Patent ID: 8843678

Claim:
A method for networking, the method comprising: in an Ethernet enabled communication device comprising a first configurable Ethernet connector having a first plurality of adjacent pins in a front portion thereof configured for connection to a first twisted pair cable and a first plurality of electrical contacts extending outwardly from a first side thereof, and a second configurable Ethernet connector having a second plurality of adjacent pins in a front portion thereof configured for connection to a second twisted pair cable and a second plurality of electrical contacts extending outwardly from a second side thereof; communicating Ethernet frames via a twisted pair of the first twisted pair cable that is in direct physical contact with the first configurable Ethernet connector: communicating Ethernet frames via a twisted pair of the second twisted pair cable that is in direct physical contact with the second configurable Ethernet connector; and contacting, electrically, the first configurable Ethernet connector and the second configurable Ethernet connector via the first and second plurality of electrical contacts; wherein the first configurable Ethernet connector provides mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to the first configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of the first configurable Ethernet connector.