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Software Docking Architecture

A Software Architecture For Docking Stations Paul Stanley Portable PC Architect Portable Advanced Architecture Compaq Computer Corporation. Software Docking Architecture. Compaq-Sponsored Proposal to the Mobile Advisory Council Work In Progress Not A Proposed Solution

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Software Docking Architecture

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  1. A Software Architecture For Docking Stations Paul StanleyPortable PC ArchitectPortable Advanced ArchitectureCompaq Computer Corporation

  2. Software Docking Architecture • Compaq-Sponsored Proposal to the Mobile Advisory Council • Work In Progress • Not A Proposed Solution • Intended To Stimulate Discussion and Thought Process • Detailed Solutions Are Not Yet Available • Not A MAC Consensus View • Not A Compaq Product Roadmap!

  3. Software Docking Architecture • Not A Hardware Implementation • Hardware is Abstracted via WDM & ACPI • Does Not Enable Inserting OEM A’s Notebook into OEM B’s Docking Station • Product Support Nightmare

  4. Software Docking Architecture • What The Problem Is • One OS To Support Every OEM Design • Docking Stations vs Port Replicators • PCI-to-PCI Positive vs Subtractive Bridges (Or No Bridges At All) • PCI-to-ISA Bridges Everywhere • Side-Banded & Pass-Thru Signals • Expansion Slots • OEM Proprietary Devices

  5. Software Docking Architecture • What The Problem Is • All sorts of hardware coming and going • Surprise Removal Of Devices • Surprise Removal Of The Dock • “Good” vs “Bad” Hot-Connect Busses • PC Card, PCI, USB, 1394, ...

  6. Software Docking Architecture • What The Solution Could Be • One Possible Operating System Perspective -- There Are Others • Docking Station appears as a single device • PCI-to-PCI positive decode bridge, no side-banded or pass-through signals, no ISA bridge in the dock • Write A Single Universal Driver

  7. Software Docking Architecture • What The Solution Could Be • One Possible Platform OEM Perspective -- There Are Others • Driver Might Use WDM Layered Architecture • ACPI-Based Where Appropriate • OEM-Specific Features Confined To a Low-Level Mini-Driver • Power Control, Audio/Graphics, etc.

  8. Software Docking Architecture ACPI Kernel PnP ACPI Docking Support OEM Adaptation Layer (ASL Code)

  9. Software Docking Architecture • Docks must use side-banded or pass-thru signals to support: • Docking Events: detection, power sequencing, etc. (I2C Bus) • Legacy Ports/Devices: Serial/Parallel, PS/2, FDD, IDE HDD, etc. • Cost Reduction for otherwise duplicated subsystems: audio, video, etc. • What About Legacy Removal and Docking?

  10. Legacy Device Migration • What Is “Legacy”? • SuperIO & Legacy Ports: Serial, Parallel • PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse • Legacy FDD • Legacy IDE HDD (ISA IRQ 14/15) • Analog Audio • Etc... • ISA Slots And Devices Are “No More” As Of PC 99

  11. Legacy Device Migration • Where Can They Go? • Some Possibilities -- There Are Others • USB “SuperIO” In The Dock • IDE-Based FDD • “Native Mode IDE” HDD

  12. Legacy Device Migration • What Problems May Arise? • USB Bandwidth Limitations • 12 Mbit/Sec Is A Theoretical Maximum • USB 2.0 Promises More Thruput • USB Driver Software For New Classes • PnP Support For Legacy Peripherals? • For Example, a Parallel-Port Printer May Not Be Recognized By Its Driver Install • Cost?

  13. One Possible Evolution • Create a New USB Device Class for a Docking Device • Abstract OEM-Proprietary Hardware Design • Latch & Unlatch • Power Sequencing • Push Buttons • LED’s & Other Indicators

  14. One Possible Evolution ACPI Kernel PnP ACPI Docking Support USB Bus Class Driver USB Docking Station OEM Adaptation Layer

  15. Next Steps • What’s going to happen to driver software? • What’s going to happen to legacy peripherals?

  16. What is the MAC? • Open consortium of Mobile Industry participants • Platform OEMs, Peripheral Manufacturers, Silicon & Software providers… • Not a Standards body • Establish Mobile Industry Consensus on open technical issues • Present recommendations to existing standards bodies

  17. Call To Action • Common Docking Architecture is incomplete • Join the MAC! Help solve this problem • MAC Administrative Offices • MAC Admin: Rich Baek, Karen Reff • (503) 297-2206 Phone • (503) 297-1090 Fax • MAC Web Site: www.mobileadvisory.org

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