Abstract: A system and method are provided for interconnecting computer peripherals with portable and desktop computers. More specifically, the present invention includes a system and method for simultaneously connecting multiple portable computer peripherals to a single portable computer interface slot, for connecting portable computer peripherals to a desktop computer, and for connecting a portable ZIP drive to a portable computer.

Abstract: A system and method for interfacing at least one ISA and/or PCI compliant device with a PCMCIA compliant device socket (124) on a host computer (122) is disclosed. Preferably included in the system are structures to carry out the functions of; interrupt translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; direct memory access translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation of bus address latch enable signal between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation between memory read and memory write signal of the PCMCIA port and a system memory read signal and a system memory write signal of the ISA devices: translation between the PCMCIA port and 8 bit ISA devices; providing a clock signal to the ISA devices; supplying power to the ISA devices; and translation of the timing between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices.