Patent ID: 7200856

Claim:
A computer program product comprising one or more physical computer-readable storage media encoded with computer-executable instructions which, when executed, implement a method for interconnecting a consumer electronics device having one or more identical and interchangeable connectors that support a variety of different cable types and one or more other consumer electronics devices having one or more other connectors, wherein each of the one or more identical and interchangeable connectors comprises one or more pins, and wherein at least one pin is shared by different cable types, and wherein the method comprises: sensing a cable type for a cable connected to a particular identical and interchangeable connector; configuring at least one pin of the particular identical and interchangeable connector to carry electrical signals appropriate for the sensed cable type, wherein the at least one pin is shared by different cable types; and carrying electrical siguals on the at least one configured pin that are appropriate for the sensed cable type.