Method and system for coupling a laptop or other portable or hand-held device to a docking system using an Ethernet interface

摘要

Methods and systems for coupling a laptop or other portable or hand-held device to a docking system using an Ethernet Interface are disclosed and may comprise interfacing a portable computing device to a docking station using an Ethernet interface. Power may be applied from the docking station to the portable computing device via the Ethernet interface using power over Ethernet (POE) protocol. Audio, video, multimedia, control and/or data signals may be communicated between the docking station and the portable computing device via the Ethernet interface. Data exchanged between the portable computing device and the docking station may be encapsulated in Ethernet frames and tagged appropriately. The interface may be accomplished by directly coupling an Ethernet port of the docking station to an Ethernet port of the portable computing device, or by utilizing an Ethernet cable. The docking station may be an active or passive docking station.