PORT IDENTIFIER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140347189A1
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Weksler, Arnold S., VanBlon, Russell Speight, Mese, John Carl, Peterson, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US13/899,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347189A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/687
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

A device includes a container having multiple different types of ports. A cable detection transceiver may be used to receive signals from a cable near the container. A visual indicator is coupled to the cable detection transceiver to provide a visual indication of a port corresponding to the cable near the container. A cable may contain a near field transmitter coupled proximate the connector to transmit signals representative of the connector.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a container having multiple different types of ports;

a cable detection transceiver to receive signals from a cable near the container; and

a visual indicator coupled to the cable detection transceiver to provide a visual indication of a port corresponding to the cable near the container.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator comprises multiple lights, each light positioned proximate a port.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the ports and visual indicators are positioned on an exterior portion of the container.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a laptop computer.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a tablet.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises an entertainment system device.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the ports comprise a USB2 port and a USB3 port.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein one port is an HDMI port.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator comprises a display device having a graphical representation of the container and ports, with a port corresponding to the cable near the container has attributes visually identifying it.

10. The device of claim 1 and further comprising a port controller to activate the corresponding visual indicator and to deactivate the corresponding visual indicator when the cable has been plugged into the port.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable detection transmitter comprises an RFID detector.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable detection transmitter has a range corresponding to a cable being placed near the container.

13. A device comprising:

a cable to carry electrical signals;

a connector coupled to the cable to connect to a port on another device; and

a near field transmitter coupled proximate the connector to transmit signals representative of the connector.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the near field transmitter comprises an RFID chip having information representative of the connector stored on a memory of the RFID chip for transmission.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting a cable detection signal;

receiving a response from a proximate cable identifying a cable type; and

providing a visual indication of a port corresponding to the identified cable type.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

detecting that the cable has been plugged into a corresponding port; and

turning off the visual indication.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the cable detection signal comprises an RFID detector signal.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the visual indication comprises a light emitting diode positioned near the corresponding port.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein providing a visual indication comprises:

identifying a port corresponding to the received response;

providing a display of a device having multiple ports with the location of the corresponding port identified on the display.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the ports comprise a USB2 port, a USB3 port, and an HDMI port.

21. A communication device comprising:

A touch screen display;

a transceiver configured to communicate with other communication devices over a cellular network; and

circuitry coupled to the transceiver, the circuitry configured to detect a lost communication session with another communication device and generate a menu of options regarding the lost communication session for display on the touch screen display;

wherein the touch screen display is configured to receive a user selection of an option.