Automatic configuration of an interface to a host or client

• US 7,597,592 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Saunders, Bradley, Dunstan, Robert A., Solomon, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/646,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20080160811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/491, 439/955, 439/188, 439/680, 710/62, 710/305, 710/315, 713/300
• US Class Current: 439/680
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/955 including electronic identifier or coding means

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided to detect a coupling of a first cable plug to a bimodal host receptacle and to configure a function of the bimodal host receptacle based at least in part on a first cable plug, where if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a different shape than a key, the bimodal host receptacle will act in a first function, wherein if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a same shape as the key, then the bimodal host receptacle will act in a second function.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a coupling of a first cable plug to a bimodal host receptacle, wherein the first cable plug comprises a relief, wherein the bimodal host receptacle comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of connection pins arranged in a line, and wherein the second portion comprise a key that is offset from the plurality of connection pins; and

configuring a function of the bimodal host receptacle based at least in part on the first cable plug, wherein if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a different shape than the key, the bimodal host receptacle will act in a first function, and

wherein if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a same shape as the key, then the bimodal host receptacle will act in a second function; and

receiving an indication to function as a client receptacle or a host receptacle, wherein the indication is dependent on which one of said shape is detected and is at least one of a signal, a ground, or a lack of a signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the bimodal host receptacle is based on a PCI Express connection standard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion is wider than the second portion, and wherein the first portion is taller than the second portion.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a bimodal host receptacle, wherein the bimodal host receptacle comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of connection pins arranged in a line, wherein the second portion comprise a key that is offset from the plurality of contacts; and

a bimodal agent to detect a coupling of a first cable plug to the bimodal host receptacle, and to configure a function of the bimodal host receptacle based at least in part on the first cable plug, wherein the first cable plug comprises a relief, wherein if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a different shape than the key then the bimodal host receptacle will act in a first function, and wherein if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a same shape as the key, then the bimodal host receptacle will act in a second function, wherein the bimodal indication pin provides an indication to the bimodal agent to determine if the apparatus is a host or a client, wherein the indication is at least one of a signal, a ground, or a lack of a signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the key comprises a bimodal indication pin.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first cable plug comprises a non-bimodal plug and is to be coupled to the bimodal host receptacle, wherein the bimodal indication pin is to be non-electrically coupled to a relief of a non-bimodal plug.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first cable plug is a bimodal plug and is to be coupled to the bimodal host receptacle, wherein the bimodal indication pin is to be electrically coupled to an electrical contact of the bimodal plug.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first portion is wider than the second portion, and wherein the first portion is taller than the second portion.

9. A system comprising:

a first device comprising a first cable plug, wherein the first cable plug comprises a relief, and wherein the first cable plug is at least one of a bimodal host receptacle or a non-bimodal host receptacle; and

a second device comprising;

a double data rate memory module;

a bimodal host receptacle, wherein the bimodal host receptacle comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of connection pins arranged in a line, wherein the second portion comprise a key that is offset from the plurality of contacts; and

a bimodal agent to detect a coupling of a the first cable plug of the first device to the bimodal host receptacle of the second device, and to configure a function of the bimodal host receptacle based at least in part on the first cable plug, wherein if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a different shape than the key, the bimodal host receptacle will act in a first function, and wherein if the first cable plug'"'"'s relief is a same shape as the key, then the bimodal host receptacle will act in a second function, wherein the bimodal indication pin provides an indication to the bimodal agent to determine if the apparatus is to function as a host receptacle or a client receptacle, wherein the indication is at least of a signal, a ground, or a lack of a signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the

key comprises a bimodal indication pin, wherein when the first cable plug is to be coupled to the bimodal host receptacle of the second device, and wherein the bimodal indication pin is to be electrically coupled to an electrical connection of the first cable plug.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the key comprises a bimodal indication pin, wherein when the first cable plug is to be coupled to the bimodal host receptacle of the second device, and wherein the bimodal indication pin is to be non-electrically coupled to the relief of the first cable plug.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first portion is wider than the second portion, and wherein the first portion is taller than the second portion.