Computer system for sharing common system resources with two or more independently operating microcomputers

摘要

A microcomputer system (10) switchably connects two or more different, fully functional CPU-based microprocessor systems designs, such as MacIntosh-compatible (12) and PC-compatible (14) systems, to alternatively shared common system resources. These shared common system resources include, for example, a video display, user input means such as a keyboard or a mouse, a sound port, main memory, and input/output (I/O) means such as a modem or printer. The system according to the invention also provides for a second set of dedicated system resources to the microcomputer system. In a MAC-compatible/PC-compatible scheme, the second set of dedicated system resources includes, for example, a floppy disk drive (134) compatible with either system as well as NUBUS slots (50) and ISA slots (94).