Patent ID: 7774437

Claim:
A multi-connector storage device adapted to store configuration data for a new device and to provide an interface between a host computer and the new device, comprising: electronic circuitry comprising a processor for executing program instructions, and memory, said memory having stored therein computing instructions, a device driver for permitting communication between the storage device and the new device, device specific data that uniquely identifies the new device, and configuration data for use in configuring the new device to communicate over a network, said device specific data readable by the host computer and usable by the host computer to construct configuration data suitable for the new device, said computing instructions executable by said processor to perform a method of configuring the new device, said configuration data constructed by the host computer for the new device based upon said device specific data received from the storage device, downloaded to the storage device from the host computer, and comprising network configuration data comprising a network identifier, security information for communicating over the network using a security protocol, and a known services location identifying a location on the network where additional configuration data is obtainable by the new device, said device driver automatically downloadable by said processor from the storage device to the new device upon interfacing, said computing instructions automatically executable by said processor to configure the new device with the configuration data; a first connector of a first type adapted to interface to the host computer; a second connector of a second type adapted to interface to the new device, wherein the second type is distinct from the first type; a first switch coupled to the first connector and the second connector, wherein the first switch prevents simultaneous connection of both the first connector and the second connector to the electronic circuitry; and a second switch for providing at least first and second values useable by the storage device to select one configuration file from a plurality of configuration files, wherein the second switch is adapted to receive input for selecting either the first value or the second value.