Status indicators for univerisal 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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   a module configured to determine a status of another device connected to the USB port, to evaluate the status to determine a specific condition causing the status, and to cause the status indicator to display an indication specific to the condition causing the status, wherein the status is based, at least in part, upon information associated with an authentication condition of the another device.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the module is further configured to determine whether the another device connected to the USB port is drawing power from the USB port, and to cause the LED to display an indication in response to determining that the another device is drawing power from the USB port. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication condition of the another device comprises:
 an authentication status of the another device.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication condition comprises:
 an authentication status of a user of the another device.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the status of the another device connected to the USB port further comprises power conditions of the another device, and the authentication condition of the another device comprises the authentication status of the another device or the authentication status of a user of the another device. 
     
     
         7 . One or more computer storage media encoded with device-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
 determining an operational status associated with a universal serial bus (USB) port on a device;   determining a second status of another device connected to the USB port, wherein the second status comprises an authentication condition of the another device;   displaying a first indication on a status indicator associated with the USB port to show the operational status, the displaying comprising:
 responsive to detecting a problem, attempting to identify the problem; 
 responsive to not identifying the problem, generically indicating a trouble condition; and 
 responsive to identifying the problem, displaying a specific trouble condition; and 
   displaying a second indication to show an indication specific to the determined second status.   
     
     
         8 . The one or more computer storage media as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the operational status includes whether the USB port is at least one of enabled or disabled. 
     
     
         9 . The one or more computer storage media as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first indication is displayed on the status indicator, and the second indication is displayed on the status indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The one or more computer storage media as recited in  claim 7 , the method further comprising:
 detecting data transfer on the USB port; and   operating the status indicator in a predetermined fashion to indicate the detected data transfer, wherein the status indicator comprises a first light emitting diode (LED) and operating the status indicator in a predetermined fashion to indicate the detected data transfer comprises blinking the first LED.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 7 , the method further comprising:
 preventing data connections based at least in part on the second status of the another device, wherein the authentication condition of the another device comprises a group of authentication conditions, wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises at least one condition selected from the group of authentication conditions, and wherein the group of authentication conditions comprises an authentication status of the another device, or an authentication status of a user of the another device.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 11 , the preventing data connections based at least in part on the second status further comprising:
 shutting down all data communication available of the USB port.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 11 , the preventing data connections based at least in part on the second status further comprising:
 triggering a shutdown routine on the connected device.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 7 , wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises a failure to properly enumerate itself. 
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 7 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer storage media of  claim 11 , wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port comprises a total lack of power for the another device. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a universal serial bus (USB) port;   access to an external indicator associated with the USB port;   a module configured to monitor an operational status of the USB port, including monitoring a data connection associated with the USB port;   a module configured to determine a second status of another device connected to the USB port, including an ability to determine an authentication condition associated with the another device;   a module configured to indicate the operational status with the external indicator, including an ability to indicate a generic trouble condition associated with the operational status and an ability to indicate a specific trouble condition associated with the operational status; and   a module configured to indicate the second status by changing a visual characteristic, an aural characteristic, or a tactile characteristic of the external indicator, wherein the changing of the visual characteristic, the aural characteristic, or the tactile characteristic comprises a change specific to the determined second status.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein an ability to determine the authentication condition comprises an ability to determine an authentication status of a user of the another device. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a module configured to prevent data connections by unauthorized devices based, at least in part, on the determined second status of the another device, wherein the ability to determine the authentication condition further comprises an ability to determine and indicate an authentication status of the another device.   
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the second status of the another device connected to the USB port further 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.