Patent ID: 8051306

Claim:
A portable computer capable of sharing hardware resources with a computer host, the portable computer comprising: a power module for powering on and keeping the portable computer operable; a shared hardware resource; a serial bus interface having a data pin and a power pin, the data pin being capable of transmitting data between the shared hardware resource and the computer host and the power pin being capable of receiving power from the computer host; an interface converter connected between the shared hardware resource and the data pin of the serial bus interface, and capable of converting the data between a shared hardware resource interface format and a serial bus interface format; a power management module capable of obtaining power from the power pin of the serial bus interface and distributing the power to the shared hardware resource and the interface converter; a power path switch capable of continuing or discontinuing the power from the serial bus interface to the power management module; and a control module capable of controlling the power path switch to discontinue the power when the portable computer is powered on and controlling the power path switch to supply the power when the portable computer is powered off; wherein, when the portable computer is powered on, the control module switches off the power path switch and discontinues the power to the power management module, the power management module discontinues the power to the shared hardware resource and the interface converter and disables the interface converter; and wherein, when the portable computer is powered off, the control module switches on the power path switch and continues the power from the power pin of the serial bus interface to the power management module, the power management module distributes the power to the shared hardware resource and the interface converter, then enabling the shared hardware resource to communicate with the computer host via the interface converter.