Invocation of accessory-specific user experience

Abstract

An accessory-specific user experience can be invoked at a mobile host device attached to an accessory device. The mobile device can receive accessory device information from the accessory and transmit the accessory device information to an online marketplace. The mobile device can receive information indicating accessory-specific goods or services available from the online marketplace and display the received information as part of the invoked user experience. The accessory device information can comprise accessory usage categories as well as additional information about the accessory. A marketplace can select accessory-specific goods or services based on the received accessory device information based on matching between accessory attribute values associated with the goods and services and accessory attributes values contained in the received accessory device information. The accessory device can be a docking station connected to additional accessories and the accessory device information can comprise information pertaining to the additional accessories.

1 . A method of providing accessory-specific information, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an online marketplace, accessory device information over a communication network, the accessory device information comprises one or more accessory attribute values;   selecting one or more accessory-specific goods or services based on the one or more accessory attribute values of the accessory device information; and   transmitting accessory-specific information indicating the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or services over the communication network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the online marketplace comprises a database, the database comprising a plurality of entries, the entries comprising information indicating a good or service and one or more associated accessory attribute values, at least one of the one or more accessory attribute values associated with each of the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or services matching at least one accessory attribute value of the accessory device information.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more accessory attribute values of the accessory device information comprises at least a product identifier and/or a manufacturer identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or service comprises at least one software application. 
     
     
         6 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises:
 matching the one or more accessory attribute values from the received accessory device information with the one or more accessory attribute values associated with the one or more accessory-specific goods or services.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the one or more accessory attribute values comprise at least one of a data string, a floating number, an integer, or a Boolean value. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitted accessory-specific information comprises a firmware upgrade. 
     
     
         24 . An online marketplace environment providing accessory-specific information, the environment comprising:
 one or more computing devices comprising processing units and memory; and   the one or more computing devices configured to perform operations supporting providing the accessory-specific information, the operations comprising:
 receiving by the one or more computing devices, accessory device information over a communication network; 
 selecting one or more accessory-specific goods or services based on the accessory device information; and 
 transmitting accessory-specific information indicating the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or services over the communication network. 
   
     
     
         25 . The online marketplace environment of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the accessory device information comprises one or more accessory attribute values; and   the online marketplace environment comprises a database, the database comprising a plurality of entries, the entries comprising information indicating a good or service and one or more associated accessory attribute values, at least one of the one or more accessory attribute values associated with each of the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or services matching at least one accessory attribute value of the accessory device information.   
     
     
         26 . The online marketplace environment of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the one or more accessory attribute values of the accessory device information comprises at least a product identifier and/or a manufacturer identifier.   
     
     
         27 . The online marketplace environment according to  claim 25 , wherein the one or more accessory attribute values comprise at least one of a data string, a floating number, an integer, or a Boolean value. 
     
     
         28 . The online marketplace environment of  claim 24 , wherein the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or service comprises at least one software application. 
     
     
         29 . The online marketplace environment according to  claim 24 , wherein the selecting comprises:
 matching the one or more accessory attribute values from the received accessory device information with the one or more accessory attribute values associated with the one or more accessory-specific goods or services.   
     
     
         30 . The online marketplace environment of  claim 24 , wherein the transmitted accessory-specific information comprises a firmware upgrade. 
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable memory storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device in an online marketplace environment to perform a method of providing accessory-specific information, the method comprising:
 receiving accessory device information over a communication network, wherein:
 the accessory device information comprises one or more accessory attribute values; and 
 the online marketplace comprises a database, the database comprising a plurality of entries, the entries comprising information indicating a good or service and the one or more accessory attribute values; 
   selecting one or more accessory-specific goods or services based on the one or more accessory attribute values of the accessory device information; and   transmitting accessory-specific information indicating the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or services over the communication network.   
     
     
         32 . The online marketplace environment of  claim 31 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more accessory attribute values associated with each of the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or services matches at least one accessory attribute value of the accessory device information.   
     
     
         33 . The online marketplace environment of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the one or more accessory attribute values of the accessory device information comprises at least a product identifier and/or a manufacturer identifier.   
     
     
         34 . The online marketplace environment according to  claim 31 , wherein the one or more accessory attribute values comprise at least one of a data string, a floating number, an integer, or a Boolean value. 
     
     
         35 . The online marketplace environment of  claim 31 , wherein the selected one or more accessory-specific goods or service comprises at least one software application. 
     
     
         36 . The online marketplace environment according to  claim 31 , wherein the selecting comprises:
 matching the one or more accessory attribute values from the received accessory device information with accessory attribute values associated with the one or more accessory-specific goods or services.