APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING USE OF A MODEM JACK

1 . An apparatus for optimizing use of a modem jack, the apparatus comprising:

a first branch including a first end that is arranged to connect to an Ethernet jack of a modem;

a second branch connected to the first branch, the second branch including a second end that is arranged to connect to an Ethernet interface of a computer system; and

a third branch connected to the first branch, the third branch including a third end that is arranged to connect to a USB interface of the computer system.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first branch is arranged to carry Ethernet and USB signals, wherein the second branch is arranged to carry Ethernet signals, and wherein the third branch is arranged to carry USB signals.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end includes eight conductor pins, wherein the Ethernet jack of the modem includes eight conductors, and wherein the eight conductor pins of the first end are arranged to connect to the eight conductors of the Ethernet jack.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein four of the eight conductor pins of the first end are used for Ethernet signals, and wherein the remaining four of the eight conductor pins of the first end are used for USB signals.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the four of the eight conductor pins used for Ethernet signals are arranged to connect to four of the eight conductors of the Ethernet jack, and wherein the remaining four of the eight conductor pins used for USB signals are arranged to connect to the remaining four of the eight conductors of the Ethernet jack.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end includes a first group of conductor pins arranged to connect to the Ethernet interface of the computer system, and wherein the third end includes a second group of conductor pins arranged to connect to the USB interface of the computer system.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first branch includes a first portion of eight conducting wires, wherein the second branch includes a second portion of four of the eight conducting wires, and wherein the third branch includes a second portion of the remaining four of the eight conducting wires.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the eight conducting wires of the first branch are cooperatively arranged to carry Ethernet and USB signals, wherein the four of the eight conducting wires of the second branch are arranged to carry Ethernet signals, and wherein the remaining four of the eight conducting wires of the third branch are arranged to carry USB signals.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the modem includes at least one of a DSL modem, a cable modem, and an analog modem.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first branch and the second branch include a 10/100baseT-cable-wiring and pin-out configuration.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the modem includes the Ethernet jack at the exclusion of a USB jack.

12 . In a computer system that includes an Ethernet interface, a USB interface, and a modem, a method for optimizing use of a modem jack, the method comprising:

routing Ethernet and USB signals from the Ethernet and USB interfaces, respectively, to an Ethernet jack of the modem via a cable;

routing Ethernet signals from the Ethernet jack of the modem to the Ethernet interface via the cable; and

routing USB signals from the Ethernet jack of the modem to the USB interface via the cable.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cable includes (i) a first branch that includes a first end arranged to connect to the Ethernet jack of the modem, (ii) a second branch that includes a second end arranged to connect to the Ethernet interface, and (iii) a third branch that includes a third end arranged to connect to the USB interface.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein routing Ethernet and USB signals from the Ethernet and USB interfaces, respectively, to the Ethernet jack of the modem comprises enabling the first branch to carry Ethernet and USB signals.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein routing Ethernet signals from the Ethernet jack of the modem to the Ethernet interface via the cable comprises enabling the second branch to carry Ethernet signals.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein routing USE signals from the Ethernet jack of the modem to the USB interface via the cable comprises enabling the third branch to carry USB signals.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first end includes eight conductor pins, wherein the Ethernet jack of the modem includes eight conductors, wherein the eight conductor pins of the first end are arranged to connect to the eight conductors of the Ethernet jack.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first branch includes eight conducting wires, wherein the second branch includes four of the eight conducting wires, wherein the third branch includes the remaining four of the eight conducting wires, wherein the eight conducting wires of the first branch are cooperatively arranged to carry Ethernet and USB signals, wherein the four of the eight conducting wires of the second branch are arranged to carry Ethernet signals, and wherein the remaining four of the eight conducting wires of the third branch are arranged to carry USB signals.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the modem includes the Ethernet jack at the exclusion of a USB jack.

20 . An apparatus for optimizing use of a modem jack, the apparatus comprising:

a first end arranged to connect to an Ethernet jack of a modem, wherein the modem includes the Ethernet jack at the exclusion of a USB jack; and

a split-end connected to the first end, the split-end including (i) a second end arranged to connect to an Ethernet interface of a computer system and (ii) a third end arranged to connect to a USB interface of the computer system.