Patent ID: 7597592

Claim:
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.