Abstract: A system that communicates with an embedded controller within a computing device. During operation, the system queries the embedded controller to obtain information describing an interface for interacting with a functionality provided by the embedded controller. The system then receives a response from the computing device which includes a reference to a metadata object describing the interface. If the metadata object refers to other metadata objects, the system recursively queries the embedded controller to obtain information about the other metadata objects until a complete description of the interface is obtained.

Abstract: A system that communicates with an embedded controller within a computing device. During operation, the system queries the embedded controller to obtain information describing an interface for interacting with a functionality provided by the embedded controller. The system then receives a response from the computing device which includes a reference to a metadata object describing the interface. If the metadata object refers to other metadata objects, the system recursively queries the embedded controller to obtain information about the other metadata objects until a complete description of the interface is obtained.

Abstract: A system that communicates with an embedded controller within a computing device. During operation, the system queries the embedded controller to obtain information describing an interface for interacting with a functionality provided by the embedded controller. The system then receives a response from the computing device which includes a reference to a metadata object describing the interface. If the metadata object refers to other metadata objects, the system recursively queries the embedded controller to obtain information about the other metadata objects until a complete description of the interface is obtained.

Abstract: Improved techniques for controlling buses of a computer system are disclosed such that peripheral devices (and/or their associated buses) can be connected or disconnected to the computer system while the computer system is active. The peripheral devices are connected to the computer system by being inserted into a slot or other receptacle of the computer system. The peripheral devices are disconnected from the computer system by being removed from a slot or other receptacle of the computer system. The slots or receptacles typically includes connectors designed to receive peripheral devices, such as PC CARD slots, expansion bays, and the like. Given that the peripheral devices can be inserted or removed while the computer system is active is active, the computer system according to the invention permits “hot-plugging” of peripheral devices. The invention is particularly well suited for controlling PCI buses for peripheral devices connecting to a computer system by way of peripheral ports.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the speed and resource utilization of a computer system in which a personal computer uses a portable computer as an extra hard disk. While the portable computer is in SCSI target mode, the unused memory of the portable computer is converted into a disk cache for the hard disk of the portable computer. This enables the portable computer to perform as a very fast disk.