System and Method for Information Handling System Battery With Integrated Communication Ports

Abstract

Space along the perimeter of a portable information handling system is made available for I/O connections with external devices by integrating I/O ports into a battery housing having some length extending along the perimeter. The I/O ports interface with the information handling system with wires running through the battery housing from the I/O ports to a location aligned with connectors of the information handling system, such as in a chassis bay sized to accept the battery housing. In one embodiment, the battery housing has a first portion for containing battery cells and a second portion that couples to the first portion, the second portion having selected I/O ports for selective configuration of the information handling system with desired I/O ports.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for communicating with an information handling system, the method comprising:
 receiving communication signals at a port, the port integrated at a battery housing outer surface, the battery housing outer surface exposed at the exterior of the information handling system;   transmitting the communication signals from the port along the battery housing to a location at the battery housing outer surface, the location exposed at the interior surface of the information handling system; and   transmitting the communication signals from the location at the battery housing outer surface to a location at the interior surface of the information handling system for use by the information handling system.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the port comprises an HDMI port. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the port comprises a component video port. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the port comprises an S-video port. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein transmitting the communication signals further comprises:
 transmitting the communication signals through one or more wires to a port at the location at the battery housing outer surface; and   transmitting the communication signals from the port at the location at the battery housing outer surface to a port at the location at the interior surface of the information handling system.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein transmitting the communication signals further comprises:
 transmitting the communication signals from the port to a hub located in the battery housing; and   transmitting the communication signals from the hub to the location at the battery housing outer surface exposed at the interior surface of the information handling system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the battery housing comprises first and second portions, the first portion having the port, the second portion having the battery, the method comprising:
 separating the first portion from the second portion, the first portion having a first configuration of one or more ports; and   attaching a replacement first portion to the second portion, the replacement first portion having a second configuration of one or more ports.   
     
     
         17 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for communicating information at an information handling system, the method comprising:
 interfacing a device with the information handling system at a port disposed in a battery housing of the information handling system; and   communicating signals between the device and the information handling system with one or more wires interfacing the port with the information handling system, the one or more wires routed through the battery housing to the information handling system.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the port comprises a USB port. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 interfacing plural devices with the information handling system at plural ports disposed in the battery housing of the information handling system; and   communicating signals from each port with one or more wires to a hub disposed in the battery housing, the hub communicating the signals from the battery housing to the information handling system.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising processing the signals at the battery housing for communication to the information handling system. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the port comprises an HDMI port. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the port comprises a display device port. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the port comprises a networking port. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein communicating further comprises communicating signals from the information handling system to the device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein communicating further comprises communicating signals from the device to the information handling system. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein communicating further comprises communicating the signals through a hub disposed in the battery housing. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the hub comprises a PCI Express controller.