Patent ID: 8086281

Claim:
A method that facilitates the charging of at least one battery powered electrical device using an apparatus comprising a first port, a second port, a third port, a switch, a boost, and a regulator, the switch having first, second and third inputs, and an output that is coupled to the second port, wherein the first input is coupled to the third port, the boost is coupled to the second input and the first port, and the regulator is coupled to the third port, the boost, and the third input, the method comprising: determining whether a first device, second device, or third device are electrically coupled to respective first, second, and third ports; selecting one of at least two communications modes for the second device when the second device is determined to be coupled to the second port; and selectively facilitating transfer of power from the third port to the second port or from the first port to the second port based on the determination of which devices are coupled and the selected communications mode, wherein selectively facilitating transfer of power comprises: transferring power from the third port to the second port when only the third and second devices are coupled to their respective third and second ports; or transferring power from the first port to the second port when only the first and second devices are coupled to their first and second ports, wherein a voltage level of a power signal provided by the first port is controlled based on the selected communications mode.