Connecting a portable device to a network

A connector for use with a tag that is associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of an electrical power connector;
• another element for establishing a data path between slid tag and said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, said another element including a data contact connected to said tag and positioned on slid connector to engage a corresponding data contact of said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, thereby to establish said data path, said data contact being mounted to said connector through a spring that resiliently urges said data contact against said corresponding data contact of said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element.

A connector for use with a tag that is associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of an electrical power connector;
• another element for establishing a data path between said tag and said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, said another element including a data contact connected to said tag and positioned on said connector to engage a corresponding data contact of said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, thereby to establish said data path, said data contact and said element of said connector being spaced from each other on a surface of said connector that abuts said electrical power connector when said connector is engaged therewith.

A connector for use with a tag that is associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of an electrical power connector, said element including a ground pin;
• another element for establishing a data path between said tag and said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, said another element including a data contact connected to said tag, said data contact being supported by and electrically insulated from said ground pin and being positioned on said connector to engage a corresponding data contact of said electrical power connector when said ground pin is engaged with said corresponding element, thereby to establish said data path.

A connector for use with a tag that is associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of an electrical power connector;
• another element for establishing a data path between said tag and said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element;
• a second connector associated with said connector and electrically connected to said tag, said second connector being mounted to a housing within which said tag is mounted, said housing being constructed to allow said tag to be removed therefrom for replacement or repair.

A connector for use with a tag that is associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of an electrical power connector;
• another element for establishing a data path between said tag and said electrical power connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element;
• said tag being disposed externally to said connector and being mounted to an exterior surface of said device, and further comprising a cord connected between said connector and said device, said cord including at least one electrical connection between said tag and said another element.

An electrical power connector for use with a tag associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of a device connector of said device to establish an electrical power path between said device connector and said electrical power connector, said device connector including an electrical connection to said tag, and
• another element electrically insulated from said element for establishing a data path between a communication link associated with said electrical power connector and said device connector that is separate from said electrical power path when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, thereby provide access to said tag from said communication link.

An electrical power connector for use with a tag associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of a device connector of said device and applying electrical power to said corresponding element, said device connector including an electrical connection to said tag;
• another element for establishing a data path between a communication link associated with said electrical power connector and said device connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, thereby to provide access to slid tag from said communication link, said another element including a data contact connected to said communication link and positioned on said electrical power connector to engage a corresponding data contact of said device connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, thereby to establish said data path;
• wherein said device connector is a plug and said element of said connector includes a ground terminal for receiving a ground pin of said plug, said data contact of said electrical power connector being mounted to said ground terminal and electrically insulated therefrom.

An electrical power connector for use with a tag associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices, said connector comprising

• an element for engaging a corresponding element of a device connector of said device and applying electrical power to said corresponding element, said device connector including an electrical connection to said tag;
• another element for establishing a data path between a communication link associated with said electrical power connector and said device connector when said element is engaged with said corresponding element, thereby to provide access to said tag from said communication link;
• wherein said device connector is a plug and said element includes a receptacle for receiving said plug, and further comprising a plurality of said receptacles, each of said receptacles having a said another element associated therewith.

Apparatus for connecting a tag associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices to a communication link to allow information to be exchanged between said communication link and said tag, comprising

• a device connector attached by a cord to said device and including an element for receiving electrical power and a first data contact connected to said tag and electrically insulated from said element of said device connector, and
• an electrical power connector having an element, for engaging said element of said device connector to establish an electrical power path between said device connector and said electrical power connector, and a second data contact connected to said communication link and electrically insulated from said element of said electrical power connector,
• said first data contact and said second data contact being positioned to engage one another and establish a data path between said communication link and said tag that is separate from said electrical power path when said element of said device connector is engaged with said element of said electrical power connector.

Apparatus for connecting a tag associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices to a communication link to allow information to be exchanged between said communication link and said tag, comprising

• a device connector attached by a cord to said device and including an element for receiving electrical power and a first data contact connected to said tag, said device connector being an AC power plug, said element of said device connector including a pair of AC power contacts and a ground pin spaced from each other on a surface of said plug, and
• an electrical power connector having an element for engaging said element of said device connector and applying electrical power thereto, and a second data contact connected to said communication link, said electrical power connector being an AC power outlet, said element of said electrical power connector including a pair of AC power terminals and a ground terminal spaced from each other on a surface of said outlet, and
• said first data contact and said second data contact being positioned to engage one another and establish a data path between said communication link and said tag when said pair of AC contacts and said ground pin of said device connector are engaged with said pair of AC power terminals and said ground terminal of said electrical power connector.

A method of connecting a tag associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices to a communication link to allow information to be exchanged between said communication link and said tag, comprising

• providing a device connector attached by a cord to said device and including an element for receiving electrical power and a first data contact connected to said tag and electrically insulated from said element of said device connector,
• providing an electrical power connector having an element for engaging said element of said device connector and applying electrical power thereto, and a second data contact connected to said communication link and electrically insulated from said element of said power connector, and
• connecting said device connector to said electrical power connector so that said element of said device connector engages said element of said electrical power connector to establish an electrical power path between said device connector and said electrical power connector, and said first data contact and said second data contact engage one another and establish a data path between said communication link and said tag that is separate from said electrical power path.