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`Intel Corporation v. ACQIS LLC
`Intel Corp.'s Exhibit 1015
`Ex. 1015, Page 1
`
`

`

`
`
`US 7,363,415 B2
`
`
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4,623,964 A
`
`4,700,362 A
`
`4,769,764 A
`
`4,872,091 A
`
`4,890,282 A
`
`4918572 A
`
`4,939,735 A
`
`5,056,141 A
`
`5,086,499 A
`
`5251.097 A
`
`5,278,509 A
`
`5,278,730 A
`
`5293.497 A
`
`5,311,397 A
`
`5,317,477 A
`
`5,319,771 A
`
`5.331509 A
`
`5355391 A
`
`5,428,806 A
`
`5,436,857 A
`
`5,463,742 A
`
`5539.616 A
`
`5550710 A
`
`5,550,861 A
`
`5.578940 A
`
`5,600,800 A
`
`5,603,044 A
`
`5,606,717 A
`
`5,608,608 A
`
`5630057 A
`
`5.638521 A
`
`5,640,302 A
`
`5,659,773 A
`5,663,661 A
`
`5,673,174 A
`
`5,680,126 A
`
`
`5,689,654 A
`
`5,721,837 A
`
`5,721,842 A
`
`5,745,733 A
`
`5,752,080 A
`
`5,764,924 A
`
`5,774,704 A
`
`5,795,228 A
`
`5,809,538 A
`
`5,815,681 A
`
`5,819,050 A
`
`5,826,048 A
`
`5,848,249 A
`
`5,859,669 A
`
`5,907,566 A
`
`5,941,965 A
`
`5,948,047 A
`
`5,960,213 A
`
`5,968,144 A
`
`5,971,804 A
`
`5,977,989 A
`
`5,978,919 A
`
`5,982,363 A
`
`5,991,163 A
`
`5,991,844 A
`
`5,999,952 A
`
`6,002,442 A
`
`6,003,105 A
`
`6,011,546 A
`
`6,016,252 A
`
`6,028,643 A
`
`
`6,029,183 A
`
`6,038,621 A
`
`6,040,792 A
`
`6,052,513 A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`11/1986 Getz et a1.
`
`
`
`10/1987 Todd etal
`
`
`
`9/1988 Levanon
`
`
`
`
`10/1989 Maniwa et al.
`
`
`
`12/1989 Lambert et al
`
`
`
`
`4/1990 TaIVeret al~
`
`
`
`7/1990 Fredericks et al.
`
`
`10/1991 Dyke
`
`
`2/1992 Mutone
`
`
`10/1993 Simmonsetal.
`
`
`1/1994 Haynes et al.
`
`
`1/1994 Kikinis
`
`
`
`3/1994 Free
`
`
`5/1994 Harshberger et al.
`
`
`
`5/1994 Gillett
`
`
`
`6/1994 Takeda
`
`
`
`7/1994 Kikinis
`
`
`10/1994 Horowitz etal
`
`
`
`6/1995 Poorass
`
`
`
`7/1995 Nelson etal
`
`
`10/1995 Kobayashi
`
`
`
`7/1996 Kikinis
`
`
`
`8/1996 Rahamim etal.
`
`
`
`
`8/1996 Chan etal
`
`
`11/1996 Dillon
`
`
`
`2/1997 Kikinis et a1.
`
`
`2/ 1997 Annapareddy et al
`
`
`
`2/1997 Farmwald et al.
`
`
`
`
`3/1997 Flint et a1.
`
`
`
`5/1997 Hail
`
`
`
`
`6/1997 Buohala etal
`
`
`
`6/1997 Kikinis ....................... 361/687
`
`
`
`8/1997 Huynh et al.
`9/1997 Dillon et al.
`
`
`
`
`9/ 1997 Hamirani
`
`
`
`10/1997 Kikinis
`
`
`
`
`
`11/1997 Kikinis
`
`
`
`2/1998 Kikinis
`
`
`2/1998 Beasley et a1.
`
`
`4/1998 Robinson
`
`
`5/1998 Ryan
`
`
`6/1998 Hong
`
`
`
`6/1998 Williams
`
`
`
`8/1998 Trumbull
`
`
`
`9/1998 Pollmann
`
`
`
`9/1998 Kikinis
`
`
`
`10/1998 Boehling et 3L
`
`
`
`10/1998 Dempsey et a1.
`
`
`12/1998 Garbus
`
`
`1/ 1999 Prentice
`
`
`
`5/1999 Benson et 3L
`
`
`
`8/1999 MOTOZ
`
`
`
`9/1999 Jenkins et al.
`
`
`
`9/ 1999 WilSOIl
`
`
`
`10/1999 Walker et 3L
`
`
`10/1999 Gallagher et al.
`
`
`
`11/1999 Lee et 31~
`
`
`
`11/1999 D01 et a1.
`
`
`11/1999 Naift
`
`
`
`11/1999 Marconi et 3L
`
`
`“/1999 Khosrowpour
`
`
`
`12/1999 Jenkins et 3L
`
`
`
`12/ 1999 Ll et 3L
`
`
`12/1999 Vicard et 31~
`
`
`1/2000 Bertram
`
`
`“2000 Pignolet et 3L
`
`
`
`2/2000 Jordan et al.
`
`
`
`2/2000 Jenkins et al.
`
`
`
`
`3/2000 Gale et al.
`
`
`
`3/2000 Watson et al.
`
`
`4/2000 MacLaren
`
`
`..................... 726/36
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`6,069,615 A
`
`
`6,088,224 A
`
`6,088,752 A
`
`6,157,534 A
`
`6,163,464 A
`
`
`6,175,490 B1
`
`
`6,202,169 B1
`
`6,208,522 B1
`
`
`6,216,185 B1
`
`
`6,260,155 B1
`
`
`6,289,376 B1
`
`
`6,304,895 B1
`
`
`6,311,268 B1
`
`
`6,314,522 B1
`
`
`6,317,329 B1
`
`
`6,321,335 B1
`
`
`6,332,180 B1
`
`
`6,345,330 B2
`
`
`6,366,951 B1
`
`
`6,378,009 B1
`
`
`6,381,602 B1
`
`
`6,393,561 B1
`
`
`6,401,124 B1
`
`
`6,425,033 B1
`
`
`6,452,789 B1
`
`
`6,452,790 B1
`
`
`6,453,344 B1
`
`
`6,498,361 B1
`
`
`6,549,966 B1
`
`
`6,564,274 B1
`
`
`6,643,777 B1
`
`
`6,718,415 B1
`
`
`6,725,317 B1
`
`
`7,099,981 B2
`
`
`7,146,446 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5/2000 Abraham et a1.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`7/2000 Gallagher et al.
`
`
`7/2000 Ahern
`
`
`12/2000 Gallagher et a1.
`
`
`
`12/2000 Ishibashi et a1.
`
`
`
`1/2001 Papa et 31.
`
`
`3/2001 Razzaghe-Ashrafi et a1.
`
`
`
`3/2001 Manweiler et a1.
`
`
`4/2001 Chu
`
`
`7/2001 Dellacona
`
`
`
`9/2001 Taylor et al.
`
`
`10/2001 Schneider et a1.
`
`
`10/2001 Chu
`
`
`
`
`11/2001 Chu et al.
`
`
`11/2001 Dowdy et a1.
`
`
`11/2001 Chu
`
`
`12/2001 Kauffman et a1.
`
`
`
`2/2002 Chu
`
`
`4/2002 Schmidt
`
`
`
`4/2002 Pinkston, 11 et a1.
`
`
`
`4/2002 Shoroffet a1.
`
`
`5/2002 Hagiwara et a1.
`
`
`
`6/2002 Yang et al.
`
`
`7/2002 Conway et al.
`
`
`
`9/2002 Pallotti et a1.
`
`
`
`9/2002 Chu et a1.
`
`
`9/2002 Ellsworth
`
`
`
`12/2002 Kim et 31.
`
`
`4/2003 Dickens et a1.
`
`
`
`5/2003 Heath et 31.
`
`
`11/2003 Chu
`
`
`4/2004 Chu
`
`
`4/2004 Bouchier et a1.
`
`
`
`8/2006 Chu
`
`
`12/2006 Chu
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`JP
`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`
`
`
`
`6489953
`
`WO ”“8924
`
`WO 94/00097
`WO 95/13640
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`””994
`
`””992
`
`“1994
`
`5/1995
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`
`
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`
`
`
`Cragle, Jonathan, “Density System 1100”, May 1999) <<http://
`
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`
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`
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`loaded from web on Jun. 23, 2004, 3 pgs.
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 2
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 2
`
`

`

`
`
`US 7,363,415 B2
`Page 3
`
`
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`
`
`Williams, Dennis, “EVERSYS Corp. System 8000”, (Feb. 17, 1997)
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`loaded from web on Jun. 23, 2004, 4 pgs.
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`
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`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nect.asp>> downloaded from web on Jun. 17, 2004, 4 pgs.
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`
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`<<http://64. 173.211 .7/support/techinfo/system/density/density10.
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`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
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`
`
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`
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`
`
`
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`
`
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`
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`
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`
`
`
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`
`
`
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`
`
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`
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`
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`Cubix, “What are Groups?”, (© 2000) <<http://64.173.211.7/sup-
`
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`
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`
`web on Jun. 22, 2004, 3 pgs.
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`Cubix, “SP 5200XS Series Plug-in Computers”, (© 2000) <<http://
`
`
`
`64.173.211.7/support/techinfo/bc/sp5200xs/intro.htm>>,
`down-
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`loaded from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 2 pgs.
`
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`
`Cubix, “SP 5200XS Series Technical Specifications”, (© 2000)
`
`
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`
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`
`
`downloaded from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 2 pgs.
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`Cubix, “SP 5200 Series” Chapter 1-Introduction, (© 2000) <<http://
`
`
`64. 173.211 .7/support/techinfo/manuals/sp5200/chap-1 .htm>>,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`downloaded from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 3 pgs.
`
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`
`Cubix, “SP 5200 Series” Chapter 2-Switches & Jumpers, (© 2000)
`
`
`<<http://64. 173.211 .7/support/techinfo/manuals/sp5200/chap-2.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`htm>>, downloaded from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 3 pgs.
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`Cubix, “SP 5200 Series” Chapter 3-Installation, (© 2000) <<http://
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`
`64. 173.211 .7/support/techinfo/manuals/sp5200/chap-3.htm>>,
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`Cubix, “SP 5200 Series” Chapter 4-Technical Reference, (© 2000)
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`
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`htm>>, downloaded from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 3 pgs.
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`Cubix, “DP 6200 ‘D’ Series Plug-in Computers” <<http://64.173.
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`
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`2 1 1 .7/support/techinfo/bc/dp/6200d/intro .htm>>, downloaded from
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`
`web on Jun. 22, 2004, 3 pgs.
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`Cubix, “Installing DP or SP Series Boards” (© 2000) <<http://64.
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`
`
`
`from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 2 pgs.
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`Cubix, “Powering On/Off or Resetting Plug-in Computers in an
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`Density System”, (© 2000) <<http://64.173.211.7/support/techinfo/
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`IT Group Network Engines”,
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`
`<<http://cgi.ebay.com/we/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem
`&item:5706388046
`
`
`
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`Press Release: Hiawatha, Iowa, (Mar. 1, 1997) entitled “Crystal
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`
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`Group Products Offer Industrial PCs with Built-in Flexibility”,
`
`<<http://www.crystalpc.com/news/pressreleases/prodpr.asp>>,
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`Press Release: Kanata, Ontario, Canada,
`(Apr. 1998) entitled
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`
`
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`“Enhanced COTS SBC from DY 4 Systems features 166MHz
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`Product Brochure entitled: “ERS/FT II System”, (© 2000) <<http://
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`from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 4 pgs.
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`Product Manual entitled: “ERS II and ERS/FT II”, Chap. 3, System
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`ers2-c3.htm>>, downloaded from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 21 pgs.
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`als/ers2/ers2-c6.htm>>, downloaded from web on Jun. 22, 2004, 18
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`PC”, IPM486/IPM5 User Manual, 1998, pp. 1-24.
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`
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`CETIA Brochure “CETIA Powerengine CVME 603e” pp. 1-6
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`downloaded from the internet at. http://www.cetia.com/ProductAd-
`
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`
`dOns/wp-47-01.pdf on Feb. 15, 2006.
`
`
`
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`MPL Brochure “1st Rugged All
`in One Industrial 486FDX-133
`
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`
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`mpl.ch/DOCs/ds48600.pdf on Feb. 15, 2006.
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`MPL Brochure “IPM 486 Brochure/IPM5 User Manual” pp. 1-9
`
`
`
`
`
`downloaded from the
`Internet
`at http://www.mpl.ch/DOCs/
`
`
`
`
`u48600xd.pdf on Feb. 15, 2006.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Snyder, Joel “Better Management through consolidation” pp. 1-6
`
`
`
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`downloaded from the internet at http://www.opus1.com/www/jms/
`nw-con-0818rev.html, unknown date.
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`Agerwala, T., Systems Journal “SP2 System Architecture” vol. 34,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`No. 2, 1995 Scalable Parallel Computing vol. 34, No. 2, 1995.
`
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 3
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 3
`
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`Ex. 1015, Page 4
`
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`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 5
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 5
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
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`
`
`US 7,363,415 B2
`
`
`
`
`1“ ACM Subsystem (Primary)
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`
`Ex. 1015, Page 6
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 6
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
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`Sheet 4 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 7
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`Ex. 1015, Page 7
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
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`
`
`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 8
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 8
`
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
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`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
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`
`Sheet 6 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 9
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`Ex. 1015, Page 9
`
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
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`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
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`Sheet 7 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 10
`
`
`

`

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`U.S. Patent
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`
`
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`Apr. 22, 2008
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`Sheet 8 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 11
`
`Ex. 1015, Page 11
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
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`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
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`Sheet 9 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 12
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`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
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`
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`
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`Apr. 22, 2008
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`Sheet 10 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 13
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`Ex. 1015, Page 13
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
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`
`Apr. 22, 2008
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`Sheet 11 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 14
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`Ex. 1015, Page 14
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
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`Sheet 12 0f 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 16
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`Ex. 1015, Page 18
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`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
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`
`
`Apr. 22, 2008
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`
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`Sheet 16 of 16
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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`
`
`4 Multiplexed CommanrflByte Enables. For a two-address transaction. tst
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`address phase carries the command. and the 2nd address phase carries the
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`transaction type. (3188 is driven to a valid state when GNTll is asserted.
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`Indicates beginning and duration or a PCI transaction. When the bus is idle.
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`FRAMElt is driven to High for 1 cycle. A purl-up resistor sustains STS signal.
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`Initiator Ready. tRDYrr' is driven High tor 1 cycle it bus is idle. and the state is
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`sustained by a pull-up resistor.
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`Target Ready. when bus is idle. "20er is driven High for t cycle if bus is idle.
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`An external putl~up resistor Sustains STS signal.
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`Device Select. DEVSEU‘ is asserted by target to indicate it is ready to accept
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`the transaction. HIC decodes address at a transaction to decide the need to
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`assert DEVSELlr. As an initiator. ch waits tor 5 cycles to detect assertion of
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`DEVSEL! by the target; chemise ch terminates with 3 master abort.
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`DEVSELll is driven High tor 1 cycle when bus is idle. and the state is sustained
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`by a pull-up resistor.
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`Target request to stop transaction. There are 3 cases:
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`STOP#. TRDYIS 8. DEVSEU: asserted: disconnect with dale transfer
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`Only STOW 8: DEVSELfi asserted: request initiator to retry later
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`Only STOW asserted: target abort
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`STOW is driven High for t cycle when bus is idle. and the state is Sustained by
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`a pull-up resistor.
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`Even parity tor 36 bits 0MB 8- 61885. PAR ls sent one cycle after address or
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`data is valid.
`In write transaction. initiator sends PAR one cycle altar write data
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`is swam in read transaction. target sends PAR one cycle after read data is valid.
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`Initiator request lock on target downstream. LOCKrl is asserted l clock cycle
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`alter address phase by an initiator wanting to pertarm an atomic- operation that
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`take more than one transaction to complete. HIC passes the LOCKII request to
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`the secondary PCI bus. file does not drive LOCKlr or prooagate Loom
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`upstream.
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`Chip Select for Type 0 configuration access. During a Type 0 configuration
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`transaction. the initiator asserts IDSEUl (hating the address phase to select HlC.
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`ch responds 0y asserting DEVSEer.
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`Data Parity Error on all transactions exceat Special Cycle. PERM is driven one
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`clock cycle alter PAR. PERM is asserted by target during write vansadions.
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`and by initiator during read transactions.
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`System Error. MIC asserts SERRtr under the lollowing conditions:
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`Address oanty error. Secondary bus SEER: essence.
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`Found write transaction: data purity error on W nus. Posted «unto Winn discarded.
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`Master abort. Tweet arm
`Oetayed read or Mile trotteoctlon discarded. and
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`Delayed 9mm tlmeom.
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`Request for bus.
`It a target retry or disconnect is received in response to
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`initiating a transaction. HlC deasserts REG» tor at least 2 cycles before
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`asserting rt again.
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`Bus is granted to HIC. HIC can initiate transaction it GNU! is. asserted and the
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`bus is idle. When Hit: is not requesting bus and GNTll is asserted. HlC must
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`drive AD. CfBE. and PAR to valid logic levels.
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`Input indicating clock status. HlC can request the central clock resomce to start.
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`speed up or maintain the PCI clock. There are 3 clocking slates:
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`Clock running. Clock about to Stanislaw down. and Clock stoppedrslowed.
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`PCI Clock. All inputs are sampled on the rising edge of PCICK. Frequencv
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`FIG. 16
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`Ex. 1015, Page 19
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`Ex. 1015, Page 19
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`

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`US 7,363,415 B2
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`1
`COMPUTER SYSTEM UTILIZING
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`MULTIPLE COMPUTER MODULES WITH
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`SERIAL INTERFACE
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
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`APPLICATIONS
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`The present application claims priority as a continuation
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`of US. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 10/772,
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`214, filed Feb. 3, 2004 now US. Pat. No. 7,099,981, which
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`is a continuation of US. nonprovisional patent application
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`Ser. No. 09/569,758, filed May 12, 2000 (Now US. Pat. No.
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`6,718,415), which claimed priority to US. Provisional
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`Application No. 60/134,122 filed May 14, 1999, commonly
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`assigned, and hereby incorporated by reference.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to computing devices. More
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`particularly, the present invention provides a system includ-
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`ing a plurality of computer modules that can independently
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`operate to provide backup capability, dual processing, and
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`the like. Merely by way of example, the present invention is
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`applied to a modular computing environment for desk top
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`computers, but it will be recognized that the invention has a
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`much wider range of applicability. It can be applied to a
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`server as well as other portable or modular computing
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`applications.
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`Many desktop or personal computers, which are com-
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`monly termed PCs, have been around and used for over ten
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`years. The PCs often come with state-of-art microprocessors
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`such as the Intel PentiumTM microprocessor chips. They
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`also include a hard or fixed disk drive such as memory in the
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`giga-bit range. Additionally, the PCs often include a random
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`access memory integrated circuit device such as a dynamic
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`random access memory device, which is commonly termed
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`DRAM. The DRAM devices now provide up to millions of
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`memory cells (i.e., mega-bit) on a single slice of silicon. PCs
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`also include a high resolution display such as cathode ray
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`tubes or CRTs. In most cases, the CRTs are at least 15 inches
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`or 17 inches or 20 inches in diameter. High resolution flat
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`panel displays are also used with PCs.
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`Many external or peripheral devices can be used with the
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`PCs. Among others, these peripheral devices include mass
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`storage devices such as a ZipTM Drive product sold by
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`Iomega Corporation of Utah. Other storage devices include
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`external hard drives,
`tape drives, and others. Additional
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`devices include communication devices such as a modem,
`which can be used to link the PC to a wide area network of
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`computers such as the Internet. Furthermore, the PC can
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`include output devices such as a printer and other output
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`means. Moreover, the PC can include special audio output
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`devices such as speakers the like.
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`PCs also have easy to use keyboards, mouse input
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`devices, and the like. The keyboard is generally configured
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`similar to a typewriter format. The keyboard also has the
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`length and width for easily inputting information by way of
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`keys to the computer. The mouse also has a suflicient size
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`and shape to easily move a curser on the display from one
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`location to another location.
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`Other types of computing devices include portable com-
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`puting devices such as “laptop” computers and the like.
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`Although somewhat successful,
`laptop computers have
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`many limitations. These computing devices have poor dis-
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`play technology. In fact, these devices often have a smaller
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`flat panel display that has poor viewing characteristics.
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`Additionally, these devices also have poor input devices
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`65
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`2
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`such as smaller keyboards and the like. Furthermore, these
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`devices have limited common platforms to transfer infor-
`mation to and from these devices and other devices such as
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`PCs.
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`Up to now, there has been little common ground between
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`these platforms including the PCs and laptops in terms of
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`upgrading, ease-of-use, cost, performance, and the like.
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`Many differences between these platforms, probably some-
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`what intentional, has benefited computer manufacturers at
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`the cost of consumers. A drawback to having two separate
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`computers is that the user must often purchase both the
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`desktop and laptop to have “total” computing power, where
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`the desktop serves as a “regular” computer and the laptop
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`serves as a “portable” computer. Purchasing both computers
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`is often costly and runs “thousands” of dollars. The user also
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`wastes a significant amount of time transferring software
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`and data between the two types of computers. For example,
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`the user must often couple the portable computer to a local
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`area network (i.e., LAN), to a serial port with a modem and
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`then manually transfer over files and data between the
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`desktop and the portable computer. Alternatively, the user
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`often must use floppy disks to “Zip” up files and programs
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`that exceed the storage capacity of conventional floppy
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`disks, and transfer the floppy disk data manually.
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`Another drawback with the current model of separate
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`portable and desktop computer is that the user has to spend
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`money to buy components and peripherals the are duplicated
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`in at least one of these computers. For example, both the
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`desktop and portable computers typically include hard disk
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`drives, floppy drives, CD-ROMs, computer memory, host
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`processors, graphics accelerators, and the like. Because
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`program software and supporting programs generally must
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`be installed upon both hard drives in order for the user to
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`operate programs on the road and in the oflice, hard disk
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`space is often wasted.
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`One approach to reduce some of these drawbacks has
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`been the use of a docking station with a portable computer.
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`Here, the user has the portable computer for “on the road”
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`use and a docking station that houses the portable computer
`for oflice use.
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`Similar to separate desktop and portable computers, there
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`is no commonality between two desktop computers. To date,
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`most personal computers are constructed with a single
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`motherboard that provides connection for CPU and other
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`components in the computer. Dual CPU systems have been
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`available through Intel’s slot 1 architecture. For example,
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`two Pentium II cartridges can be plugged into two “slot 1”
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`card slots on a motherboard to form a Dual-processor
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`system. The two CPU’s share a common host bus that
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`conn