U.S. patent application number 13/569198 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-22 for computer and main circuit board thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.. Invention is credited to Yu-Wei Hsu.
Application Number | 20120297048 13/569198 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38821911 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120297048 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu; Yu-Wei |
November 22, 2012 |
Computer and Main Circuit Board Thereof
Abstract
A computer system and a main circuit board thereof are provided.
The computer system includes a main circuit board. The main circuit
board includes a main system chip module, a south bridge chip
module, a WIFI HUB chip module, a first WIFI interface and a second
WIFI interface. The main system chip module, the south bridge chip
module, the WIFI HUB chip module, the first WIFI interface and the
Internet are connected to form a first signal path. The main system
chip module, the south bridge chip module, the WIFI HUB chip
module, the second WIFI interface and an outside computer are
connected to form a second signal path. The outside computer, the
second WIFI interface, the WIFI HUB chip module, the first WIFI
interface and the Internet are connected to form a third signal
path.
Inventors: |
Hsu; Yu-Wei; (Taipei,
TW) |
Assignee: |
ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
38821911 |
Appl. No.: |
13/569198 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11806706 |
Jun 4, 2007 |
8260895 |
|
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13569198 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/2898 20130101;
H04L 12/2856 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/223 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/173 20060101
G06F015/173 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2006 |
TW |
95120687 |
Claims
1. A main circuit board adapted for a computer device, comprising:
a main system chip circuit; a south bridge chip circuit
electrically connected to the main system chip circuit; a WIFI HUB
chip circuit electrically connected to the south bridge chip
circuit; a local area network (LAN) Interface electrically
connected to the WIFI HUB chip circuit and an Internet; and a WIFI
interface electrically connected to the WIFI HUB chip circuit and
an outside computer; wherein, the main system chip circuit, the
south bridge chip circuit, the WIFI HUB chip circuit, and the local
area network (LAN) Interface are connected to form a first signal
path to the Internet; the main system chip circuit, the south
bridge chip circuit, the WIFI HUB chip circuit, and the WIFI
interface are connected to form a second signal path; the local
area network (LAN), the WIFI HUB chip circuit, and the WIFI
interface are connected serially to form a third signal path for
the outside computer to access the Internet through.
2. The main circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the
computer device comprises: a standby power electrically connected
to the WIFI HUB chip circuit, for the outside computer being
capable of accessing the Internet via the third signal path when
the computer device is shut down.
3. A main circuit board adapted for a computer device, comprising:
a main system chip circuit; a WIFI network chip circuit; a first
network interface, connected to the WIFI network chip circuit and
an Internet; and a second network interface, connected to the WIFI
network chip circuit and an outside computer, for the outside
computer accesses to the Internet through the WIFI network chip
circuit; wherein, the main system chip circuit, the WIFI network
chip circuit, and the first network interface are connected to form
a first signal path to the Internet; the main system chip circuit,
the WIFI network chip circuit, and the second network interface are
connected to form a second signal path; the first network
interface, the WIFI network chip circuit, and the second network
interface are connected serially to form a third signal path for
the outside computer to access the Internet through.
4. The main circuit board according to claim 3, wherein the
computer device further comprises: a standby power connected to the
WIFI network chip circuit, wherein when the computer device is shut
down, the outside computer is capable of accessing the Internet via
the third signal path.
5. The main circuit board according to claim 3, wherein the first
network interface is adapted for GSM.
6. The main circuit board according to claim 3, wherein the second
network interface is adapted for WIFI.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation application of co-pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/806,706, filed Jun. 4, 2007, which claims
the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 095120687, filed Jun.
9, 2006, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates in general to a computer system and a
main circuit board thereof, and more particularly to a computer
system with built-in WIFI HUB chip module and a main circuit board
thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Along with the advance in technology, computers are now
widely used in people's everyday life. A household or a business
may have multiple computers. The applications of computers include
desktop computer, notebook, server and multifunction peripheral.
Computers can be connected to an Internet to receive and transmit
information. Or, computers can be connected to each other to share
resources. As for how a conventional computer gets access to the
Internet and shares resources with other computers is elaborated
below.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective of a conventional
computer connected to the Internet is shown. Let a conventional
computer 700 be taken for example. The conventional computer 700
includes a network card 710 in order to get access to the Internet.
The network card 710 is connected to the Internet 500 such that the
conventional computer 700 can get access to the Internet.
[0007] If the computer 700 and the computer 800 want to get access
to the Internet at the same time, a non-jumped network line 720 is
used to connect the network card 710 of the computer 700 to an WIFI
HUB 600, and a non-jumped network line 820 is used to connect a
network card 810 of the computer 800 to the WIFI HUB 600. The other
non-jumped network line 610 connects the WIFI HUB 600 to the
Internet 500, such that the computer 700 and the computer 800 can
get access to the Internet at the same time. More than three
computers still can get connected to the Internet in the same way.
That is, the network card of each computer is connected to the WIFI
HUB via a non-jumped network line, such that multiple computers can
get access to the Internet at the same time.
[0008] However, no matter where is each conventional computer
disposed, the each conventional computer needs to be connected to
the WIFI HUB 600 via a lengthy non-jumped network line, bringing
considerable trouble to the user. Besides, as the network line of
the WIFI HUB 600 only has a limited number of interfaces, if there
are more computers than the interfaces of the network line of the
WIFI HUB, the user has to buy an additional WIFI HUB to meet actual
needs.
[0009] Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective of two conventional
computers sharing resources is shown. If the computer 700 and the
computer 800 are to share resources, the user may connect the
network card 710 and the network card 810 via a jumped network line
620, such that the computer 700 and the computer 800 are connected
to share data.
[0010] However, the user has to connect the computer 700 and the
computer 800 via a jumped network line 620 and is unable to connect
the computer 700 and the computer 800 via a non-jumped network
line. The jumped network line 620 is not as popular and available
as the non-jumped network line, and can only connect two computers
on a one-to-one basis, and can not be augmented to connect multiple
computers. Further, when the computer 700 and the computer 800 are
mutually connected to share resources, the two computers can not
get access to the Internet at the same time, causing great
inconvenience to the user.
[0011] The above problems can occur to any computers that need to
get access to the Internet and exchange data with other computers.
Therefore, how to develop a computer system capable of getting
access to the Internet and share resources with other computer
devices at the same time has become an important focus of research
and development.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The invention is directed to a computer system and a main
circuit board thereof. A WIFI HUB chip module is disposed the main
circuit board. The computer system gets access to the Internet via
a first signal path and shares resources with an outside computer
via a second signal path. The outside computer can further get
access to the Internet via a third signal path, such that multiple
outside computers can get access to the Internet and share
resources at the same time without using an additional jumped
network line or WIFI HUB, which is very convenient to the user.
[0013] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a
computer system is provided. The computer system includes a main
circuit board. The main circuit board includes a main system chip
module, a south bridge chip module, a WIFI HUB chip module, a first
WIFI interface and a second WIFI interface. The south bridge chip
module is electrically connected to the main system chip module.
The WIFI HUB chip module is electrically connected to the south
bridge chip module. One end of the first WIFI interface is
electrically connected to the WIFI HUB chip module, and the other
end is electrically connected to an Internet. One end of the second
WIFI interface is electrically connected to the WIFI HUB chip
module, and the other end is electrically connected to an outside
computer. The main system chip module, the south bridge chip
module, the WIFI HUB chip module, the first WIFI interface and the
Internet are connected to form a first signal path. The main system
chip module, the south bridge chip module, the WIFI HUB chip
module, the second WIFI interface and the outside computer are
connected to form a second signal path. The outside computer, the
second WIFI interface, the WIFI HUB chip module, the first WIFI
interface and the Internet are connected to form a third signal
path.
[0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
main circuit board disposed in a computer system is provided. The
main circuit board includes a main system chip module, a south
bridge chip module, a WIFI HUB chip module, a first WIFI interface
and a second WIFI interface. The south bridge chip module is
electrically connected to the main system chip module. The WIFI HUB
chip module is electrically connected to the south bridge chip
module. One end of the first WIFI interface is electrically
connected to the WIFI HUB chip module, and the other end is
electrically connected to an Internet. One end of the second WIFI
interface is electrically connected to the WIFI HUB chip module,
and the other end is electrically connected to an outside computer.
The main system chip module, the south bridge chip module, the WIFI
HUB chip module, the first WIFI interface and the Internet are
connected to form a first signal path. The main system chip module,
the south bridge chip module, the WIFI HUB chip module, the second
WIFI interface and the outside computer are connected to form a
second signal path. The outside computer, the second WIFI
interface, the WIFI HUB chip module, the first WIFI interface and
the Internet are connected to form a third signal path.
[0015] The invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments.
The following description is made with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is a perspective of a conventional
computer connected to the Internet;
[0017] FIG. 2 (Prior Art) is a perspective of two conventional
computers sharing resources;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective of a computer system according to an
embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective multiple computer systems connected
in serial;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective multiple computer systems connected
in parallel; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective of a computer system according to
another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective of a computer system
according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. Examples of
the computer system 101 include a quasi-system computer, a
notebook, a multifunction peripheral and a server. The types of the
computer system 101 are not for limiting the technology of the
invention. The computer system 101 includes a main circuit board
110.
[0023] The main circuit board 110 includes a host system chip
module 111, a south bridge chip module 112, a WIFI HUB chip module
113, a first local area network (LAN) interface 114 and a second
WIFI interface 115. The main system chip module 111 can be a
combination of a number of controlling chips and processing chips
or a center process unit (CPU) chip and is used for processing
various electrical signals. The main system chip module 111 is
electrically connected to the south bridge chip module 112. The
south bridge chip module 112 can be a combination of a number of
controlling chips and processing chips. The south bridge chip
module 112 receives the electrical signals transmitted from the
main system chip module 111 so as to communicate with peripheral
electronic components. In the present embodiment of the invention,
the south bridge chip module 112 passes the commands sent to the
WIFI HUB chip module 113 by the main system chip module 111, and
controls the actions of the WIFI HUB chip module 113. The WIFI HUB
chip module 113 is used as a transmission interface between
multiple computers and an Internet or as a transmission interface
connecting multiple computers. Preferably, the WIFI HUB chip module
113 of the present embodiment of the invention is a switching WIFI
HUB chip module capable of improving the efficiency of the
frequency width of the network. The WIFI HUB chip module 113 is
electrically connected to the Internet 900 via the first WIFI
interface 114 and the first network line 114a. The first network
line 114a is a non-jumped network line.
[0024] The main system chip module 111, the south bridge chip
module 112, the WIFI HUB chip module 113, the first WIFI interface
114, the first network line 114a and the Internet 900 are connected
to form a first signal path Path1, wherein signals are transmitted
between the main system chip module 111 and the Internet 900 via
the first signal path Path1, such that the computer system 101 can
get access to the Internet.
[0025] On the other hand, the WIFI HUB chip module 113 is
electrically connected to an outside computer 201 via the second
WIFI interface 115 and a second network line 115a. The second
network line 115a is a non-jumped network line. The main system
chip module 111, the south bridge chip module 112, the WIFI HUB
chip module 113, the second WIFI interface 115, the second network
line 115a and the outside computer 201 are connected to form a
second signal path Path2, wherein signals are transmitted between
the main system chip module 111 and the outside computer 201 via
the second signal path Path2, such that the outside computer 201
can share resources with the computer system 101.
[0026] Besides, the outside computer 201, the second network line
115a, the second WIFI interface 115, the WIFI HUB chip module 113,
the first WIFI interface 114, the first network line 114a and the
Internet 900 are connected to form a third signal path Path3,
wherein signals are transmitted between the outside computer 201
and the Internet 900 via the third signal path Path3, such that the
outside computer 201 can get access to the Internet via the
computer system 101.
[0027] Preferably, the computer system 101 further includes a
standby power 120. When the computer system 101 is shut down, the
standby power 120 provides a power to the WIFI HUB chip module 113
for enabling the outside computer 201 to transmit data via the
third signal path Path3, such that the outside computer 201 can get
access to the Internet via the computer system 101.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective multiple computer systems
connected in serial is shown. The computer system 101, the computer
system 102 and the computer system 103 all have the main circuit
board 110 and the WIFI HUB chip module 113 thereof. The computer
system 101, the computer system 102 and the computer system 103 can
be serially connected to the Internet 900 via a network line, such
that the computer system 101 can get access to the Internet via a
first signal path Path1 (1). The computer system 102 can get access
to the Internet through the computer system 101 via a first signal
path Path1 (2) and a third signal path Path3 (1). Similarly, the
computer system 103 can get access to the Internet through the
computer system 101 and the computer system 102 via a first signal
path Path1 (3), a third signal path Path3 (2) and the third signal
path Path3 (1). Through the above serial connection, the computer
system 101, the computer system 102 and the computer system 103 are
connected to get access to the Internet at the same time without
using an additional WIFI HUB.
[0029] On the other hand, the computer system 101 and the computer
system 102 can share resources via a second signal path Path2 (1)
and a first signal path 1 (2). The computer system 102 and the
computer system 103 can share resources via a second signal path
Path2 (2) and the first signal path Path1 (3). The computer system
101 and the computer system 103 can share resources via the second
signal path Path2 (1), the third signal path Path3 (2) and the
first signal path Path1 (3). Through the above serial connection,
the computer system 101, the computer system 102 and the computer
system 103 are connected to share resources at the same time
without using an additional WIFI HUB and jumped network line.
[0030] Similarly, multiple computers systems can be connected in
serial, such that each of the computer systems can get access to
the Internet, and any two computers can share resources. When any
of the computer systems is shut down, the remaining computers can
still function properly.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective multiple computer systems
connected in parallel is shown. The computer system 101, the
computer system 102 and the computer system 103 can be connected in
parallel to an WIFI HUB 901 and an Internet 900 via a network line,
such that the computer system 101 can get access to the Internet
via the first signal path Path1 (1). The computer system 102 can
get access to the Internet via the first signal path Path1 (2).
Similarly, the computer system 103 can get access to the Internet
via the first signal path Path1 (3). Through the above serial
connection, the computer system 101, the computer system 102 and
the computer system 103 are connected to get access to the Internet
at the same time.
[0032] Besides, the outside computer 201 and the computer system
101 are connected in serial. The outside computer 201 can get
access to the Internet through the computer system 101 via the
third signal path Path3 (1) and the first signal path Path3 (1).
The outside computer 201 and the computer system 101 can further
share resources via the second signal path Path2 (1).
[0033] Similarly, the outside computer 202 is serially connected to
the computer system 102, such that the outside computer 202 can get
access to the Internet via the computer system 102. Further, the
computer system 102 and the outside computer 202 can share
resources. The outside computer 203 is serially connected to the
computer system 103, such that the outside computer 203 can get
access to the Internet via the computer system 103. Further, the
computer system 103 and the outside computer 203 can share
resources.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 6, a perspective of a computer system
according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. The
computer system 401 of the present embodiment of the invention
differs with the computer system 101 of the above embodiment in the
number of second WIFI interfaces. As for other similarities, the
same numeric designations are used and are not repeated here.
[0035] In the present embodiment of the invention, the main circuit
board 410 includes a second WIFI interface 412, a second WIFI
interface 413 and a second WIFI interface 414. The WIFI HUB chip
module 113 is electrically connected to an outside computer 204 via
a second WIFI interface 412 and a second network line 412a. A
second signal path Path2 (4) is formed along the main system chip
module 111, the south bridge chip module 112, the WIFI HUB chip
module 113, the second WIFI interface 412, the second network line
412a and the outside computer 204. Signals are transmitted between
the main system chip module 111 and the outside computer 402 via
the second signal path Path2 (4), such that the outside computer
204 and the computer system 401 can share resources.
[0036] A second signal path Path2 (4)' is formed along the main
system chip module 111, the south bridge chip module 112, the WIFI
HUB chip module 113, the second WIFI interface 413, the second
network line 413a and the outside computer 205. Signals are
transmitted between the main system chip module 111 and the outside
computer 205 via the second signal path Path2 (4)', such that the
outside computer 205 and the computer system 401 can share
resources.
[0037] A third signal path Path3 (4) is formed along the outside
computer 204, the second network line 412a, the second WIFI
interface 412, the WIFI HUB chip module 113, the first WIFI
interface 114, the first network line 114a and the Internet 900.
Signals are transmitted between the outside computer 204 and the
Internet 900 via the third signal path Path3 (4), such that the
outside computer 204 can get access to the Internet via computer
system 401.
[0038] A third signal path Path3 (4)' is formed along the outside
computer 205, the second network line 413a, the second WIFI
interface 413, the WIFI HUB chip module 113, the first WIFI
interface 114, the first network line 114a and the Internet 900.
Signals are transmitted between the outside computer 205 and the
Internet 900 via the third signal path Path3 (4)', such that the
outside computer 205 can get access to the Internet via the
computer system 401.
[0039] According to the computer system and the main circuit board
thereof disclosed in the above embodiments of the invention, a WIFI
HUB chip module is disposed on the main circuit board. The computer
system can get access to the Internet via a first signal path and
share resources with an outside computer via a second signal path.
The outside computer can further get access to the Internet through
the computer system via a third signal path. Beside the above
advantages, the computer system and the outside computer further
have the following advantages:
[0040] Firstly, when a computer system or an outside computer is to
get access to the Internet, the computer system does not need to go
through complicated setting procedure and can do without a driver.
The computer system can be connected to a network point via a
network line to get access to the Internet, and the outside
computer can be connected to the computer system via a network line
to get access to the Internet via the computer system.
[0041] Secondly, the computer system can be connected to a nearest
network point via a network line, and the other computer system or
the outside computer can use the computer system already connected
to the Internet as a network point and does not need to be
connected to a conventional WIFI HUB via a lengthy network line,
not only reducing the length of the network line but further making
it easier and more flexible to erect a network.
[0042] Thirdly, the computer system can be connected to the outside
computer or the other computer system to share resources via an
ordinary non-jumped network line. There is no need to use the rare
jumped network line, saving the user troubles of preparing and
bringing the jumped network line.
[0043] Fourthly, multiple computer systems can be connected in
serial to share resources. Compared with the conventional computer
which can only share resources on a one-to-one basis, the invention
is not limited to the number of computers and can be used
conveniently.
[0044] Fifthly, the built-in WIFI HUB chip module costs less and
the user can save the cost for the WIFI HUB.
[0045] Sixthly, the WIFI HUB chip module of the computer system can
still be in service even after the computer system is shut down,
such that the outside computer and the other computer system still
can function properly via the computer system though has been shut
down already, which is very convenient.
[0046] Seventhly, multiple outside computers can get access to the
Internet and share resources at the same time without using an
additional jumped network line or WIFI HUB, which is very
convenient to the user
[0047] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended
to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and
procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should
be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
* * * * *