Input/output connector visualization panel

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide information regarding device identity and connectivity among a system of music instruments or other electronic devices. Icons are displayed on a display screen. Each icon corresponds to a connector and can show a signal condition, status, state or other property of the associated connector, or of a device coupled to the connector.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing for an electronic device;   a plurality of connectors having a corresponding plurality of connector types coupled to the housing   one or more processors;   a display screen coupled to the one or more processors;   a user input device coupled to the one or more processors; and   a sensor for sensing a status condition of each of two or more of the plurality of connectors; and   a tangible storage medium including instructions executable by the one or more processors for:   displaying a representation of each of the two or more connectors on the display screen;   indicating the connector type of each of the two or more connectors; and   indicating the sensed status condition for each of the two or more connectors.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensed connection condition includes whether a signal in the connection is active or inactive. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the representation of a connector is in a different color for different connectors. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor additionally senses for each of the two or more connectors one or more of the following: (i) whether a device is connected to a connector, (ii) whether there is power being drawn from a connector, (iii) connection activity, (iv) connection failure, (v) connected device manufacturer identity, (vi) connected device model number, (vii) connected device type, (viii) associated driver, (ix) characteristic of the driver, (x) whether a transfer action is active, (xi) connection transmission rate, (xii) transfer type. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is an electronic music device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises communications circuitry allowing wireless communication between the electronic device and one other device. 
     
     
         7 . A method for indicating a condition* of a connector characterized by a connector type, and a sensed status condition, the method including a digital processor to perform the following acts:
 accepting a sensor signal from a sensor to provide the sensed status condition of the connector;   displaying an icon to indicate the connector type; and   displaying an icon to indicate the sensed status condition of the connector.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises using the digital processor to accept at least one sensor signal from the sensor to provide at least one of the following sensed status conditions: (i) whether a device is connected to a connector, (ii) whether there is power being drawn from a connector, (iii) connection activity, (iv) connection failure, (v) connected device manufacturer identity, (vi) connected device model number, (vii) connected device type, (viii) associated driver, (ix) characteristic of the driver, (x) whether a transfer action is active, (xi) connection transmission rate, (xii) transfer type. 
     
     
         9 . A processor-readable tangible medium including instructions for indicating a condition of a connector characterized by a connector type, and a sensed status condition, the processor-readable tangible medium including instructions for:
 accepting a sensor signal from a sensor to provide the sensed status condition of the connector;   displaying an icon to indicate the connector type; and   displaying an icon to indicate the sensed status condition of the connector.   
     
     
         10 . The processor-readable tangible medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions further comprise accepting at least one sensor signal from the sensor to provide at least one of the following sensed status conditions: (i) whether a device is connected to a connector, (ii) whether there is power being drawn from a connector, (iii) connection activity, (iv) connection failure, (v) connected device manufacturer identity, (vi) connected device model number, (vii) connected device type, (viii) associated driver, (ix) characteristic of the driver, (x) whether a transfer action is active, (xi) connection transmission rate, (xii) transfer type.