Patent ID: 8212387

Claim:
A device comprising: a plurality of ports, each port to: selectively receive a connection from one of an alternating current (AC) power supply or a direct current (DC) power supply, and provide power, from the one of the AC power supply or the DC power supply, to one or more other devices that are different than the device, each port including a plurality of pins, one or more pins, of the plurality of pins, being connected to one or more pins of another port of the plurality of ports, a first number of pins, of the plurality of pins, that receives power from and returns power to the DC power supply when the port is connected to the DC power supply being different than a second number of pins, of the plurality of pins, that receives power from and returns power to the AC power supply when the port is connected to the AC power supply, the second number of pins including: pins of the first number of pins, and the one or more pins of the port, and the first number of pins excluding the one or more pins of the port.