Patent ID: 8176214

Claim:
A method for transmission of alternative content over standard connectors comprising: connecting a first device to a second device utilizing a standard connector for a standard mode, the connector including a plurality of pins for the transfer of signals between the first device and the second device, the plurality of pins including a first pin for a power line, a second pin to identify the standard connector, a first data pin, a second data pin, and a ground pin; detecting whether the second device is operating in the standard mode or an alternative mode, wherein the standard mode includes transmission of a first type of data according to a first protocol and the alternative mode includes transmission of a second type of data according to a second protocol, wherein the data for the second protocol includes a differential clock signal and a one-wire control signal; upon detecting the second device is operating in the standard mode, transmitting or receiving data signals of the first type according to the first protocol via the plurality of pins of the standard connector; and upon detecting that the second device is operating in the alternative mode, switching one or more pins of the standard connector for the alternative mode and transmitting or receiving data signals of the second type according to the second protocol via the plurality of pins of the standard connector; wherein the switching of the one or more pins of the standard connector for the alternative mode includes switching the second pin to transmit the control signal.