Appeal No. 97-3423
Application 08/336,134
the functions performed by these cards and explains that they
can be used only after loading of programs called "Card
Services" and "Socket Services," which appear to be hardware
configuration programs:
PC Card
A credit-card sized, removable module for portable
computers standardized by PCMCIA. PC Cards are also
known as "PCMCIA cards." PC Cards are 16-bit
devices that are used to attach modems, network
adapters, sound cards, radio transceivers, solid
state disks and hard disks to a portable computer.
The PC Card is a "plug and play" device, which is
configured automatically by the Card Services
software (see below).
. . . .
Card and Socket Services
In order to use a PC Card slot in the computer, Card
and Socket services must be loaded, typically at
system startup. Card and Socket Services software
is generally included with laptops that have PC Card
slots. It also comes packaged with PC Cards.
Card Services manage system resources required by
the PC Card, and, on PCS, determines which IRQs and
memory and I/O addresses are assigned. They also
manage hot swapping and pass changes in events to
higher-level
drivers written for specific cards.
Card Services talk to Socket Services, which is the
lowest level of software that communicates directly
with the PC Card controller chips. Socket Services
can be built into the system BIOS or added via
software.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007