Abstract: A battery type detection approach is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of detecting a battery type can include: receiving a signal from a battery module in a portable computing device; determining if the signal is in a first state for at least a first predetermined time before transitioning to a second state; determining if the signal transitions from the second state to the first state after a second predetermined time, and identifying the battery type in response thereto; and asserting an indication of the battery type when a third predetermined time period after the transition from the second state to the first state has occurred.

Abstract: An approach involving light use for multiple purposes in a portable computing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can include: programming a visual state information indicator in a portable computing device; mapping the visual state information indicator to a light source and a parameter of a device module; receiving a monitoring signal from the device module, where the monitoring signal conveys a state of the parameter in real-time; and adjusting the light source in response to a comparison of the monitoring signal against the programmed visual state information indicator.

Abstract: An approach involving light use for multiple purposes in a portable computing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can include: accessing a user interface in a portable computing device; programming a visual state information indicator via the user interface; programming a monitoring signal that conveys a real-time state of a parameter associated with a device module; and linking the visual state information indicator to a light source and the parameter via the user interface, where the visual state information indicator is adjusted using the light source in response to a comparison of the monitoring signal against the programmed visual state information indicator.

Abstract: A battery type detection approach is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of detecting a battery type can include: receiving a signal from a battery module in a portable computing device; determining if the signal is in a first state for at least a first predetermined time before transitioning to a second state; determining if the signal transitions from the second state to the first state after a second predetermined time, and identifying the battery type in response thereto; and asserting an indication of the battery type when a third predetermined time period after the transition from the second state to the first state has occurred.

Abstract: One embodiment uses a virtual machine layer between software and hardware on both a portable computing device and on a docking station used by the portable computing device. A first virtual machine layer on the portable device is used to save the state of the portable device upon intermediate shutdown. Upon docking the portable device with the docking station, a second virtual machine layer on the docking station is loaded with the state of the first virtual machine. The second virtual machine layer is aware of the resources in the docking station and is programmed to utilize the docking station resources (and the portable computing device resources, as desired) to restore and continue the state while allowing the operating system, application programs and other software and hardware to utilize the resources of the docking station.