Abstract: In a case where an application whose setting value is required to be operated cannot be suspended, a setting value operation service of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) stores requested operation content in a temporary region of a hard disk drive (HDD)/flash memory. The setting value operation service stores in the HDD/flash memory an execution instruction file for executing the requested operation at a restart of the MFP, and reserves the operation to be executed after a restart. When the MFP is restarted, an application management unit changes start-up order of programs according to the execution instruction file so that start-up of the setting value operation service is performed before start-up of the operation target application, and starts the programs according to the changed start-up order. Further, in start-up processing, the restarted setting value operation service operates the setting value of the operation target application according to the setting information.

Abstract: A system and method of connecting a computer to a peripheral of another computer. An example system includes a processor connected to a network and to the one and the other computers through the network. The processor executes web service software which establishes a discovery service for receiving a peripheral connection request from application software of the one computer and peripheral management software which receives information from the other computer through the web service software about the peripherals of the other computer.

Abstract: A USB storage device includes a PCIE connector, USB flash drives, USB buses, a USB controller, and a voltage conversion unit. The PCIE connector connects to a motherboard of an electronic device and includes a power pin and at least on data pin. The USB controller includes a USB power pin, at least one USB data pin, and a number of bus ports. The USB data pin is connected to the data pin, each bus port of the USB controller is connected to one USB flash drive via a USB bus. The voltage conversion unit is connected between the power pin of the PCIE connector and the USB power pin of the USB controller, and converts a first voltage of the power pin of the PCIE connector to a second voltage to power the USB controller.

Abstract: An adapter can be used to connect a portable electronic device to an accessory in instances where the portable electronic device and the accessory have incompatible connectors. The adapter provides two connectors, one compatible with the portable electronic device and the other compatible with the accessory. The adapter has several modes of operation. The portable electronic device selects the appropriate mode of operation for the adapter once it receives information about the accessory connected to the adapter. The portable electronic device instructs the adapter to switch to the selected mode and in response the adapter configures its internal circuitry to enable the selected mode. The portable electronic device can then communicate with the accessory via the adapter. The presence of the adapter can be transparent to the accessory.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate attempts to ensure that electronic devices are properly and currently configured with correct information stored on electronically writable/readable digital data storage media are provided including a direct linkage between the media as the mechanism used to electronically configure the electronic device and physical product identification labeling that may be properly viewed from outside the electronic device when the media is inserted in the electronic device. Particular components that are traditionally separately provided, e.g., SIM cards and device identification labeling are combined in a unique packaging and delivery system to combine configuration update electronically readable/writable digital data storage media and physical product identification in a single unique package.

Abstract: An aspect provides an information handling device, including: a housing; an input element connected at an end to the housing in a rotatable fashion, the input element having an input surface and another surface that is opposite to the input surface; one or more processors; and a memory device accessible to the one or more processors and storing code executable by the one or more processors to: detect that the input element has been rotated from a resting position, wherein, in the resting position, the input surface of the input element is fit in a cavity of the housing and the another side of the input element forms a part of the housing exterior surface; and responsive to detecting that the input element has been rotated from the resting position, accept one or more user inputs via the input surface. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for providing a service executed in various service modules, and a home gateway using the same are provided. The service providing method displays a function result of a service module mounted to a module port to which a variety of service modules are selectively mountable, in a display connected. Hence, various services executed in various service modules can be provided reasonably and effectively.

Abstract: A bridging board configured for connecting a processor with a hard disk backboard includes a first signal connecting apparatus, a second signal connecting apparatus, a plurality of duplexer and a signal conditioner. The first signal connecting apparatus is electronically connected to the processor. The second signal connecting apparatus electronically connected to the hard disk backboard. Each duplexer has an input terminal electronically connected to the first signal connecting apparatus, and two output terminals electronically connected to the second signal connecting apparatus to allow the processor to communicate with the backboard via the bridging board. The signal conditioner is electronically connected between the first signal connecting apparatus and the second signal connecting apparatus to amplify signals transmitted from the processor to the hard disk backboard.

Abstract: A DIMM riser card that includes a PCB having a first edge, a second edge, and one or more faces. The first edge of the PCB is configured for insertion into a main board DIMM socket. The first edge includes electrical traces that electrically couple to a memory bus. The DIMM riser card includes an angled DIMM socket mounted on one face of the PCB, where the angled DIMM socket is configured to accept a DIMM at an angle not perpendicular to the PCB and electrically couple the DIMM to the memory bus. The DIMM riser card includes a straddle mount DIMM socket mounted on the second edge of the PCB. The straddle mount DIMM socket is configured to accept a DIMM and electrically couple the DIMM to the memory bus through the electrical traces on the first edge of the PCB.

Abstract: An electronic device executes a software application that includes instructions for updating firmware of a peripheral device and one or more firmware images. The electronic executes the firmware update instructions to initiate the firmware update of the peripheral device and transfers a firmware image from the software application to the peripheral device according to a response from the peripheral device. The software application sends information to the peripheral device for verifying the transferred firmware image and causes the peripheral device to use the transferred firmware image upon successful verification.

Abstract: This invention controls data transmission from a data source to a sink. The data source buffers the data. The data source signaling to transmit data upon storing a burst amount of data. The data source may include a plurality of data sources. A merge unit merges data by receiving and retransmitting data from each data source which signals to transmit and inserting a source identity block each time the merged data is received from a different source.

Abstract: USB extension devices that transmit USB 3.0 differential signaling over an extension medium that supports serial communication are provided. In some embodiments, an electrical idle or suspend is detected from a transmit conductor of a USB host or device, and a corresponding USB extension device is reconfigured to couple a receive conductor of the USB host or device to a null data source instead of an extension medium transceiver. Once the electrical idle or suspend state ceases, the receive conductor of the USB host or device is reconnected to the extension medium transceiver. In some embodiments, a transmit input of the extension medium transceiver is coupled to a null data source upon detection of electrical idle or suspend from the USB host or device.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for methods and systems effective to provide accelerator buffer access. An operating system may allocate a range of addresses in virtual address spaces and a range of addresses in a buffer mapped region of a physical (or main) memory. A request to read from, or write to, data by an application may be read from, or written to, the virtual address space. A memory management unit may then map the read or write requests from the virtual address space to the main or physical memory. Multiple applications may be able to operate as if each application has exclusive access to the accelerator and its buffer. Multiple accesses to the buffer by application tasks may avoid a conflict because the memory controller may be configured to fetch data based on respective application identifiers assigned to the applications. Each application may be assigned a different application identifier.

Abstract: Management of data communication between a peripheral device and host computer system is provided. A peripheral device exposes to a host computer system multiple interfaces for data communication between the peripheral device and the host computer system. The multiple interfaces are exposed over a single physical interface between the peripheral device and the host computer system, for communicating data between the peripheral device and multiple applications executing on the host computer system. The multiple interfaces can include a data collection interface facilitating collection of data from the peripheral device by an application of the multiple applications executing on the host computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to enable a plurality of standard USB peripheral devices, utilizing the USB specification, to be distributed at various nodes across a network, wherein communications across the network may take advantage of any pre-existing network connectivity of a standard, non-modified USB host computer. In particular, a virtual host controller function is added to the host computer in order to direct data communications towards a pre-existing network transceiver. As a result, the host computer is not required to be provided with USB hardware and is able to communicate across the network using pre-existing data communication components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for sharing input/output ports among inverters. A sharing method by a master inverter according to the present disclosure is such that data to be outputted to an output port of a slave inverter is transmitted to the slave inverter where data inputted to input port of the slave inverter is received. Furthermore, a sharing method by the slave inverter is such that data transmitted along with a request frame is outputted to an output port in case of receiving the request frame requesting use of the output port from the master inverter, where data used by the master inverter among data received from input port is transmitted to the master inverter.

Abstract: A data transmission device and a command merging method for data transmission are provided. The data transmission device includes a command register and a command merging unit. The command register receives and temporary storages a plurality of original commands, wherein the original commands include a plurality of memory blocks. When the command merging unit judges these memory blocks of the original commands to be a continuous memory block, the command merging unit merges the original commands into a merging command, and transmits the merging command to a peripheral device. Thus, the multiple commands send by the host can be analyzed and merged by the data transmission device to decrease a number of the commands to be proceed by the peripheral device, so as to speed up a command processing time of the peripheral device efficiently.

Abstract: To add an unpackaged interface without adding a new connector to an information processing device. An information processing device includes: a first control device connected, when first equipment is attached, to the equipment via a terminal train containing a first detection terminal; a second control device; and a connection control device detecting, when the second equipment is attached, a detection signal of the second equipment via the first detection terminal and connecting the second equipment to the second control device based on the detection signal.

Abstract: Each communication path between controllers and a plurality of storage devices has a plurality of expanders coupled in series. In order to shorten the time during which the communication path is not used for I/O, either (A) the length of time for which I/O suppression is set for the communication path is shortened, or (B) the overall time it takes for processing other than I/O processing is shortened. In the (A), a determination as to whether or not the coupling between the expanders has been disconnected is made for the I/O-suppressed communication path, and in a case where the result of this determination is negative, a discover process is carried out after releasing the I/O suppression with respect to this communication path. In the (B), the number of command issue times of updating routing control information of the expander is reduced.

Abstract: USB extension devices that transmit USB 3.0 differential signaling over an extension medium that supports serial communication are provided. In some embodiments, an electrical idle or suspend is detected from a transmit conductor of a USB host or device, and a corresponding USB extension device is reconfigured to couple a receive conductor of the USB host or device to a null data source instead of an extension medium transceiver. Once the electrical idle or suspend state ceases, the receive conductor of the USB host or device is reconnected to the extension medium transceiver. In some embodiments, a transmit input of the extension medium transceiver is coupled to a null data source upon detection of electrical idle or suspend from the USB host or device.

Abstract: A dongle adapter system is described that is configured to communicate in a first direction using a first communications protocol and to communicate in a second direction using a second communications protocol. Communications in the first direction employ a conventional communications protocol, such as the Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) protocol. Communications in the second direction employs an Auxiliary Interface Bus (“AIB”) protocol; in some embodiments, the employed AIB protocol may be proprietary. A translator associated with the dongle adapter translates communications between the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol. The dongle adapter allows a peripheral device organiclly configured for the second communications protocol to function without modification in computing networks whose communications operate on the first communications protocol.

Abstract: An I2C system comprises an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) master device coupled to an I2C multiplexer via a master I2C bus. A plurality of slave I2C busses emanating from the I2C multiplexer couple the I2C multiplexer to a plurality of I2C slave devices. Each of the slave I2C busses comprises a serial data (SDA) line and serial clock (SCL) line. Each of the slave I2C busses, which is coupled to two I2C slave devices, has a first channel and a second channel. The first channel puts bidirectional serial data on the SDA line and clock signals on the SCL line, and the second channel puts bidirectional serial data on the SCL line and clock signals on the SDA line. A channel selector, associated with the I2C multiplexer, selectively couples the I2C master device to one of the two I2C slave devices via the first channel or the second channel.

Abstract: A mechanism for facilitating dynamic timestamp-less clock generation for transmitting media streams over shared channels is described. In one embodiment, a method includes periodically counting and producing, at a first media device, a number of audio/video (“A/V”) samples, generating a pace clock based on the number of A/V samples, generating a target clock based on the pace clock, and transmitting an A/V media stream based on a frequency difference between a pace frequency relating to the pace clock and a target frequency relating to the target clock.

Abstract: A computer system for obtaining vital product data (VPD) of a non-active component installed in the computer system. The computer system includes an active component, wherein the active component includes an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is positioned such that the optical sensor is able to scan an optically machine-readable representation of VPD of a non-active component when the non-active component is installed in the computer system, and wherein the non-active component includes the optically machine-readable representation of the VPD of the non-active component. The computer system is operable to scan the optically machine-readable representation of the VPD of the non-active component, decode the optically machine-readable representation of the VPD to determine the VPD of the non-active component, and store the determined VPD of the non-active component.

Abstract: A technique includes executing at least one instruction on a processor to control a driver circuit; and in response to a predetermined trigger condition, asynchronously causing the driver circuit to enter a predetermined state.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first device initialization unit configured to perform an initialization process for recognizing one or more first devices that include a device storing an application, a second device initialization unit configured to perform an initialization process for recognizing a second device that is different from the one or more first devices, an application initialization unit configured to perform an initialization process for reading out the application from the one or more first devices and executing the application, and an initialization control unit configured to, after the initialization process by the first device initialization unit is performed, control to cause the initialization process by the application initialization unit to proceed in parallel with the initialization process by the second device initialization unit.

Abstract: Buffer circuitry 14 is provided with shared buffer circuitry 20 which stores, in order of reception time, data transaction requests received from one or more data transaction sources. The buffer circuitry 14 operates in either a bypass mode or a non-bypass mode. When operating in the bypass mode, any low latency data transaction requests stored within the shared buffer circuitry are selected in order for output in preference to data transaction requests that are not low latency data transaction requests. In the non-bypass mode, transactions (whether or not they are low latency transactions) are output from the shared buffer circuitry 20 in accordance with the order in which they are received into the shared buffer circuitry 20. The switch between the bypass mode and the non-bypass mode is made in dependence upon comparison of a detected rate of output of low latency data transaction requests compared to a threshold value.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include configuring a first storage system as a proxy for a logical volume stored on a second storage system. The first computer system receives an I/O request from a host computer for the logical volume, the host computer, and identifies a port on the second storage system for the I/O request. In some embodiments, the second storage system has multiple SCSI ports, and the identified port comprises a least busy SCSI port. A probe request verifying availability of the logical volume is conveyed to the identified port, and upon receiving a response from the second storage system verifying the availability of the logical volume for the I/O request, the I/O request is conveyed to the identified port, a result of the I/O request is received from the identified port, the result is conveyed to the host computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing instant-on functionality on an embedded controller are disclosed. A method of providing instant-on functionality on a controller comprises an initial state, an intermediate state and a final state. The initial state comprises installing a first responder code, enabling the first responder code and enabling a timer interrupt service routine. The intermediate state comprises registering the first responder code as a timer interrupt service routine. The timer interrupt service routine initiates periodic processing. The final state comprises registering a steady-state interrupt service routine.

Abstract: A hybrid drive includes multiple parts: a performance part (e.g., a flash memory device) and a base part (e.g., a magnetic or other rotational disk drive). A drive access system, which is typically part of an operating system of a computing device, issues input/output (I/O) commands to the hybrid drive to store data to and retrieve data from the hybrid drive. The drive access system assigns, based on various available information, a priority level to groups of data identified by logical block addresses (LBAs). With each I/O command, the drive access system includes an indication of the priority level of the LBA(s) associated with the I/O command. The hybrid drive determines, based on the priority level indications received from the drive access system, which LBAs are stored on which part or parts of the hybrid drive.

Abstract: A process to manage data between one or more MDIO manageable devices situated on the same bus utilizing the MDIO protocol. The data management efficiency can be increased through the use of an MDIO protocol that includes a page-write mode. The MDIO protocol including the page-write mode can reduce the overhead for a write operation by omitting various portions of the MDIO communication frame format, including the preamble, start-of-frame, operational code, port address, device address, and turn-around fields that generally precede data to be written. The MDIO protocol including the page-write mode may include a next-data code to initiate the page-write mode.

Abstract: A technique for user notification involves modifying a title associated with a process to include information about an event that calls for user notification. A method according to the technique may include running a process, processing an event, generating a string of characters that includes information associated with the event, and displaying the string of characters as a title associated with the process. A system constructed according to the technique may include a client, a title array, an event processing engine, and a title provisioning engine.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a computer-implemented method may include selecting a first machine to be sized. A first throughput value and a first capacity value may be obtained for the first machine. A base machine may be selected. A base throughput value and a base capacity value may be obtained for the base machine. The first throughput value may be normalized, with a computer processor, to the base throughput value to product a normalized throughput value. The first capacity value may be normalized to the base capacity value to produce a normalized capacity value. A workload weight may be determined for the first machine, based at least in part on comparing the first machine to the base machine. A workload metric may be calculated as a weighted average of the normalized throughput value and the normalized capacity value.

Abstract: A method for expanding input/output in an embedded system is described in which no additional strobes or enable lines are necessary from the host controller. By controlling the transitions of the signal levels in a specific way when controlling two existing data or select lines, an expansion input and/or output device can generate a strobe and/or enable signal internally. This internal strobe and/or enable signal is then used to store output data or enable input data. The host controller typically utilizes software or firmware to control the data transitions, but no additional wires are needed, and no changes are needed to existing peripheral devices. Thus, an existing system can be expanded when there are no additional control lines available and no unused states in existing signals.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array, an output buffer, an initial latency register, and an output signal. Often times a host device that interfaces with the memory device is clocked at high rate such that data extraction rates of the memory device are not adequate to support a gapless data transfer. The output signal is operable to stall a transmission between the memory device and the host device when data extraction rates from the memory array are not adequate to support output rates of the output buffer.

Abstract: An electronic measuring device includes a detection channel module, a sampling module, a control unit, a data path selector and a memory device. A user will be able to selectively enable the desired detection channels and store only data collected from enabled channels. The data collected from the detection channels are in serial data form. The device utilizes a serial-parallel shifter in its sampling module to convert the serial data to parallel data bytes. Two indicators in the storage unit of the memory device allow users to effectively store the parallel data bytes in designated locations. The innovative data conversion and storage methods of this invention will significantly conserve memory space that otherwise will be occupied by data from the disabled channels and allow accurate and efficient reading of the stored data.

Abstract: A data storage architecture extension (DAX) system and method that permits multiple disk drive storage elements to be logically daisy-chained to allow a single host bus adapter (HBA) to view the storage elements as one logical disk drive is disclosed. The system/method may be broadly described as comprising a pass-thru disk drive controller (PTDDC) further comprising a HBA port, a disk drive interface port, pass-thru input port, and a pass-thru output port. The PTDDC intercepts and translates the HBA port input to the requirements of an individual disk drive connected to the drive interface port. Each PTDDC may be daisy-chained to other PTDDCs to permit a plethora of disk drives to be associated with a given HBA, with the first PTDDC providing a presentation interface to the HBA integrating all disk drive storage connected to the PTDDCs. The system/method also permits RAID configuration of disk drives using one or more PTDDCs.

Abstract: An apparatus, in which a plurality of modules is connected with each other and processes a packet having information, includes a storage unit for storing first information indicating an order of processing performed by its own module and second information indicating an order of modules which perform processing, a reception unit for receiving a first packet and transmitting the first packet including information corresponding to the first information, a processing unit for processing data included in the first packet, a generation unit for generating a second packet including the processed data and the second information, and a transmission unit for comparing the information included in the first packet with the second information included in the second packet, and transmitting the packet having a latter processing order.

Abstract: In one example, multimedia content is requested from a plurality of storage modules. Each storage module retrieves the requested parts, which are typically stored on a plurality of storage devices at each storage module. Each storage module determines independently when to retrieve the requested parts of the data file from storage and transmits those parts from storage to a data queue. Based on a capacity of a delivery module and/or the data rate associated with the request, each storage module transmits the parts of the data file to the delivery module. The delivery module generates a sequenced data segment from the parts of the data file received from the plurality of storage modules and transmits the sequenced data segment to the requester.

Abstract: An approach for processing data by a pipeline of a single hardware-implemented virtual multiple instance finite state machine (VMI FSM) is presented. Based on a current state and context of an FSM instance, an input token selected from multiple input tokens to enter a pipeline of the VMI FSM, and a status of an environment, a new state of the FSM instance is determined and an output token is determined. The input token includes a reference to the FSM instance. In one embodiment, the reference is an InfiniBand QP number. After a receipt by the pipeline of the first input token and prior to determining the new state of the FSM instance and determining the output token, a logic circuit selects a second input token to enter the pipeline. The second input token includes a reference to a second FSM instance.

Abstract: Methods and devices for manipulating HDMI-CEC messages transmitted over a network including at least two HDMI-CEC display devices with their associated at least two HDMI-CEC cluster trees that at least partially overlap, and enabling each of the HDMI-CEC display devices to communicate using HDMI-CEC with its associated HDMI-CEC cluster tree according to its current HDMI-CEC network view.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a first terminal operatively supplied with a pulse signal, a second terminal, a set of third terminals operatively supplied with identification information, a storage unit configured to store the identification information in response to the pulse signal, and a control unit configured to electrically disconnect the first terminal from the second terminal until the storage unit stores the identification information and electrically connect the first terminal to the second terminal after the storage unit has stored the identification information. This device may be used as each of semiconductor chips that are stacked with each other.

Abstract: An automation device comprising a first functional unit, a second functional unit, a first network connection for connection to a first data network and a bus master unit for connecting a peripheral component. The first functional unit includes a first interface unit that is assigned a first network address, and the second functional unit includes a second interface unit that is assigned a second network address. A partitioning device can be used to logically partition an address space of the peripheral component, and a first address space can be directly assigned, as a partitioned part of the address space, to a superordinate computation unit that can be connected through the first network connection.

Abstract: A facility is provided to enable operator message commands from multiple, distinct sources to be provided to a coupling facility of a computing environment for processing. These commands are used, for instance, to perform actions on the coupling facility, and may be received from consoles coupled to the coupling facility, as well as logical partitions or other systems coupled thereto. Responsive to performing the commands, responses are returned to the initiators of the commands.

Abstract: A method for sending a keycode of a non-keyboard apparatus is provided and includes the following steps. The non-keyboard apparatus determines the connection status between itself and a computer by the time required for device enumeration. Then, according to a value generated from device enumeration, the non-keyboard apparatus identifies the kind of operating system running on the computer. The non-keyboard apparatus sends to the computer a keycode corresponding to the Num Lock key and/or a keycode corresponding to the Caps Lock key such that a sending time and a feedback time are obtained. A parameter related to the efficiency of the computer is then calculated based.

Abstract: Methods and structure are provided for performing a rebuild using a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) expander. The SAS expander includes an SMP target operable to receive, from a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) controller, a Serial Management Protocol (SMP) command for initiating a rebuild of a RAID volume at the SAS expander. The SAS expander also includes a control unit operable to initiate a rebuild of the RAID volume based on the received SMP command from the controller, and a Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP) initiator operable to generate SSP commands for performing the RAID rebuild based upon input from the control unit.

Abstract: A processor and execution units providing intra-processor operation control. In one embodiment, a processor includes a processor core and a peripheral device. The processor core includes a first execution unit and a second execution unit. The second execution unit is coupled to the first execution unit and the peripheral device. The second execution unit is configured to execute a complex instruction, and includes a status register and execution control logic. The status register includes an execution control information field configured to store execution control information. The execution control information specifies operational parameters of the peripheral device. The execution control logic is configured to apply the execution control information to generate execution control signals, and to control operation of the peripheral device via the execution control signals.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a notebook including a content source (e.g., a DVD or other display data source), mass storage device (e.g., hard disk drive), auxiliary display subsystem (including an auxiliary processor), PC chipset, a multiplexer between the content source, auxiliary processor, and PC chipset, and another multiplexer between the mass storage device, auxiliary processor and PC chipset, and methods implemented thereby. The auxiliary display subsystem can be operable (without communicating with the notebook's CPU) when the notebook is in a low-power state.

Abstract: A processor and execution units providing intra-processor resource control. A processor includes a processor core and a peripheral. The processor core includes a first execution unit, and a second execution unit coupled to the first execution unit. The peripheral is coupled to the second execution unit. The second execution unit is configured to execute a complex instruction, and includes a status register and resource control logic. The status register includes a resource control field configured to store resource control information. The resource control information specifies whether the second execution unit requests access to the peripheral during execution of an instruction stream comprising a complex instruction. The resource control logic is configured to apply the resource control information to request access to the peripheral during execution of the instruction stream comprising the complex instruction.

Abstract: A data acquisition system includes a receptacle and a data acquisition device. The receptacle has a housing, sensor inputs to receive data signals from sensors coupled to an object, and a rib to block insertion of a standard Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug and facilitate insertion of a modified USB plug having a slot that mates with the rib. The data acquisition device includes circuitry to receive, store and process data, a USB plug having pins operatively coupled to the circuitry, a first subset of pins configured to receive data signals from the receptacle and a second subset of pins configured to support standard USB communication with USB-compliant devices, and a slot formed in the USB plug such that the slot facilitates interconnection of the USB plug both with standard USB-compliant devices and with the receptacle, the slot mating with the rib to facilitate interconnection.