Patent ID: 7433987

Claim:
A computer apparatus comprising: a proprietary system comprising at least one input/output (I/O) unit and a backplane that includes a plurality of card slots for an interface to said I/O unit, wherein said I/O unit comprises a circuit card chassis located in said I/O unit; a commercial-off the shelf (COTS) computer; a frame that fits in said circuit card chassis; at least one edge connector, wherein said COTS computer and said edge connector are disposed on said frame; and at least one adapter that is disposed on said frame and that is interconnected with said COTS computer and said edge connector; wherein said adapter comprises circuit elements that convert input and output of signals of said COTS computer to input and output signals that are compatible with said interface so that said COTS computer provides control for said I/O unit, and wherein said edge connector mates with one of said card slots of said backplane.