Patent ID: 6530085
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: H04B,H04N

Abstract:
A consumer electronics device for use in a consumer electronics system that includes one or more other consumer electronic devices interconnected with cables, said consumer electronics device being adapted to be connected to the one or more other consumer electronics device using a designated cable, said consumer electronics device comprising:a plurality of identical, interchangeable connector means for connecting to a plurality of different cable types, each connector means comprising a plurality of pins adapted to conduct electrical signals, wherein at least one of the plurality of pins is shared by each of the plurality of different cable types; means for sensing which particular cable type of said plurality of different cable types have been connected to a given connector means; and means for dynamically configuring the at least one of said plurality of pins that is shared by each of the plurality of different cable types in order to match the electrical signals of the particular cable type attached to said given connector means.