Patent ID: 8484387

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a port for the connection of a cable, the port being compatible with a first protocol and a second protocol, the port including a plurality of pins including a first pin for a first line, a second pin for a second line, and a third pin that is a power pin; and a processor to determine a type of source device connected to the cable, where determination of the type of source device includes: determining by the apparatus whether the source device is able to complete a discovery and handshake process under a first protocol, if the source device is not able to complete the discovery and handshake process under the first protocol, the apparatus detecting a value of a signal on the first line and a value of a signal on the second line, upon detecting a low signal on first line and a high signal on the second line, the apparatus is to initiate a discovery sequence, the discovery sequence including: transmitting a signal sequence on the second line; attempting to receive the signal sequence on the second line; upon successfully receiving the signal sequence on the second line, the apparatus is to determine that a source device compatible with the first protocol is connected to the cable and to supply a power signal on the power pin to the source device; and upon failing to receive the signal sequence on the second line, the apparatus is to determine that a source device compatible with the first protocol is not connected to the cable and to apply no power to the power pin.