Patent ID: 7761722

Claim:
A method for providing power, comprising: receiving power having an initial polarity; providing to a user interface of a computer, a prompt for a power polarity to be provided over a connector; receiving an indicator of the power polarity, the indicator of the power polarity being based, at least in part, on at least one user input received via the user interface; providing, via the connector having a first at least one conductor for communicating networking signals and a second at lease one conductor for providing the power, at least a portion of the power, the portion of the power provided having a polarity based at least in part on the indicator of the power polarity, and identifying the portion of the power being provided using at least one of: at least one display indicator physically arranged near the connector along with at least one other display indicator that is used to display a network status associated with the networking signals; or a single display indicator physically arranged near the connector and which is further used to display the network status.