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.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Electronic devices, such as computer components and peripherals, are often coupled together via a communication cable. For example, a printer may be coupled to a laptop or desktop computer via a parallel cable. In certain applications, the location of the proper receptacle for the communication cable may be uncertain or difficult to identify. For example, a user may have difficulty connecting the communication cable to the proper receptacle if it is located in a dark area, a tight space, or another area having limited accessibility or visibility. The foregoing connection difficulties are generally worse in applications having multiple receptacles for communication cables. For example, a computer system may have one or more parallel ports, serial ports, Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-1394 ports, network ports, modem ports, and so forth. Accordingly, a user may be unable to locate the appropriate port for the desired communication cable. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]    Embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:  
         [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a locator-assisted connection system in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the system having a plurality of peripherals coupled to a computer;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a component having a wireless receiver, a location indicator, and a locator light disposed adjacent a connector in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the locator-assisted connection system having a wireless transmitter and a trigger disposed within a peripheral;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the locator-assisted connection system having the wireless transmitter and the trigger disposed within a cable;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the cable having the wireless transmitter and the trigger disposed within an end connector; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a connector module having the wireless transmitter and the trigger in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system  10  in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, the system  10  comprises devices  12  and  14  communicatively coupled together via a cable  16 . As discussed in further detail below, the devices  12  and  14  may comprise a wide variety of electronics, computer components and peripherals, network devices, and so forth. For example, the devices  12  and  14  may comprise electronic devices disposed in separate locations, such as in a network. Accordingly, the system  10  may comprise a computer system, a network, or any other connectable system of devices.  
         [0011]    As illustrated, the device  12  comprises a wireless transmitter  18 , a trigger  20 , and a connector  22 , while the device  14  comprises a wireless receiver  24 , a location indicator  26 , and a connector  28 . The wireless transmitter  18  and the wireless receiver  24  may comprise radio frequency (RF) circuitry, infrared or other optical communication circuitry, blue tooth technology, or other suitable wireless communication circuitry. The trigger  20  may comprise a button, a switch, an event activated trigger, a voice activated trigger, a software activated trigger, a hardware activated trigger, or other suitable user interactive or automatic triggers. The location indicator  26  may comprise a light such as a light emitting diode (LED), a vibration mechanism, an audio device, or other indicators that may be identified by one of the user&#39;s senses. The location indicator  26  also may comprise a variety of different light colors (e.g., red, blue, green, etc.), vibrational signals, audio tones or signals, and so forth. The connectors  22  and  28  may comprise parallel port connectors, serial port connectors, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-1394 connectors, network connectors, modem connectors, and so forth. Accordingly, the cable  16  has end connectors configured to interface the particular interface format of the connectors  22  and  28 . As discussed in further detail below, the wireless transmitter  18  and the trigger  20  may be disposed within the device  12 , within the cable  16  (e.g., in one of the end connectors), within a module connectable with both the cable and one of the connectors  22  and  28 , or in other configurations. It also should be noted that the device  14  may comprise one or more additional connectors, wherein the location indicator  26  is disposed adjacent a connector  28 .  
         [0012]    In operation, the location indicator  26  identifies the location of the connector  28  for proper connection of the devices  12  and  14  via the cable  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless transmitter  18  transmits a control signal  30  to the wireless receiver  24  in response to engagement of the trigger  20 . For example, a user may engage the trigger  20  at the device  12 , at an end connector of the cable  16 , at a software interface, or at another location/interface. The control signal  30  may comprise a variety of wireless signals or data, such as an on/off control, a device identifier, a connector identifier, a cable-type identifier, or other such data. In response to the control signal  30  received by the wireless receiver  24 , the location indicator  26  activates a signal  32 , such as a light or other user-identifiable signal. The user then locates the connector  28  corresponding to the signal  32  and communicatively couples the cable  16  with the connector  28 . Accordingly, the location indicator  26  assists a user in connecting the cable  16  to the correct connector  28  regardless of the user&#39;s knowledge of connector types, devices, or other system information.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the system  10  having a plurality of peripheral devices  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  communicatively coupled to a computer  48 . The illustrated peripheral devices  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  comprise a display, a keyboard, a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, a touch pad, a joystick, a digitizer pad/pen, etc.), a printer, a scanner, a camera, and a peripheral, respectively. However, other input, output, and user-interactive devices may be connected with the system  10 . The computer  48  may comprise a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a notepad computer, a rack mount computer system, a server, or another type of computing device.  
         [0014]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, the computer  48  comprises a wireless receiver  50 , a controller or location indicator  52  communicative with the wireless receiver  50 , and a plurality of locator lights or light emitting diodes (LEDS)  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 , and  66  communicative with the location indicator  52 . Each of the locator lights  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 , and  66  is disposed adjacent a particular communication connector, such as connectors  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  79 , respectively. Although not illustrated, the system  10  of FIG. 2 also comprises a wireless transmitter and trigger, similar to those described with reference to FIG. 1. Accordingly, during connection of each of the peripheral devices  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  with the computer  48 , the wireless transmitter communicates a control signal to the wireless receiver  50 , thereby activating the location indicator  52  to illuminate one of the locator lights  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 , and  66  associated with the correct one of the connectors  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  79 , respectively. By way of this locator-assisted process, each one of the peripheral devices  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  may be communicatively coupled to the appropriate connectors  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  79  via cables  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94 , respectively. As discussed above, the wireless transmitter and trigger maybe incorporated into the peripheral devices  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  or the cables  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94 . For example, the wireless transmitter and trigger may be incorporated into the cables  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 , and  92  at end plugs  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 , and  106 , respectively.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of a component  110  having a wireless receiver  112 , a location indicator  114 , and a user identifiable locator or light  116  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the user identifiable locator or light  116  is disposed adjacent a connector  118 , which is communicatively coupled with circuitry (not shown) and a connector  120  on the component  110 . For example, the component  110  may comprise a variety of circuit boards or card-based computer components, such as a network card, a modem, a video card, an audio card, a security card, a network management card, a wireless communication card, and cards having other desired functions. Moreover, the component  110  may be adapted for a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a rack mount computer system, or other desired computer systems. Accordingly, the component  10  and the connector  120  may comprise a variety of communication buses and interfaces, such as Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA), Universal Serial Bus (USB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-1394, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), and other desired interfaces and buses.  
         [0016]    In operation, a wireless transmitter sends a control signal to the wireless receiver  112 , which activates the location indicator  114  to enable the user identifiable locator  116 , e.g., light. A user is then able to locate the connector  118  disposed adjacent the user identifiable locator  116 , thereby facilitating a connection between the component  110  and a separate device. For example, a computer system having a plurality of peripherals and components, such as the component  110 , may be set up more easily by the foregoing connector location technique. By way of this locator-assisted connection process, even a non-technical user or consumer may set up a computer system without knowledge of the components, the cable types, the connector types, and so forth.  
         [0017]    As discussed above, the wireless transmitter and trigger may be disposed in a variety of locations and devices. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the system  10 . As illustrated, the system  10  comprises a wireless transmitter  122  and a trigger  124  disposed in a peripheral  126 , while a computer/component  128  has a wireless receiver  130  and a controller or location indicator  132 . The peripheral  126  also comprises a communication cable  134  having an end connector  136  for communicatively coupling the peripheral  126  to the computer/component  128 . However, the computer/component  128  may comprise a plurality of connectors, such as connectors  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and  144 , one of which is the proper connector for the peripheral  126  and the end connector  136 .  
         [0018]    In operation, the trigger  124  may be engaged for wirelessly transmitting a control signal  146  from the wireless transmitter  122  to the wireless receiver  130 , which then communicates the control signal  146  (or an appropriate command) to the location indicator  132 . In response to the control signal  146 , the location indicator  132  activates a user identifiable locator or light  148  adjacent the connector  138 , which is the proper connector for the peripheral  128  and the end connector  136 . By way of this locator-assisted connection process, the proper connection is ensured between the computer/component  128  and each desired peripheral, such as the peripheral  126 . Accordingly, the computer/component  128  also may comprise a user identifiable locator or light, such as  148 , adjacent each one of the connectors  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and  144 . If multiple user identifiable locators or lights are employed in the computer/component  128 , the control signal  146  may comprise a variety of data or signals to identify the particular peripheral, bus type, connector, or user identifiable locator or light associated with the desired connection. For example, data may be acquired from the peripheral  126  for properly configuring the control signal  146 . The system then identifies and activates the appropriate one of the user identifiable locators or lights adjacent the proper one of the connectors  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and  144 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the system  10  illustrated in FIG. 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless transmitter  122  and the trigger  124  are disposed in the end connector  136  of the cable  134 , rather than the peripheral  126 . Accordingly, the cable  134  itself acts as the source of the control signal  146  to the wireless receiver  130 . In operation, a user may engage the trigger  124  while searching for the proper one of the connectors  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and  144  on the computer/component  128 . In response to the trigger  124 , the wireless transmitter  122  sends the control signal  146  from the end connector  136  to the wireless receiver  130 , which then communicates the control signal  146  to the location indicator  132 . The location indicator  132  then activates the user identifiable locator or light  148  adjacent the connector  138 , thereby guiding the user to connect the end connector  136  to the connector  138 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the cable  134  illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. As illustrated, the wireless transmitter  122  is disposed within the end connector  136 , while the trigger  124  comprises a button  148  communicatively coupled to the wireless transmitter  122 . Alternatively, the wireless transmitter  122  and the trigger  124  may be disposed within a connector module  150 , as illustrated by FIG. 7. In this alternative embodiment, the connector module  150  may be coupled to the end connector  136  as illustrated, or the connector module  150  may be coupled to a peripheral such as peripheral  126 . In operation, the connector module  150  itself acts as the source of the control signal to the wireless receiver. Upon activation of the appropriate user identifiable locator, the desired cable connection can be completed.