Patent ID: 8730991

Claim:
A method of performing device identification, the method comprising: detecting a connection between a first device and a second device over a data communication bus adapted to pass signals in a frequency range associated with a data communication standard; sending a first polling sequence comprising a first frequency modulated signal pattern encoded in a first set of frequency modulated signal bursts from the first device to the second device over the data communication bus in the frequency range, wherein the first frequency modulated signal pattern comprises a pattern of at least first and second signal bursts within the first set of frequency modulated signal bursts, wherein the first and second signal bursts have different frequencies, wherein the first frequency modulated signal pattern is not associated with the data communication standard and identifies that the first device supports an enhanced communication feature that is not associated with the data communication standard; receiving a second polling sequence at the first device from the second device over the data communication bus, wherein the second polling sequence comprises the first frequency modulated signal pattern encoded in a second set of frequency modulated signal bursts in the frequency range and identifies that the second device supports the enhanced communication feature; sending a first handshake sequence from the first device to the second device over the data communication bus; receiving a second handshake sequence at the first device from the second device over the data communication bus; and if the second handshake sequence identifies that the second device supports the enhanced communication feature, entering into a signaling mode at the first device using the enhanced communication feature.