# US 2016/0253283 A1 · Multi-function ports on a computing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0253283 A1 - Document ID: US20160253283A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/634,330 - Filed: 2015-02-27 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Bowers; James Tanner; Joseph Edward Clayton; Mark D. Hayter; Christopher Lyon; David Ness Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160253283A1 ## CPC - G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling} - G06F 13/4221: {being an input/output bus, e.g. ISA bus, EISA bus, PCI bus, SCSI bus} - G06F 13/4226: {with asynchronous protocol} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In one general aspect, a method can include configuring a first connector of a particular type included in a first multipurpose port located on a first side of a computing device to connect the computing device to a first peripheral device, transporting one or more of power, high-speed data, and display data between the computing device and the first peripheral device using the first multipurpose port, configuring a second connector of the particular type included in a second multipurpose port located on a second side of the computing device to connect the computing device to a second peripheral device, and transporting one or more of power, high-speed data, and display data between the computing device and the second peripheral device using the second multipurpose port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computing device comprising: a first multipurpose port located on a first side of the computing device; a first connector incorporated into the first multipurpose port; a second multipurpose port located on a second side of the computing device, the second side being opposite to the first side; and a second connector incorporated into the second multipurpose port, the first connector and the second connector being a same type of connector, and the first connector and the second connector being configurable to transport power, high-speed data, and display data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first connector is configured to connect the computing device to a first peripheral device, and wherein the second connector is configured to connect the computing device to a second peripheral device, the second peripheral device being different from the first peripheral device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computing device of claim 2, wherein the computing device configures the first connector to provide power to the first peripheral device, and wherein the computing device configures the second connector to provide display data to the second peripheral device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computing device of claim 3, wherein the first peripheral device is a mobile computing device and the second peripheral device is a display device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computing device of claim 4, wherein the first connector and the second connector are Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connectors, and wherein the computing device configures the second connector to operate in a DisplayPort Alternate mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The computing device of claim 2, wherein a connector included in the first peripheral device and a connector included in the second peripheral device are of the same type of connector as the first connector and the second connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein a first peripheral device includes a connector and is connected to the computing device by way of the first connector, and wherein the connector included in the first peripheral device is of a different type than the type of connector for the first connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computing device of claim 7, wherein the first peripheral device is a display device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first connector is configured to connect the computing device to a first peripheral device, and wherein the first peripheral device provides power to the computing device, the first connector being configured to receive the power provided by the first peripheral device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one multiplexer, the at least one multiplexer providing at least one signal to at least one contact on the first connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computing device of claim 10, further comprising a display controller, and wherein the at least one signal to the at least one contact on the first connector includes display data provided by the display controller to the at least one multiplexer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computing device of claim 10, further comprising a data controller, and wherein the at least one signal to the at least one contact on the first connector includes high-speed data provided by the data controller to the at least one multiplexer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, further comprising four multiplexers, each of the four multiplexers providing respective display data signals to corresponding contacts on the first connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computing device of claim 13, further comprising configuration logic configured to detect an orientation of a plug inserted into the first connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computing device of claim 14, further comprising a reordering switch configured to route a respective display data signal to each of the four multiplexers, the routing based on an input signal to the reordering switch from the configuration logic indicative of the detected orientation of the plug inserted into the first connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connectors. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first connector is configured to connect the computing device to a first peripheral device, and wherein the computing device configures the first connector to provide high-speed data to the first peripheral device. ### Claim 18 A method comprising: configuring a first connector of a particular type included in a first multipurpose port located on a first side of a computing device to connect the computing device to a first peripheral device; transporting one or more of power, high-speed data, and display data between the computing device and the first peripheral device using the first multipurpose port; configuring a second connector of the particular type included in a second multipurpose port located on a second side of the computing device to connect the computing device to a second peripheral device; and transporting one or more of power, high-speed data, and display data between the computing device and the second peripheral device using the second multipurpose port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first connector is configured to provide power to the first peripheral device, and wherein the second connector is configured to provide display data to the second peripheral device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first connector is configured to provide high-speed data to the first peripheral device, and wherein the second connector is configured to provide display data to the second peripheral device.