Patent ID: 11860809
Assignee: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A computing device, comprising:
a housing defining an exterior of the computing device;
a controller supported within the housing;
a first communication port disposed on the exterior;
a second communication port disposed on the exterior;
a port-sharing subsystem supported within the housing, having (i) a first state to connect the controller with the first communication port, exclusive of the second communication port, and (ii) a second state to connect the controller with the first communication port and the second communication port, wherein the port-sharing subsystem enables:
(i) in the first state, either of an enhanced operational mode and a restricted operational mode for the connection, and
(ii) in the second state, the restricted operational mode for the connection, exclusive of the enhanced operational mode;

the controller configured to:
detect engagement of an external device with the first communication port;
obtain connection parameters from the external device;
based on the connection parameters, set the port-sharing subsystem in either the first state or the second state; and
establish a connection to the external device via the port-sharing subsystem and the first communication port.