Remote cable assist

• US 20040219824A1
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Conn, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,857,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors

Abstract

A communication cable comprising a trigger and a wireless transmitter coupled to the trigger and adapted to transmit a wireless transmitter coupled to the trigger and adapted to transmit a wireless signal to activate a user identifiable locator adjacent a cable connector disposed on a device. A processor-based system a cable connector, a user identifiable locator disposed adjacent the cable connector, and a controller coupled to the user identifiable locator and triggerable wirelessly to facilitate guided connection between the cable connector and a communication cable.

Claims

1. A communication cable, comprising:

a trigger; and

a wireless transmitter coupled to the trigger and adapted to transmit a wireless signal to activate a user identifiable locator adjacent a cable connector disposed on a device.

2. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the trigger comprises a button.

3. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the trigger is disposed on an end connector of the communication cable.

4. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is disposed in an end connector of the communication cable.

5. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

6. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises an optical transmitter.

7. The communication cable of claim 1, wherein the communication cable comprises a computer cable.

8. A processor-based system, comprising:

a cable connector;

a user identifiable locator disposed adjacent the cable connector; and

a controller coupled to the user identifiable locator and triggerable wirelessly to facilitate guided connection between the cable connector and a communication cable.

9. The processor-based system of claim 8, wherein the user identifiable locator comprises a light.

10. The processor-based system of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a wireless receiver responsive to a control signal from a wireless transmitter.

11. The processor-based system of claim 8, wherein the cable connector and the user identifiable locator are disposed on a communication panel having a plurality of different cable connectors.

12. The processor-based system of claim 8, wherein the cable connector, the user identifiable locator, and the controller are disposed in a computer.

13. The processor-based system of claim 12, wherein the computer comprises a desktop computer.

14. The processor-based system of claim 12, wherein the computer comprises a laptop computer.

15. The processor-based system of claim 12, wherein the computer comprises a notepad computer.

16. The processor-based system of claim 12, wherein the computer comprises a rack mount computer system.

17. The processor-based system of claim 8, wherein the cable connector and the user identifiable locator are disposed on a computer component.

18. The processor-based system of claim 17, wherein the computer component comprises a card-based device.

19. The processor-based system of claim 8, further comprising the communication cable having a wireless transmitter and a trigger.

20. The processor-based system of claim 8, further comprising the communication cable, a peripheral device coupled to the communication cable, a wireless transmitter, and a trigger coupled to the wireless transmitter.

21. A system, comprising:

means for wirelessly communicating a control signal; and

means for signaling a location of a communication connector in response to the control signal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating a control signal comprises a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver associated with a communication cable and the communication connector, respectively.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for signaling comprises a locator light disposed adjacent the communication connector.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for triggering the means for wirelessly communicating at a location remote from the communication connector.

25. A method for connecting a communication cable, comprising:

wirelessly communicating a control signal to a device having a cable connector; and

activating a locator signal in response to the control signal to identify the cable connector.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein wirelessly communicating comprises wirelessly transmitting the control signal from a cable to the device.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein wirelessly communicating comprises wirelessly transmitting the control signal from a remote device to the device.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein activating the locator signal comprises illuminating a locator light disposed adjacent the cable connector.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein activating the locator signal comprises identifying one of a plurality of user identifiable locators associated with a plurality of cable connectors, respectively.