Expansion device with suspend/resume function

摘要

An expansion device detachably installed into a computer system, for example a "notebook" computer, includes a central processor (10) for controlling the operation of the expansion device, first, volatile data storage means (16) for use as working area by the central processor, an interface (9) for communicating with the computer system, and means (13) for supplying power from the computer system to the powered elements in the expansion device. In order to permit a task to be re-started from the same point after power-down, a second, non-volatile data storage means (17) is provided for saving context information held by the interface and the data stored in the first data storage means in response to a request from the computer system via the interface means. IMAGE