Abstract:
A linking topology of dock and client computation devices connecting with each other through two mated connectors is disclosed. Each computation device comprises an embedded controller therein. The dock computation device has a display. The embedded controllers communicate with each other to decide the use of a sensor in either the dock computation device or the client computation device as a sensor for the connected dock and client computation device in whole.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a system for connecting two computation devices, and particularly to a topology regarding the decision of a main device and a slave device when one computation device is connected to another computation device and the use of sensors in the two computation devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various computation devices such as ultra small form-factor (USFF) computation devices such as thin client computers, PC (personal computer) boxes, all-in-one (AIO) computers, mobile computation devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers bring people a lot of convenience. Usually, a person owns several such devices, which are operated individually. Each mobile computation device/computer device has its display screen and motion sensor for the display screen, and sensors for cameras. The motion sensors and camera sensors have different specifications and operate individually even when two mobile computation devices/computer devices are connected together, whereby the display screens and camera thereof operate individually. 
         [0003]    A seamless connection between two connected computation devices relies on a replacement of function of one sensor of one of the two connected computation devices by a corresponding sensor of the other one of the computation devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present topology of connecting two computation devices together. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view showing a topology of connection between two computer devices in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view showing a topology of connection between two computer devices in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view showing a topology of connection between two computer devices in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing operations of the two connected computer devices of any of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
         [0010]    Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
         [0011]    The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a topology of connection of two computer devices in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The two computer devices include a first type computer device  10  and a second type computer device  50 . The first type computer device  10  can be a smart phone  12 , a tablet computer  14 , a USFF (ultra small form factor) computer  16  or a PC (personal computer) box  18 . The second type computer device  50  can be a monitor  52  such as an LCD display. The two computer devices  10 ,  50  are connected with each other through mating connectors  20 ,  22  which when mated can cause a display interface  102  of the first type computer device  10  to connect with a panel  502  of the second computer device  50 , an audio interface  104  of the former to connect with a speaker  504  of the latter, a USB (universal serial bus) interface  106  of the former to connect with a USB hub  506  of the latter and an EC (embedded controller)  108  of the former to connect with an EC  508  of the latter. The display interface  102  is connected with the panel  502  in one way, whereby information can flow only from the display interface  102  to the panel  502 , not vice versa. The audio interface  104  is connected with the speaker  504  in one way, whereby information can flow only from the audio interface  104  to the speaker  504 , not vice versa. The USB interface  106  is connected with the USB hub  506  in one way whereby information can flow only from the USB interface  106  to the USB hub  506 , not vice versa. The EC  108  is connected with the EC  508  in two ways whereby information can flow from the EC  108  to the EC  508  and vice versa. 
         [0013]    Optionally, the first type computer device  10  can further comprise a USB sensor  110  and an LC (inter-integrated circuit) sensor  112 . For example, when the first type computation device  10  is the smart phone  12 , the first type computation device  10  can include two camera sensors (front and rear camera sensors) each of which is an I2C sensor, and a gravity sensor (G sensor) which is also an I2C sensor for detecting a motion of the first type computer device  10 . The second type computer device  50  can also optionally further comprise a USB sensor  510  and an I2C sensor  512 . In the first embodiment, since the second type computer device  50  which is the monitor  52  is purely a display device, there is no sensor in the second type computer device  50 . Under such situation, the sensors of the first type computer device  10  are used as sensors for the connected first and second computer devices  10 ,  50 . Nevertheless, the monitor  52  can be equipped with a camera for catching an image of a user of the monitor  52 . In such case, the second type computer device  50  can have a camera sensor which can be a USB sensor or an I2C sensor. Under this situation, the front camera sensor of the first type computer device  10  is disabled, and the function thereof is replaced by the camera sensor of the second type computer device  50 . 
         [0014]    Since the second type computer device  50  has a computation capability far blew a computation capability of the first type computer device  10 , when the first and second type computer devices  10 ,  50  are connected together to form a computer system, execution of computation of the system falls on the first type computer device  10 . In the first embodiment, the USB sensor  110  or/and the I2C sensor ′ 112  of the first type computer device  10  is/are used as sensor(s) for the connected computer devices  10 ,  50 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a topology of connection of two computer devices in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the second type computer device  50  is an AIO (all-in-one) computer  54 . In the second embodiment, since the second type computer device  50  has a computation capability exceeding a computation capability of the first type computer device  10 , when the first and second type computer devices  10 ,  50  are connected together to form a computer system, execution of computation of the system falls on the second type computer device  50 . 
         [0016]    Optionally, the first type computer device  10  can further comprise a USB sensor  110  and an I2C (inter-integrated circuit) sensor  112 . For example, when the first type computation device  10  is the smart phone  12 , the first type computation device  10  can include two camera sensors (front and rear camera sensors) each of which is an I2C sensor, and a gravity sensor (G sensor) which is also an I2C sensor. The second type computer device  50  can also optionally further comprise a USB sensor  510  and an I2C sensor  512 . In the second embodiment, since the second type computer device  50  is an AIO computer  54  which includes a monitor  542 , a camera for catching an image of a user of AIO computer  54  can be equipped in the monitor  552 . In such case, the second type computer device  50  can have a camera sensor which can be a USB sensor. Under such situation, the front camera sensor of the first type computer device  10  is disabled, and the function thereof is replaced by the USB camera sensor in the monitor  542  of the AIO computer  54 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a topology of connection of two computer devices in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The third embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the first type computer device  10  is a USFF computer  16  or a PC box  18  and the second type computer device  50  is a smart phone  56  or a tablet computer  58 . The smart phone  56  has a display  561 . The tablet computer  58  has a display  581 . In the third embodiment, since the first type computer device  10  has a computation capability exceeding a computation capability of the second type computer device  50 , when the first and second type computer devices  10 ,  50  are connected together to form a computer system, execution of computation of the system falls on the first type computer device  10 . 
         [0018]    In the third embodiment, the I2C sensor  112  or/and the USB sensor  110  of the first type computer device  10 , if any, is disabled, and its function is replaced by the USB sensor  510  and/or I2C sensor  512  of the second type computer device  50  if any. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , operations  100  of the two computer devices  10 ,  50  when they are connected together are shown. The operations  100  begin at block  102  when the connectors  20 ,  22  of the first type and second type computer devices  10 ,  50  are mated together (also referring to  FIG. 1 ). Then the operations  100  are divided into first operation  200  for the first type computer device  10  and second operation  300  for the second type computer device  50 . For the first operation  200 , at block  202 , the first type computer device  10  which is a client computer detects a plug-in of the client computer  10  to the second type computer device  50  which is a dock computer. When the client computer  10  detects that it is connected to the dock computer  50 , at block  204  of the first operation  200 , the client computer  10  outputs video and audio information of the client computer  10  to the panel  502  and speaker  504  of the dock computer  50 . Then at block  206  the client computer  10  detects whether there is a USB link between USB of the client computer  10  and USB of the dock computer  50 . If there is a USB link, the USB interface  106  of the client computer  10  is linked to the USB hub  506  at block  208 . If there is no USB link, the first operation  200  moves to block  209 ; at block  209  the client computer  10  detects whether the embedded controller  108  of the client computer  10  can be linked to the embedded controller  508  of the dock computer  50 . If the answer is positive, at block  210 , the EC  108  of the client computer  10  is linked to the EC  508  of the dock computer  50 . After block  210 , the ECs  108 ,  508  communicate with each other to decide which USB sensor, if any, is used as a sensor for the connected client and dock computers  10 ,  50  at block  212 . Then at block  214  the ECs  108 ,  508  communicate with each other to decide which I2C sensor, if any, is used as a sensor for the connected client and dock computers  10 ,  50 . After block  214 , at block  216  the first operation  200  is ended. Alternatively, if there is no EC link available at block  209 , the first operation  200  of the client computer  10  is directly ended at block  216 . Still alternatively, after block  208  at which the USB interface  106  of the client computer  10  is connected to the USB hub  506  of the dock computer  50 , the first operation  200  is moved to block  209  to proceed with the first operation  200  therefrom. 
         [0020]    For the second operation  300 , at block  302 , the dock computer  50  detects the plug-in of the client computer  10  to the dock computer  50 . When the dock computer  50  detects that it is connected with the client computer  10 , at block  304  the dock computer  50  sinks the video and audio information of the client computer  10  to the panel  502  and speaker  504  of the dock computer  50 . Then at block  306  the dock computer  50  detects whether the USB of the client computer  10  is linked to the USB of the dock computer  50 . If the answer is positive, the USB hub  506  of the dock computer  50  is linked to the USB interface  106  of the client computer  10  at block  208 . If there is no USB link, the second operation  300  moves to block  309 ; at block  309  the dock computer  50  detects whether the embedded controller  508  of the dock computer  50  can be linked to the embedded controller  108  of the client computer  50 . If there is a link available, at block  210 , the EC  508  of the dock computer  50  is linked with the EC  108  of the client computer  10 . After block  210 , the ECs  108 ,  508  communicate with each other to decide which one of the USB sensors  110 ,  510  is used as a sensor for the connected client and dock computers  10 ,  50  at block  212 . Then at block  214  the ECs  108 ,  508  communicate with each other to decide which one of the I2C sensors  112 ,  512  is used as a sensor for the connected client and dock computers  10 ,  50 . After block  214 , at block  216  the second operation  300  is ended. Alternatively, if there is no EC link available at block  309 , the second operation  300  of the dock computer  50  is directly ended at block  216 . Still alternatively, after block  208  at which the USB interface  106  of the client computer  10  is connected to the USB hub  506  of the dock computer  50 , the second operation  300  is moved to block  309  to proceed with the second operation  300  therefrom. 
         [0021]    It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate the scope of the disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure.