NL2007944C2 - Modular computer system. - Google Patents

Modular computer system. Download PDF

Info

Publication number
NL2007944C2
NL2007944C2 NL2007944A NL2007944A NL2007944C2 NL 2007944 C2 NL2007944 C2 NL 2007944C2 NL 2007944 A NL2007944 A NL 2007944A NL 2007944 A NL2007944 A NL 2007944A NL 2007944 C2 NL2007944 C2 NL 2007944C2
Authority
NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
computer system
firmware
bus management
management system
modular
Prior art date
Application number
NL2007944A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Didier Maximiliaan Jacques Christiam Gehéniau
Original Assignee
Gipcomp B V
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gipcomp B V filed Critical Gipcomp B V
Priority to NL2007944A priority Critical patent/NL2007944C2/en
Priority to PCT/NL2012/050865 priority patent/WO2013089559A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2007944C2 publication Critical patent/NL2007944C2/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
    • G06F13/10—Program control for peripheral devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
    • G06F13/38—Information transfer, e.g. on bus
    • G06F13/40—Bus structure
    • G06F13/4063—Device-to-bus coupling
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
    • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
    • G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
    • G06F9/4401—Bootstrapping
    • G06F9/4411—Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Description

Modular computer system
The present invention relates to a computer system comprising one or more hardware components and one or more 5 operating systems. The invention also concerns a module for such computer system as well as a method to operate such computer system.
In general computer systems comprise a motherboard. A motherboard is a printed circuit board that holds the crucial 10 hardware components of a computer system and provides connectors for other peripheral hardware components of the computer system. Typical components on the motherboard are: CPU (central processing unit), memory- and storage devices.
The computer system is designed to function autonomously. The 15 motherboard will be tuned to the specific function and application of the computer system, such as in smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. The motherboards, dedicated to their specific function and application, provide limited possibilities to extend or downscale their 20 functionality or applicability. Therefore, extension of functionality or of applicability of computer system may imply adding an additional motherboard. Another drawback of motherboards is that a large number heat generating components are attached to the motherboard. These components require 25 individual cooling and may not be positioned too close together on the motherboard. This restricts the possibility to miniaturize the motherboards or restricts the specification.
In principle, the smaller smartphone can perform the same functions as for instance larger desktop computers, however 30 are, for this reason, less powerful. Moreover a motherboard has to be replaced when a single component is defective. This is rather expensive. Further, the state of art motherboards are less suitable for virtualization and cloud computing, in particular for applications where one or more operating 35 systems and/or applications run on a remote computer system.
The present invention intends to solve one or more of the problems of the prior art as described above, and it is in particular an objective of the invention to provide a modular computer system.
40 The computer system according to the invention is 2 characterized by one or several of the appended claims.
In a first aspect of the invention the computer system is provided with a modular bus management system, which modular bus management system has several modular connection 5 points for the hardware components. The number of connection points may easily be increased or decreased by adding respectively removing modules of the modular bus management system. This modular bus management system enables the mutual interaction between the hardware components and the 10 interaction between the operating systems and the hardware components. In this way a motherboard may be omitted and a flexible, modular computer system is obtained that can easily be extended for additional functions and/or additional applications. Additional hardware components may be connected 15 to the computer system. Extension of the computer system to a powerful multifunctional system and also downscaling the computer system to a smaller computer system, becomes very easy. The computer system may in this way be customized and may be adapted to the specific application and circumstances. 20 In a further embodiment of the invention the one or more operating systems are connected to the bus management system by a firmware system. Such firmware system provides the software based connection between the hardware connected to the bus management system and the one or more operating 25 systems. It may also include the software required for an independent startup of the computer system. The firmware system may also be modular connected to the bus management system. In this way the computer system becomes modular at its best. According to the invention the firmware system is 30 provided or may be provided with firmware of one or more of the hardware components. The firmware system may initially be provided with the required firmware of the hardware components, however, firmware may also be provided, in particular be downloaded, when such hardware component is 35 connected to the modular bus management system. The firmware of such specific hardware component may come with that hardware component, or may be downloaded from a firmware source.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the 3 firmware system is designed for remote connection with one or more operating systems and/or one or more firmware sources and/or one or more modular bus management systems and/or one or more hardware components. Such remote connection may be 5 wired or wireless or a combination thereof. In this further embodiment, the firmware on the one hand and the operating systems and/or the firmware sources and/or a modular bus management system and/or the hardware components on the other hand, may operate at distance. Consequently, the computer 10 system may also be connected to an additional distant modular bus management system. In this way two or more physically separated computer systems may be connected. A hardware module for remote connection and/or control may be connected to the modular bus management system.
15 To a further aspect of the invention, the firmware of each connected hardware component may function autonomously of that of other connected hardware components. Such configuration will further enhance the modularity of the computer system.
20 According to the invention a hardware component may be an integrated system of several devices. In this way, devices with a similar, additional or complimentary function may in logic way be grouped together and be connected and disconnected as a whole.
25 To a further aspect of the invention a module for a modular bus management system of a computer system is provided. With such module, a modular bus management systems may be build and extended. According to the invention such module may be designed for remote connection with a modular 30 bus management system and accordingly does not require direct connection with the modular bus management system.
The method according to the invention includes the steps of a) starting the modular bus management system, b) booting one or more of the operating systems and c) connecting 35 the modular bus management system to one or more of the operating systems. The computer system is therefore autonomous and self-starting. This method may also comprise the additional steps of a) connecting a hardware component to the modular bus management system, b) recognition of the 4 connected hardware component, c) selection of a firmware profile for the hardware component and d) activation of the firmware. According to the invention recognition and/or selection and/or activation of the firmware may be performed 5 manually and/or automatically. In a further aspect of the invention, the method of the invention further includes the step of downloading the firmware profile from a firmware source. To a further aspect of the method according to the invention one or more operating systems are started and 10 stopped independent of one or more of the other operating systems and/or the firmware system and/or one or more of the hardware components. In this way one or more systems or hardware components may be kept standby, saving energy, while one or more operating systems are active.
15 The various aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail and will be elucidated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows in figure 1 a representation of an embodiment of the computer system of the invention.
20 The computer system of figure 1 consists of a modular bus management system 100. The modular bus management system 100 is provided with numerous modular connection points 1-N. Such detachable modular connection may be a readily available plug/socket combination. Preferably the modular connections 1-25 N are standardized to facilitate modularity of the system. The individual hardware components may be plugged in the modular bus management system 100. These hardware components are for instance CPU 101, storage module 102, input module 103, memory module 104 and output module 105. However also other hardware 30 components 106 may be connected to- the modular bus management module, for instance hard disks, video cards, soundcards, network cards/slots and usb slots. In this way the computer system may be upgraded and downgraded, dependent on its specific function and application in time. Also replacement of 35 defective hardware components becomes easy and is limited to replacement of the defective hardware component only.
Hardware components, may also be remotely connected to the modular bus management system 100. This may be a wired connection and in particular also a wireless connection or a 5 combination of wired and wireless connections. In that case a specific hardware component for such remote connection may be connected to the modular bus management system 100 or the firmware system 107. Remote connection provides more freedom 5 to place the hardware components at a suitable position, for instance in relation to its function. Some hardware components may even serve more than one computer system according to the invention. Such design freedom for the computer system is also beneficial with respect to heat management. Hardware 10 components may be cooled independently at a suitable location or may be grouped with respect to similar cooling demands.
The modular bus management system 100 is connected by a firmware system 107 to operating systems 108 and 109. Of course connection may be made to other and additional 15 operating systems. The firmware system 107 may also be modular connected to the modular bus management system 100. The firmware system 107 comprises firmware of the several hardware components that are connected with the modular bus management system 100, or may be loaded with such firmware. Loading of 20 firmware may occur when a hardware component is connected.
Such hardware component may comprise the related firmware, or the firmware system 107 may download the required firmware from a (distant) firmware source. In general the firmware 107 will also include the software required for startup of the 25 computer system. For instance Unified Extensible Firmware
Interface (UEFI) provides such platform, however, also other firmware software platforms may be applied.
When a hardware component is connected to the modular bus management system 100 of the computer system of figure 1, 30 the hardware component will be recognized, followed by a selection of the appropriate firmware profile for this hardware component, downloading this firmware and then activating it, manually or automatic. The firmware, when not already present, may be downloaded from the hardware component 35 or from a distant firmware source.
The firmware of each hardware component functions independent of another hardware component, so that each hardware component may be connected or disconnected without influencing the function of the other hardware components in 6 the computer system.
The firmware system 107 may be remotely connected with operating systems 108 and 109. Such remote connections may be wired or wireless or a combination thereof. The 5 selection of the type of remote connection (wired, wireless or a combination thereof) may depend on the specific application of the computer system and the circumstances under which it is applied. Also application software, instead of saved in one of storage modules 102 or in another hardware component, may be 10 made available remotely, preferably wireless. In this way the computer system will be reduced to the bare minimum for its proper functioning.
For instance hardware component 106, may be a single device, however may also be an integrated system of several 15 devices. In this way, devices with a similar, additional or complimentary function may in logic way be grouped together and be connected and disconnected as a whole.
A practical application of the modular computer system may for instance be found in the combination of a 20 smartphone, a touchpad, a laptop and a desktop computer device. These devices differ because of size. A smartphone can, in general, functionally do almost the same as a desktop computer devices, it only has less calculation power, a smaller screen and less storage space. So performance of the 25 different systems depends on size and location where they are used. The modular computer system according to the invention can be used in its downgraded configuration as a smartphone and it may be extended for applications that require more functionalities or more powerful functionalities. By adding a 30 bigger touchscreen, it can for instance be extended to a touchpad. Such bigger touchscreen may function as an integrated system and may for instance also hold an extra processor and memory and/or storage hardware components to boost performance. With a mouse and keyboard it even can be 35 used as a laptop. At the office or at home it may be connected to a docking station. As integrated system, such docking station may for instance also comprise one or more graphic cards, monitors, sound cards, printers, scanners, processors, memory and other required devices. Moreover, with the remote 7 connection functionality the computer system according to the invention may be remotely connected to hardware components and datacenters where part of the system, for instance operating systems and application software, may run. In this way the 5 computer system may be reduced to its bare minimum configuration and savings will be achieved on hardware, software, maintenance and data management.
To the person skilled in art it is obvious that the above given embodiments represent only a few of the many 10 possible variations in which the computer system according to the invention may be embodied. Therefore the embodiments given here must be understood as an elucidation to the appended claims without limiting the scope of the invention. Within the protective scope numerous variations are conceivable.

Claims (15)

1. Een computersysteem omvattende één of meer hardware componenten (101-106) en één of meer besturingssystemen (108,109), voorzien van een modulair bus management systeem (100), waarbij het modulaire bus management systeem (100) ver-5 scheidene modulaire verbindingspunten (1-N) voor de hardware componenten (101-106) omvat en de interactie mogelijk maakt tussen de hardware componenten (101-106) onderling en tussen de één of meer besturingssystemen (108,109) en de hardware componenten(101-106)A computer system comprising one or more hardware components (101-106) and one or more control systems (108, 109) provided with a modular bus management system (100), wherein the modular bus management system (100) has several modular connection points (1-N) for the hardware components (101-106) and allows interaction between the hardware components (101-106) and between the one or more control systems (108,109) and the hardware components (101-106) 2. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 1, met het kenmerk, dat de één of meer besturingssystemen (108,109) met het modulaire bus management systeem (100) zijn verbonden door middel van een firmware systeem (107).A computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that the one or more control systems (108, 109) are connected to the modular bus management system (100) by means of a firmware system (107). 3. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 2, met het 15 kenmerk, dat het firmware systeem (107) modulair is verbonden met het modulaire bus management systeem (100).A computer system according to claim 2, characterized in that the firmware system (107) is modularly connected to the modular bus management system (100). 4. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 2, met het kenmerk, dat het firmware systeem (107) is voorzien of kan worden voorzien van firmware van één of meer van de hardware 20 componenten (101,106).A computer system according to claim 2, characterized in that the firmware system (107) is provided or can be provided with firmware of one or more of the hardware components (101, 106). 5. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 4, met het kenmerk, dat de firmware van elke hardware component (101-106) onafhankelijk kan functioneren van de firmware van een andere verbonden hardware component (101-106) .A computer system according to claim 4, characterized in that the firmware of each hardware component (101-106) can function independently of the firmware of another connected hardware component (101-106). 6. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 1, met het kenmerk, dat het computersysteem is ontworpen voor een verbinding op afstand met één of meer besturingssystemen (108, 109) en/of één of meer firmware bronnen (107) en/of één of meer modulaire bus management systemen (100) en/of één of meer hard-30 ware componenten (101-106).A computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer system is designed for a remote connection with one or more operating systems (108, 109) and / or one or more firmware sources (107) and / or one or more modular bus management systems (100) and / or one or more hardware components (101-106). 7. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 6, met het kenmerk, dat één of meer van de verbindingen op afstand bedraad, draadloos of een combinatie daarvan is.A computer system according to claim 6, characterized in that one or more of the connections is wired, wireless or a combination thereof. 8. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 6, met het 35 kenmerk, dat een hardware component voor verbinding op afstand is verbonden met het modulaire bus management systeem (100). - 9 -A computer system according to claim 6, characterized in that a hardware component for remote connection is connected to the modular bus management system (100). - 9 - 9. Een computersysteem volgens conclusie 1, met het kenmerk, dat een hardware component een geïntegreerd systeem van apparaten is.A computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that a hardware component is an integrated system of devices. 10. Een module (1-N) voor een modulair bus management 5 systeem (100) van een computersysteem volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies.10. A module (1-N) for a modular bus management system (100) of a computer system according to one of the preceding claims. 11. Een module (1-N) volgens conclusie 10, met het kenmerk, dat de module (1-N) is ontworpen voor een verbinding op afstand met het modulaire bus management systeem.A module (1-N) according to claim 10, characterized in that the module (1-N) is designed for a remote connection with the modular bus management system. 12. Werkwijze voor het bedienen van een computersys teem volgens één van de conclusies 1-9, omvattende de stappen a) het starten van het modulaire bus management systeem, b) het starten van één of meer van de besturingssystemen (108.109) en c) het verbinden van het modulaire bus management 15 systeem (100) met één of meer van de besturingssystemen (108.109) .A method of operating a computer system according to any one of claims 1-9, comprising the steps a) starting the modular bus management system, b) starting one or more of the control systems (108.109) and c) connecting the modular bus management system (100) with one or more of the control systems (108.109). 13. Werkwijze voor het bedienen van een computersysteem volgens één van de conclusies 1-9, omvattende de stappen a) het verbinden van een hardware component (101-106) met het 20 modulaire bus management systeem (100), b) herkenning van de verbonden hardware component (101-106), c) keuze van een firmware software voor de betreffende hardware component (101-106) en d) het activeren van het firmware software.13. A method of operating a computer system according to any of claims 1-9, comprising the steps of a) connecting a hardware component (101-106) to the modular bus management system (100), b) recognizing the connected hardware component (101-106), c) selection of a firmware software for the relevant hardware component (101-106) and d) activating the firmware software. 14. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 13, met het kenmerk, 25 dat de herkenning en/of de keuze en/of het activeren van de firmware automatisch en/of handmatig gebeurt.14. Method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the recognition and / or the selection and / or the activation of the firmware takes place automatically and / or manually. 15. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 12 of 13, met het kenmerk, dat één of meer van de besturingssystemen (108,109) worden gestart en gestopt onafhankelijk van één of meer van de 30 andere besturingssystemen (108,109) en/of het firmware systeem (107) en/of één of meer van de hardware componenten (101-106).Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that one or more of the operating systems (108, 109) are started and stopped independently of one or more of the other operating systems (108, 109) and / or the firmware system (107) and / or one or more of the hardware components (101-106).
NL2007944A 2011-12-12 2011-12-12 Modular computer system. NL2007944C2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2007944A NL2007944C2 (en) 2011-12-12 2011-12-12 Modular computer system.
PCT/NL2012/050865 WO2013089559A2 (en) 2011-12-12 2012-12-10 Modular computer system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2007944A NL2007944C2 (en) 2011-12-12 2011-12-12 Modular computer system.
NL2007944 2011-12-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
NL2007944C2 true NL2007944C2 (en) 2013-06-13

Family

ID=47739445

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
NL2007944A NL2007944C2 (en) 2011-12-12 2011-12-12 Modular computer system.

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NL (1) NL2007944C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2013089559A2 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0171073A2 (en) * 1984-08-07 1986-02-12 Kontron Instruments Holding N.V. Modular apparatus
WO2003077136A1 (en) * 2002-03-08 2003-09-18 Synosphere, Llc. Method for data transmission by using communication drivers in an intelligent docking station /handheld personal computer system
US20070198760A1 (en) * 2006-02-17 2007-08-23 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Digital multimedia device

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6496376B1 (en) * 2000-06-02 2002-12-17 John Plunkett Modular backplane

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0171073A2 (en) * 1984-08-07 1986-02-12 Kontron Instruments Holding N.V. Modular apparatus
WO2003077136A1 (en) * 2002-03-08 2003-09-18 Synosphere, Llc. Method for data transmission by using communication drivers in an intelligent docking station /handheld personal computer system
US20070198760A1 (en) * 2006-02-17 2007-08-23 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Digital multimedia device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2013089559A2 (en) 2013-06-20
WO2013089559A3 (en) 2013-09-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10019778B2 (en) Systems and methods for orchestrating external graphics
JP5657799B2 (en) System and method for facilitating wireless communication during a pre-boot phase of a computer device
TW201706869A (en) Motherboard and computer-implemented methods and non-transitory computer readable storage devices thereof
US20220091838A1 (en) Component firmware updates
US9921629B2 (en) Systems and methods for a multi-rail voltage regulator with configurable phase allocation
US10140231B2 (en) Flexible port configuration based on interface coupling
US20140068282A1 (en) Information handling system configuration for power system output capability
US20160275027A1 (en) System and Method to Avoid SMBus Address Conflicts via a Baseboard Management Controller
KR20160034965A (en) Optimizing boot-time peak power consumption for server/rack systems
CN110399328B (en) Control method and device for board-mounted graphics processor
US10115375B2 (en) Systems and methods for enabling a systems management interface with an alternate frame buffer
US20190004816A1 (en) Systems and methods for heterogeneous system on a chip servers
US20170309570A1 (en) Reconfigurable repeater system
US8897705B2 (en) Data transmitting system and data transmitting method
WO2011007332A1 (en) Docking station
US11422617B2 (en) Systems and methods for providing peak current assistance to a voltage regulator using a switched capacitor converter
NL2007944C2 (en) Modular computer system.
US20140245428A1 (en) Computer and control method thereof
US9910476B2 (en) Systems and methods for power supply current share auto-tuning
US11204775B2 (en) Automated bios platform configuration system
US11758598B1 (en) Automated multi-client and multi-mode wireless device pairing and connection methods and systems
US9619355B2 (en) Booting verification method of computer and electronic device
US20160072887A1 (en) Server control method and chassis controller
US20130144457A1 (en) Server system for updating heat dissipation solution
US10360167B1 (en) Systems and methods for using a bus exchange switch to control processor affinity

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MM Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20200101