TW201348921A - Docking station of electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A docking station of an electronic device is provided, the docking station including a source unit, a processor, a connection interface circuit and a network communication unit. The source unit providing at least one resource. The processor including a first main communication terminal, a second main communication terminal and a slave terminal, wherein the first main communication terminal coupled to the slave terminal of the source unit. A main communication terminal of the connection interface circuit coupled to the slave terminal of the processor, wherein when the electronic device is coupled to the connection interface circuit, the processor acts as a peripheral device of the electronic device. The slave terminal of the network communication unit coupled to the second main communication terminal of the processor, wherein when a remote host is coupled to the network communication unit through an external network, the processor acts as a remote server.

Description

Electronic device dock

The present invention relates to a docking station for an electronic device, and more particularly to a docking station for an electronic device that supports remote operation and is independently operable.

With the advancement of technology, the design of electronic devices has become more and more human. In general, docking stations for electronic products are peripheral devices classified in electronic products. The docking station for controlling electronic products usually needs to be connected to the electronic products connected to the docking station. For example, the user usually needs to connect the computer connected to the external hard disk to read the data in the external hard disk. . In addition, if the remote user wants to access the remote data of the electronic product's dock through the network, the remote user also needs to connect to the electronic product connected to the dock before borrowing. The docking station is operated by an electronic product.

However, once the electronic product to which the docking station is attached is not connected to the docking station, or the electronic product connected to the docking station is temporarily unable to operate normally, the docking station may face an inoperable situation, thereby affecting the expansion of the electronic product. Convenience in use.

In view of this, the present invention provides a docking station for an electronic device, which greatly improves the convenience of use of the docking station of the electronic device.

The invention provides a docking station for an electronic device, wherein the docking station of the electronic device comprises a resource unit, a processor, a connection interface circuit and a network communication unit. The resource unit provides at least one resource. The processor has a first primary communication terminal, a second primary communication terminal, and a servant communication terminal, wherein the first primary communication terminal is coupled to the servant communication terminal of the resource unit. The main communication end of the connection interface circuit is coupled to the servant communication end of the processor, wherein when the electronic device is coupled to the connection interface circuit, the processor acts as a peripheral device of the electronic device to provide resources to the electronic device via the connection interface circuit. The servant communication end of the network communication unit is coupled to the second main communication end of the processor, wherein when the remote host is coupled to the network communication unit via the external network, the processor acts as a remote server of the remote host, To provide resources to the remote host via the network communication unit and the external network.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the docking station of the electronic device further includes a power module that supplies power to the internal circuit of the docking station, wherein the power module further provides charging power when the electronic device is coupled to the docking station. Give electronic devices.

In an embodiment of the invention, the resource unit comprises an archive storage unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, the file storage unit comprises a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bridge and a hard disk. The servant end of the SATA bridge is coupled to the first primary communication end of the processor. The hard disk is coupled to the SATA interface of the SATA bridge.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first primary communication end of the processor is coupled to the peripheral communication terminal of the resource unit via a peripheral device connected to a peripheral component interconnection express (PCIe) bus, and the processor The servant communication end is coupled to the main communication end of the connection interface circuit via another PCIe bus.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection interface circuit comprises a Thunderbolt controller and a Thunderbolt connector. The main communication end of the Thunderbolt controller is coupled to the servant of the processor. The Thunderbolt connector is coupled to the Thunderbolt controller, wherein the electronic device is coupled to the Thunderbolt controller via a Thunderbolt connector.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection interface circuit comprises a universal serial bus (USB) controller and a USB connector. The main communication end of the USB controller is coupled to the servant communication end of the processor. The USB connector is coupled to the USB controller, wherein the electronic device is coupled to the USB controller via the USB connector.

In an embodiment of the invention, the external network comprises an internet, and the network communication unit comprises an Ethernet card.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the electronic device is coupled to the connection interface circuit, the electronic device is coupled to the external network via the connection interface circuit, the processor, and the network communication unit.

Based on the above, the docking station of the electronic device of the present invention can be used as a peripheral device of the electronic device to provide resources to the electronic device when the electronic device is coupled to the docking station. as well as, When the remote host is coupled to the docking station via the external network, the processor of the docking station acts as a remote server of the remote host to provide resources to the remote host via the external network. Thereby, the remote host can directly access the resources provided by the docking station via the external network, thereby greatly improving the convenience of using the docking station of the electronic device.

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

In order to enable the remote computer device to directly perform reading or writing of resources on the docking station of the electronic device, an embodiment of the present invention provides a docking station for the electronic device, which does not need to rely on whether the electronic device connected thereto is operating normally. Or normal connection, but directly for the remote computer device to access the resources on the dock through the external network. Thereby, the convenience of use of the docking station of the electronic device is greatly improved.

1 is a block diagram of a docking station of an electronic device connected to a remote host through an external network according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , in the embodiment, the electronic device 10 may be various electronic devices such as a personal computer system or a portable electronic device, and the invention is not limited thereto.

The docking station 100 includes a resource unit 110, a processor 120, a connection interface circuit 130, and a network communication unit 140. The resource unit 110 provides one or more resources, wherein the one or more resources are, for example, text file resources, multimedia file resources, or any form of resources. Source, the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, in this embodiment, the resource unit 110 is coupled to the processor 120 through the servant terminal 112. Thereby, the resource unit 110 can communicate with the processor 120 and deliver resources. For example, the processor 120 may perform operations such as sharing, reading, or writing of the file resource in the resource unit 110 according to the request of the electronic device 10 or the remote host 30.

For example, please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a resource unit according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the resource unit 210 can include an archive storage unit 214, wherein the archive storage unit 214 can be used to store files. In the embodiment of the file storage unit 214, for example, the file storage unit 214 can include a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bridge 2142 and a hard disk 2144. The SATA bridge 2142 is coupled to the processor 120 such that the SATA bridge 2142 can be coupled to the first primary communication end 122 of the processor 120 through the servant 21422. The hard disk 214 is coupled to the SATA interface 21424 of the SATA bridge 2142 as an archive storage medium of the file storage unit 214.

In other words, through the SATA bridge 2142 and the hard disk 2144, the resource unit 110 can simply communicate with the processor 120 and transfer resources. It should be noted that the file storage unit 214 can be a storage medium or a combination of various external storage devices (such as a memory card, a flash drive, etc.), and the embodiment of the file storage unit 214 is not limited herein.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the processor 120 includes a first primary communication terminal 122, a second primary communication terminal 124, and a servant communication terminal 126. The first primary communication end 122 is coupled to the servant terminal 112 of the resource unit 110, for example, the first primary communication terminal. The peripheral component interconnection express (PCIe) bus bar 102 is coupled to the servant terminal 112 of the resource unit 110 through a peripheral device, and the present invention does not limit the type of the bus bar.

In this embodiment, the processor 120 may include a single system chip or a system chipset such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor (Micro-processor).

The connection interface circuit 130 is used to couple the docking station 100 and the electronic device 10. Specifically, the main communication end 132 of the connection interface circuit 130 is coupled to the servant communication end 124 of the processor 120. For example, in the present embodiment, the servant terminal 124 of the processor 120 is coupled to the main communication terminal 132 of the connection interface circuit 130 via the PCIe bus bar 104.

From another point of view, in the embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is coupled to the connection interface circuit 130, the processor 120 can serve as a peripheral device of the electronic device 10 to provide resources to the electronic device via the connection interface circuit 130. 10. In other words, taking the computer system's mobile hard disk (set on the docking station) as an example, when the computer system is coupled to the mobile hard disk, the computer system can directly read or write the file on the mobile hard disk.

For a more detailed description of the connection interface circuit, please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a connection interface circuit according to an embodiment of the invention. In the present embodiment, the connection interface circuit 330 includes a Thunderbolt controller 332 and a Thunderbolt connector 334. The primary communication end 3322 of the Thunderbolt controller 332 is coupled to the servant communication terminal 124 of the processor 120. Thunderbolt connector 334 is coupled to Thunderbolt controller 332. Thereby, the electronic device 10 can be coupled to the Thunderbolt controller 332 via the Thunderbolt connector 334 and further communicate with the processor 120 accordingly.

However, the invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device can also communicate with the processor of the docking station through a universal serial bus (USB). Please refer to FIG. 4 in succession.

4 is a block diagram of a connection interface circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the connection interface circuit 430 includes a USB controller 432 and a USB connector 434. The main communication terminal 4322 of the USB controller 432 is coupled to the servant communication terminal 124 of the processor 120. The USB connector 434 is coupled to the USB controller 432. Accordingly, the electronic device 10 can be coupled to the USB controller 432 via the USB connector 434 and further communicate with the processor 120 accordingly.

It should be particularly noted that in the embodiment of the present invention, when an electronic device is not coupled to the docking station of the electronic device, the docking station of the electronic device can still operate normally. In other words, the docking station of the electronic device can be operated independently without the need for an electronic device. For example, in this embodiment, the docking station of the electronic device can be regarded as a remote server, and the device can transfer resources to one or more remote hosts through the external network.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the servant terminal 142 of the network communication unit 140 is coupled to the second primary communication terminal 126 of the processor 120 (eg, via the PCIe bus 106). In this embodiment, the network communication unit 140 includes an Ethernet card for the network communication unit 140 and the external network 20 Communication. Accordingly, when the remote host 30 is coupled to the network communication unit 140 via the external network 20 (eg, the Internet or a regional network, etc.), the processor 120 can serve as the remote server of the remote host 30. Resources (such as text files or multimedia files, etc.) are provided to the remote host 30 via the network communication unit 140 and the external network 20. In other words, although the electronic device 10 is not coupled to the docking station 100, or the electronic device 10 coupled to the docking station 100 does not operate normally, once the remote host 30 is coupled to the docking station 100 via the external network 20, The end host 30 can directly access the resources on the docking station 100 without any assistance from the electronic device 10.

In the embodiment, when the electronic device 10 and the docking station 100 can share the same external network 20, in the embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is coupled to the connection interface circuit 130, the electronic device 10 can also be connected to the outside through the docking station 100. Network 20. Specifically, the electronic device 10 is coupled to the external network 20 in sequence via the connection interface circuit 130, the processor 120, and the network communication unit 140.

In the receiving and identifying of the network packet, because the network packet obtained by the network communication unit 140 may be sent to the docking station 100 to request the resource in the resource unit 110, it may also be sent. The network packet of the electronic device 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, after the network communication unit 140 obtains the network packet through the external network 20, the network communication unit 140 transmits the obtained network packet to the processor 120. Then, the processor 120 determines whether the acquired destination of the network packet is the electronic device 10, and if so, transmits the obtained network packet to the electronic device 10; and if the processor 120 determines the obtained network packet transmission. If the destination is not the electronic device 10, the processor 120 then parses the obtained network packet and performs a corresponding action according to the obtained network packet content (for example, sharing resources with the remote host).

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the external network 20 may be a network environment such as an Internet or a local network, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In addition to the functions described above, in another embodiment of the present invention, the docking station 100 may further include a power module 150. The power module 150 is used to supply power to the internal circuits or wafers of the docking station 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the power module 150 can be coupled to an internal circuit or a chip (such as the resource unit 110 , the processor 120 , the connection interface circuit 130 , and the network communication unit 140 ) that needs to be powered in the electronic device 10 . Body device). Therefore, when the electronic device 10 is coupled to the docking station 100, the power module 150 can directly supply charging power to the electronic device 10, or indirectly provide charging power to the electronic device 10 through the resource unit 110, so that the electronic device 10 starts charging. . In this embodiment, the power module 150 may be a power supply device such as a battery or a power supply.

In summary, the docking station of the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used as a peripheral device of the electronic device to provide resources when the electronic device is coupled to the docking station. This electronic device. And when the remote host is coupled to the docking station via the external network, the processor of the docking station acts as a remote server of the remote host to provide resources to the remote host via the external network. In this way, the remote host does not need to access the electronic device attached to the docking station, but can be directly accessed via the external network. The resources provided by this docking station greatly improve the convenience of the use of the docking station of the electronic device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

10‧‧‧Electronic devices

20‧‧‧External network

30‧‧‧Remote host

100‧‧‧ expansion seat

102, 104, 106‧‧‧ Peripheral devices connected to the express interface card bus

110, 210‧‧‧ Resource Unit

112, 124, 142, 21422‧‧‧ servant communication end

120‧‧‧ processor

122‧‧‧First primary communication end

126‧‧‧Second main communication terminal

130, 330, 430‧‧‧ connection interface circuit

132, 3322, 4322‧‧‧ main communication terminal

140‧‧‧Network communication unit

150‧‧‧Power Module

214‧‧‧File storage unit

2142‧‧‧Sequence Advanced Technology Attachment Bridge

21424‧‧‧Listed Advanced Technology Attachment Interface

2144‧‧‧ Hard disk

332‧‧‧Lightning controller

334‧‧‧Lightning connector

432‧‧‧General Sequence Busbar Controller

434‧‧‧Common serial bus connector

1 is a block diagram of a docking station of an electronic device connected to a remote host through an external network according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a block diagram of a resource unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a connection interface circuit according to an embodiment of the invention.

4 is a block diagram of a connection interface circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

10‧‧‧Electronic devices

20‧‧‧External network

30‧‧‧Remote host

100‧‧‧ expansion seat

102, 104, 106‧‧‧ Peripheral devices connected to the express interface card bus

110‧‧‧Resource Unit

112, 124, 142‧‧‧ servant communication end

120‧‧‧ processor

122‧‧‧First primary communication end

126‧‧‧Second main communication terminal

130‧‧‧Connecting interface circuit

132‧‧‧Main communication terminal

140‧‧‧Network communication unit

150‧‧‧Power Module

Claims (9)

An expansion base of an electronic device, comprising: a resource unit, the resource unit provides at least one resource; a processor having a first primary communication terminal, a second primary communication terminal, and a servant communication terminal, wherein the processor The first main communication end is coupled to a servant communication end of the resource unit; a connection interface circuit, a main communication end of the connection interface circuit is coupled to the servant communication end of the processor, wherein when the electronic device is coupled Connected to the connection interface circuit, the processor acts as a peripheral device of the electronic device to provide the resource to the electronic device via the connection interface circuit; and a network communication unit, a servant communication of the network communication unit The end is coupled to the second primary communication end of the processor, wherein when a remote host is coupled to the network communication unit via an external network, the processor acts as a remote server of the remote host, The resource is provided to the remote host via the network communication unit and the external network. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a power module that supplies power to the internal circuit of the docking station, wherein when the electronic device is coupled to the docking station, the power module is further Charging power is supplied to the electronic device. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the resource unit comprises a file storage unit. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 3, wherein the file storage unit comprises: a serial advanced technology attachment (hereinafter referred to as SATA) bridge, the servant communication end of the SATA bridge is coupled to the first main communication end of the processor; and a hard disk coupled to The SATA interface of the SATA bridge. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first main communication end of the processor is coupled to the buster via a peripheral device interconnect express card (hereinafter referred to as PCIe) The servant end of the resource unit, and the servant end of the processor is coupled to the main communication end of the connection interface circuit via another PCIe bus. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connecting interface circuit comprises: a lightning bolt (hereinafter referred to as a Thunderbolt) controller, and a main communication end of the Thunderbolt controller is coupled to the servant of the processor a communication end; and a Thunderbolt connector coupled to the Thunderbolt controller, wherein the electronic device is coupled to the Thunderbolt controller via the Thunderbolt connector. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connection interface circuit comprises: a universal serial bus (hereinafter referred to as USB) controller, and a main communication terminal of the USB controller is coupled The USB communication device is coupled to the USB controller, and the USB device is coupled to the USB controller via the USB connector. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the external network comprises an internet, and the network communication unit comprises an Ethernet card. The docking station of the electronic device of claim 1, wherein when the electronic device is coupled to the connection interface circuit, the electronic device is coupled to the network communication unit via the connection interface circuit, The external network.