A low pin count (LPC) input/output (I/O) bridge device and method for a portable
computer having a plurality of legacy ports and a docking connector. The LPC I/O
bridge device includes an LPC controller coupled to the legacy ports and docking
connector. The LPC controller is adapted to detect whether the portable computer
is coupled to a docking station via the docking connector and route data transmissions
to the legacy ports, docking connector, or both, based on information received
from an LPC interface. Serialization logic coupled to the LPC controller serializes
data transmissions routed to the docking connector.