Patent ID: 6874041

Claim:
A communication device comprising a modem having automatic port configuration to thereby connect the modem to a communication cable configured for data communication via a first communication standard, the communication device comprising: at least one port, said port being configured to connect to two or more communication cables to facilitate transfer of data to or from the communication device, wherein at least one of said two or more communication cables is configured for data communication via said first communication standard and at least one of said two or more communication cables is configured for data communication via a second communication standard; communication circuitry on the communication device to facilitate data communication with a remote location and to detect a signal on a communication cable, the detection of the signal indicative that the communication cable is configured for data communication via said first communication standard; a switching device between the at least one port and the communication circuitry; and a switching device controller in communication with the switching device and the communication circuitry, the switching device controller configured to control the switching device to selectively connect the communication circuitry to said at least one of said two or more communication cables that is configured for data communication via said first communication standard.