Incorrectly connected HDMI cable indicator
A method is provided for indicating to a user that a sink device is incorrectly connected to a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) In port. In accordance with the method, a proxy voltage is applied from an HDMI In port over an HDMI cable. The proxy voltage is sufficient to cause a hot plug event to occur. A hot plug event condition is detected at the HDMI In port from a device that is connected to the HDMI In port via the HDMI cable. Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) is read from the device at the HDMI In port over the HDMI cable. In response to receipt of the EDID, a determination is made that the device is a sink device and an error message is generated in response to the determination.
1. A method for indicating to a user that an external device is incorrectly connected to a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) In port which is configured as a sink device within a first device, the first device also including an HDMI Out port, comprising:
applying a proxy voltage from the HDMI In port over an HDMI cable connected between the external device and the HDMI In port of the first device, the proxy voltage being sufficient to cause a hot plug event to occur;
detecting a hot plug event condition at the HDMI In port received from the external device via the HDMI cable;
reading Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) received from the external device at the HDMI In port over the HDMI cable;
in response to receipt of the EDID, determining that the external device is an external sink device configured to receive content from the HDMI cable; and
generating an error message which indicates that the HDMI cable is connected between the HDMI In port of the first device and the external sink device in response to the determination.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the proxy voltage from the HDMI In port is only performed when the HDMI In port does not detect a first voltage being received over the HDMI cable.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising periodically polling for the presence of the first voltage.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the error message includes transmitting the error message over the HDMI cable for presentation on a display of the external sink device.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the message instructs a user to connect the external sink device to the HDMI Out port of the first device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the error message includes generating the error message on an intermediate device in which the HDMI In port is incorporated.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate device includes a HDMI Out port and the error message further indicates that the sink device is to be connected to the HDMI Out port.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the error message includes a status indicator that blinks to indicate an error.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the HDMI In port is incorporated into an intermediate device that also includes an HDMI Out port.
10. An intermediate device that acts as an intermediary between a first device and an external device, comprising:
an HDMI Out port for receiving a first HDMI cable, the HDMI Out port being configured to operate as a source device for providing content through the HDMI cable;
an HDMI In port for receiving a second HDMI cable, the HDMI In port being configured to operate as a sink device for receiving content through the HDMI cable;
one or more processors, at least one of the processors being configured to cause the HDMI In port to perform the operations of:
applying a proxy voltage from the HDMI In port over an HDMI cable connected between the external device and the HDMI In port of the first device, the proxy voltage being sufficient to cause a hot plug event to occur;
detecting a hot plug event condition at the HDMI In port received from the external device via the HDMI cable;
reading Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) received from the external device at the HDMI In port over the HDMI cable;
in response to receipt of the EDID, determining that the external device is an external sink device configured to receive content from the HDMI cable; and
generating an error message which indicates that the HDMI cable is connected between the HDMI In port of the first device and the external sink device in response to the determination;
reconfiguring the HDMI In port to operate as a source device and transmit the error message to the external device via the second HDMI cable.
11. The intermediate device of claim 10 , wherein the HDMI In port includes a HDMI interface that includes a HDMI receiver software stack and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the HDMI receiver software stack to be replaced with a HDMI transmitter software stack to cause the HDMI In port to switch from its normal sink mode of operation to the source mode of operation.
12. The intermediate device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the proxy voltage to only be applied when the HDMI In port does not detect a first voltage being received over the second HDMI cable.
13. The intermediate device of claim 12 , further comprising periodically polling for the presence of the first voltage.
14. The intermediate device of claim 10 , wherein the error message is transmitted over the second HDMI cable for presentation on a display of the external device.
15. The intermediate device of claim 14 , wherein the error message instructs a user to connect the external device to an HDMI out port.