Status Indicators for Universal Serial Bus (USB) Ports

Abstract

A system for identifying data connection attributes is disclosed. The system comprises a connection monitor that identifies an operational attribute of a data connection. The system also includes a signal module that activates operation of a status indicator of the data connection such that a manner of operation of the status indicator is associated with the operational attribute. Methods for operating the system are also disclosed.

1 . A device comprising:
 a universal serial bus (USB) port for interacting with other devices;   a status indicator associated with the USB port, the status indicator including at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), an audio device, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), or an electronic display device; and   module configured to determine a status of another device connected to the USB port and to cause the status indicator to display an indication in accordance to the determined status.   
   
   
       2 .- 3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The device as recited in claim  2 , wherein the module is further configured to determine whether the USB port is at least one of enabled or disabled, and to cause the LED to display an indication in response to determining that the USB port is the at least one of enabled or disabled. 
   
   
       5 . The device as recited in claim  2 , wherein the module is further configured to determine whether the USB port is charging another device connected to the USB port, and to cause the LED to display an indication in response to determining that the USB port is charging the other device. 
   
   
       6 .- 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . One or more computer storage media encoded with device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
 determining an operational status of a universal serial bus (USB) port on a device;   determining a second status of another device connected to the USB port;   displaying a first indication on a status indicator associated with the USB port to show the operational status; and   displaying a second indication to show an indication in accordance to the determined second status.   
   
   
       10 . The one or more computer storage media as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operational status includes whether the USB port is at least one of enabled or disabled. 
   
   
       11 .- 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . The one or more computer storage media as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first indication is displayed on the status indicator and the second indication is displayed on the status indicator. 
   
   
       16 .- 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . The one or more computer storage media as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the steps further comprising:
 detecting data transfer on the USB port; and   blinking the first LED to indicate the detected data transfer.   
   
   
       19 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for providing a USB port;   means for incorporating an external indicator associated with the USB port;   means for monitoring an operational status of the USB port;   means for determining a second status of another device connected to the USB port;   means for indicating the operational status with the external indicator; and   means for indicating the second status by changing a visual characteristic, an aural characteristic of the tactile characteristic of the external indicator.   
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the means for determining the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises:
 means for indicating the authentication status of a user of the another device.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 means for preventing data connections by unauthorized devices, wherein the means for determining the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises means for indicating the authentication status of the another device.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises:
 a power condition of the another device, the power condition including at least one condition selected from the group comprising a current overdraw, a current underdraw, a total lack of power, the another device being a high-power device connected to a low-power port, and a power condition that is outside normal operating parameters.   
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises:
 the authentication status of the another device.   
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises:
 the authentication status of a user of the another device.   
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises at least one condition selected from the group comprising the power conditions of the another device, the authentication status of the another device, and the authentication status of a user of the another device. 
   
   
       27 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 preventing data connections based at least in part on the second status of the another device, wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises at least one condition selected from the group comprising the authentication status of the another device, and the authentication status of a user of the another device.   
   
   
       28 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 27 , the preventing data connections based at least in part on the second status further comprises:
 shutting down all data communication available of the USB port.   
   
   
       29 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 27 , the preventing data connections based at least in part on the second status further comprises:
 triggering a shutdown routine on the connected device.   
   
   
       30 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises a failure to properly enumerate itself. 
   
   
       31 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises the another device being layered more than five deep, the another device comprising a USB hub. 
   
   
       32 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 27 , wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises a total lack of power for the another device.