because the computer can be booted without knowledge of the configuration of the docking station. And these ends may
Blakeney Stephen R.
Frame Robert C.
Pirdy Scott L.
Compaq Computer Corporation
Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds P.C.
Lee Thomas C.
Wang Albert
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