# US 10,311,003 B2 · Detection and identifcation of supported connection protocols in a multi-purpose storage bay > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,003 B2 - Document ID: US10311003B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/226,441 - Filed: 2014-03-26 - Published: 2015-10-01 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-26 - Assignees: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Inventors: Marc Richard Pamley; Alan Ladd Painter; Omar Ali Ali; Timothy Samuel Farrow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311003B2 ## CPC - G06F 13/4022: {using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An embodiment provides a method, including: providing a multi-protocol connector in an electronic device for connecting at least one storage device thereto; determining, using an operative coupling between the multi-protocol connector and the electronic device, if the electronic device supports one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector; and providing an informational prompt for each determined protocol of the multi-protocol connector that the electronic device supports. Other aspects are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: providing a multi-protocol connector in an electronic device for connecting at least one storage device thereto; determining, using an operative coupling between the multi-protocol connector and the electronic device, if the electronic device supports one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector prior to connecting a device to the multi-protocol connector and without communicating with the device; and providing an informational prompt for each determined protocol of the multi-protocol connector that the electronic device supports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining if the multi-protocol connector is operatively coupled to a storage controller of a particular type. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining, using one or more pins of a storage controller of the electronic device and switching logic, a type of the storage controller with respect to a protocol of the multi-protocol connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said providing of an informational prompt comprises illuminating a light-emitting element for each determined protocol of the multi-protocol connector that the electronic device supports. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: detecting a connection of a storage device to the multi-protocol connector; and thereafter deactivating one or more light-emitting elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one storage device is selected from the group of storage devices consisting of a hard disk drive and a solid state drive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one storage device employs one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector is selected from the group of protocols consisting of: a SATA protocol, a SAS protocol and a PCIe protocol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the informational prompt is provided at a predetermined position with respect to a physical connection element of the multi-protocol connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising repressing an informational prompt after determining that the connector of the electronic device does not support one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector. ### Claim 11 An electronic device, comprising: a light emitting element; a multi-protocol connector for connecting at least one storage device thereto; a processor operatively coupled to the multi-protocol connector and the light emitting element; and a memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to: determine, using an operative coupling between the multi-protocol connector and the electronic device, if the electronic device supports one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector prior to connecting a device to the multi-protocol connector and without communicating with the device; and provide an informational prompt using the light emitting element for each determined protocol of the multi-protocol connector that the electronic device supports. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein to determine comprises determining if the multi-protocol connector is operatively coupled to a storage controller of a particular type. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein to determine comprises determining, using one or more pins of a storage controller of the electronic device and switching logic, a type of the storage controller with respect to a protocol of the multi-protocol connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein to provide of an informational prompt comprises illuminating a light-emitting element for each determined protocol of the multi-protocol connector that the electronic device supports. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising: at least one storage device connected to the multi-protocol connector; wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to: deactivate one or more light-emitting elements after connection of the at least one storage device with the multi-protocol connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the at least one storage device is selected from the group of storage devices consisting of a hard disk drive and a solid state drive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the at least one storage device employs one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the one or more protocols of the multi-protocol connector is selected from the group of protocols consisting of: a SATA protocol, a SAS protocol and a PCIe protocol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the informational prompt is provided at a predetermined position with respect to a physical connection element of the multi-protocol connector.