Abstract: A peripheral card (109) having an adaptive PCMCIA compliant interface including either an adaptive card present or card configuration function that includes a peripheral apparatus (209) arranged and constructed to operate in conjunction with a host computer (101) over a PCMCIA compliant interface, and an interface logic (205), coupled to the peripheral apparatus (209) and to a PCMCIA peripheral port (201), for interfacing the peripheral apparatus to the PCMCIA peripheral port (201), the interface logic further adaptively providing a card present signal at the PCMCIA peripheral port (201) when the peripheral apparatus (209) and the interface logic (205) expects the PCMCIA peripheral port (201) to be activated by the host computer (101) or alternatively adaptively providing configuration information pertaining to the peripheral apparatus to the host computer.

Abstract: A PCMCIA card having independent functionality and alternatively arranged to operate in conjunction with a host computer, that includes a peripheral apparatus (109) having an integral CPU (125), a power source (129), and a power supply (127) for exhibiting an independent operating state; and an interface function (121) integral with and coupled to said peripheral apparatus (109), said interface function arranged and constructed to couple said peripheral apparatus to the host computer (101) over a PCMCIA compliant interface and initiate a dependent operating state at said peripheral apparatus (109).