Patent ID: 6044427
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for implementing an upgradable electronic module to be forward compatible with an enhanced electronic module, the upgradable electronic module incorporating internal components that have first-level capabilities and that support a first number of external connections provided to other electronic devices by the upgradable electronic module, the upgradable electronic module providing an external connection to a first-level bus connected to the single port of the internal component, the upgradable electronic module also providing an external connection to a second-level bus, the enhanced electronic module incorporating at least one enhanced internal component that has a second-level capability and that supports a second number of external connections provided to additional electronic devices by the enhanced electronic module, the method comprising:incorporating internal components having first-level capabilities into the upgradable electronic module, including incorporating into the upgradable electronic module an internal component having a single port to a first-level bus;connecting any of the first and second number of external connections provided by the upgradable electronic module that are not supported by the internal components of the upgradable electronic module to the first and second number of external connections of the upgradable electronic module that are supported by the internal components of the upgradable electronic module;connecting the external connection to the second-level bus to the single port of the internal component because the internal component lacks a second port to the second-level bus controller; andincorporating a system controller having one peripheral component interconnect port into the upgradable electronic module, the upgradable electronic module providing an external connection to a peripheral component interconnect bus connected to a peripheral component interconnect port of the system controller, the upgradable electronic module also providing an external connection to an accelerated graphics processor bus, the method further including connecting the external connection of the accelerated graphics processor bus to the peripheral component interconnect port of the system controller.