Patent ID: 8577195

Claim:
A cable, comprising: a first connector operable to convey optical and electrical signals, wherein the first connector is operable to be connected to an electronic device that is external to the cable and to receive the optical signals from the electronic device; an optical path coupled to the first connector, wherein the optical signals are conveyed over the optical path; an electrical path coupled to the first connector, wherein the electrical signals from the first connector are conveyed over the electrical path; optical-electrical converter circuitry that receives the optical signals from the first connector over the optical path and that converts the received optical signals to converted electrical signals; and a second connector that receives the converted electrical signals from the optical-electrical converter circuitry and the electrical signals conveyed from the first connector over the electrical path, wherein the cable is an asymmetric cable, wherein the first connector includes two types of external interfaces, and wherein the second connector includes only one type of external interface.