Micro personal digital assistant with a compressed BIOS system

Abstract

A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I / O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also has a means for storing a security code. The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host / satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant has a compressed BIOS chip, and in yet another embodiment also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS [0001] The present application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09 / 785,574 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08 / 683,567 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. Nos. 08 / 144,231 and 08 / 019,592.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention is in the area of portable computers and pertains more specifically to small portable computing devices known in the art as personal digital assistants, and to Basic Input / Output Systems (BIOS) for such devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) units, as of the date of this disclosure, enjoy a position of hope in the computer marketplace. Some believe this approach, a small, relatively inexpensive, and eminently portable computer unit, having software specifically written for tasks a user might expect to perform while traveling, will provide eminently useful and therefore salable computer products. Apple Computer, Hewlett Packard, and several other...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022] The personal digital assistant module forms a unique combination with a general-purpose computer host having the personal digital assistant as a satellite unit. The host in this instance has a docking bay especially configured to dock the personal digital assistant, making a direct bus connection between the local CPU of the personal digital assistant and the CPU of the host. The host may be a desktop unit, a notebook computer, or a smaller portable like a palmtop computer. This combination provides power and convenience not before available.

[0024] The personal digital assistant provided according to embodiments of the present invention is a unit more compact than conventional PDAs. It represents a new dimension in computer application and applicability, in a form promising to be eminently usable by and useful to almost everyone; and at a price easily affordable. It solves the communication problem intrinsic to personal digital assistants relative to larger and more powerful computers, with a unit that fits into a user's breast pocket, and at a very low price.

Problems solved by technology

Given the new systems now introduced, and those coming, for what is now known about them, there are still a number of drawbacks and problems.

The PDA systems introduced are relatively costly, with starting prices ranging from several hundred dollars to two thousand dollars and more.

At such prices, rivaling current pricing for desktop systems, the buying public may react negatively.

It is true that prices will fall with increased manufacturing volume and competition, but the high end start may well be rejected by potential users.

The systems being offered are still relatively bulky, considering the limited range of tasks that may be accomplished.

Most are certainly too big to be conveniently carried in a breast pocket.

A big drawback of the PDA systems being offered is the way they transfer data between a user's desktop unit, or other host, and the PDA.

These all require manipulation by a user, modulation on one or both ends of the communication path, and the like, which can be time-consuming, error-prone, and hardware extensive (expensive).

Presently the Newton offers a modem and / or LED communication as an option, adding to the overall cost.

In known PDAs, software is typically recorded in ROM, so updating applications can be difficult, and sometimes impossible.

This will be a problem because PDA users will not want the PDA to have the same capabilities at all times. Typical users will be people who travel and work while they travel.

Another difficulty is in the fact that the data files a user manipulates while traveling are typically data files also resident in a home unit, herein called a host unit, such as the user's office desktop machine or notebook or other portable computer.

It is very troublesome to have two or more sets of critical data, with differences that one must remember to correct at an appropriate time.

This can cause unending grief if files are not correctly updated.

Yet another difficulty with small devices like digital assistants is in providing embedded code routines, such as BIOS routines, in a minimum read-only memory (ROM) real estate.

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