System and method for interconnection of computer peripherals via multiple interfaces

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made to the drawings in which the various elements of one preferred embodiment of the present invention will be given numerical designations and in which the preferred embodiment of the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention.
The present invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment of the first aspect in FIG.
1.
FIG.
1 shows an external docking bay 10.
The external docking bay 10 pictured is designed to enable a single portable computer peripheral 12 to be electrically coupled to a portable computer 14 (see FIG.
2).
In an exemplary illustration, the portable computer 14 is a notebook computer manufactured by such industry leaders in computer notebooks such as IBM, Compaq or Toshiba.
The external docking bay 10 is comprised of an insertion end 16 having a bay door 17 where the portable computer peripheral 12 is inserted into the external docking bay 10.
Within the external docking bay 10 at an opposing coupling end 18 is an interface port 20.
The portable computer peripheral 12 is electrically coupled to the interface port 20 because the interface port 20 is constructed to be identical in physical dimensions and pinouts to the multi-function port in the multi-function bay 36 of the portable computer 14.
The interface port 20 is electrically coupled to a cable 22 which is also electrically coupled to a coupling device 24 (see FIG.
2) for insertion into a portable computer 14.
The coupling device 24 enables the external docking bay 10 to be electrically coupled to the portable computer 14 at a portable computer interface port 26 (see FIG.
2).
It should be noted that the external docking bay 10 is constructed to receive portable computer peripherals 12 which are designed to fit within a multi-function bay 36 of the portable computer 14 without modification.
Therefore, the dimensions of the bay within the external docking bay 10 are the same as those of a multi-function bay 36 in the portable computer 14