Patent ID: 8631168

Claim:
A system for determining which input ports of a primary device are connected to devices, the system comprising: the primary device having a plurality of input ports; a port determining part, operating to determine which of the input ports is connected to respective devices, and which of the input ports are unconnected, said primary device operating according to a determination made by said port determining part, to display a selection list identifying the input ports that are connected to respective devices in a different way than the input ports that are not connected, wherein said port determining part includes a multiplexer that has multiple inputs connected to said input ports and at least first and second outputs, and wherein said multiplexer is controllable to have a tri-state capability; wherein said port determining part includes a testing device, that tests to determine if a cable is connected to a port to which the testing device is connected, said testing device connected to said first output of said multiplexer, wherein the port determining part detects a metallic mass of a connector, said second output of said multiplexer connected to provide video content to the primary device, and a processor, that controls operation of the primary device and of the port determining part, and of the multiplexer, said processor controlling sequential connection of each of the multiple inputs to be output over said first output of the port determining part to be sequentially connected to each of the ports through said multiplexer while a second output is held in a tri-state state during a time when said testing device is testing said each of said multiple inputs.