Accessory and mobile computing device communication using an application communication protocol

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide various communication techniques for communication between a mobile computing device and an accessory. An accessory protocol that is generic to the mobile computing device can be used for some communication. An application executing at the mobile computing device can communicate with the accessory using an application communication protocol. In some embodiments, the application communication protocol can be different from the accessory communication protocol. In other embodiments the application protocol may only be recognized by the application and the accessory. In some embodiments, messages conforming to an application protocol can be communicated between the application and the accessory by packaging the messages inside a message conforming to the accessory communication protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communicating between an accessory device and an application executing on a mobile device, the method operating on the mobile device, the method comprising:
 identifying an accessory device, wherein the identification uses an accessory communication protocol;   receiving information from the accessory device specifying an application communication protocol, wherein the information is received using the accessory communication protocol;   executing an application at the mobile computing device; and   communicating with the accessory device from the application using the application communication protocol.