Secondary data channel communication system

An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:

• a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connector;
• a processing system coupled to the first USB Type-C connector;
• a memory system coupled to the processing system and including instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide at least one controller that is configured to operate in a first data channel mode in which first data and second data are provided together through a first data channel available through the first USB Type-C connector, and operate in a second data channel mode in which the first data is provided through the first data channel available through the first USB Type-C connector separately from the second data that is provided through a second data channel available through the first USB Type-C connector, wherein the at least one controller is also configured to:
• determine, in response to detecting a connection of a second USB Type-C connector to the first USB Type-C connector, a second USB Type-C connector orientation of the second USB Type-C connector;
• communicate with a connected system through a first data channel available through the second USB Type-C connector and, in response, determine that the connected system provides the second data channel mode that allows the first data to be provided through the first data channel and separately from the second data that is provided through the second data channel;
• configure, in response to determining the connected system provides the second data channel mode and based on the second USB Type-C connector orientation, provisioning of the first data through the first data channel and provisioning of the second data through the second data channel, wherein the configuring converts the at least one controller from operating in the first data channel mode to operating in the second data channel mode such that the first data and second data will not be provided together through the first data channel;
• and
• communicating first data over the first data channel and second data over the second data channel to the connected system.

A method for communicating using a secondary data channel, comprising:

• determining, by a first system in response to detecting a connection to a USB Type-C connector, a USB Type-C connector orientation of the USB Type-C connector;
• communicating, by the first system, with a second system through a first data channel available through the USB Type-C connector and, in response, determining that the second system provides a second data channel mode that allows first data to be provided through the first data channel and separately from second data that is provided through a second data channel available through the USB Type-C connector, wherein the second data channel mode is different than a first data channel mode in which first data and second data are provided together through the first data channel;
• configuring, by the first system in response to determining the second system provides the second data channel mode and based on the USB Type-C connector orientation, at least one subsystem in the first system to provide first data through the first data channel and second data through a second data channel available through the USB Type-C connector, wherein the configuring the at least one subsystem in the first system converts the first system from operating in the first data channel mode to operating in the second data channel mode such that the first data and second data will not be provided together through the first data channel;
• and
• communicating, by the first system, first data over the first data channel and second data over the second data channel to the second system.