Methods and apparatus for determining whether electronic devices are communicatively compatible

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of quickly determining whether two or more electronic devices are communicatively compatible is described. The method includes reading a plurality of input parameter data associated with a first electronic device and a plurality of output parameter data associated with a second electronic device; analyzing the pluralities of input and output parameter data by determining whether they comply with a plurality of communication compatibility rules; generating results from the analysis; and providing a visual display of the results. The results identify which input and output parameter data do and do not comply with these rules, and thus whether and to what extent the devices are communicatively compatible. As one example, the input parameter data of the first electronic device may include a maximum high input voltage V, a minimum high input voltage V, a maximum low input voltage V, and a minimum low input voltage V; and the output parameter data of the second electronic device may include a maximum high output voltage V, a minimum high output voltage V, a maximum low output voltage V, and a minimum low output voltage V. In this case the communication compatibility rules specify that V≦V, V≧V, V≦V, and V≧Vfor device compatibility.