A method of communicating information, said method comprising: establishing a plurality of connections between an accessory interface and a plurality of accessories, wherein each connection of said plurality of connections corresponds to a respective accessory of said plurality of accessories; establishing a connection between said accessory interface and a portable electronic device, wherein said accessory interface is separate from said portable electronic device; communicating, via said accessory interface, a first set of messages between an application of said portable electronic device and a first accessory of said plurality of accessories, wherein said communicating said first set of messages further comprises determining that said first set of messages corresponds to said first accessory based on first information encoded in said first set of messages, wherein each message of said first set of messages communicated between said portable electronic device and said accessory interface is formatted in accordance with a data exchange pattern, and wherein each message of said first set of messages communicated between said accessory interface and said first accessory is formatted in accordance with said data exchange pattern; and communicating, via said accessory interface, a second set of messages between said application and a second accessory of said plurality of accessories, wherein said communicating said second set of messages further comprises determining that said second set of messages corresponds to said second accessory based on second information encoded in said second set of messages, wherein each message of said second set of messages communicated between said portable electronic device and said accessory interface is formatted in accordance with said data exchange pattern, and wherein each message of said second set of messages communicated between said accessory interface and said second accessory is formatted in accordance with said data exchange pattern. establishing a plurality of connections between an accessory interface and a plurality of accessories, wherein each connection of said plurality of connections corresponds to a respective accessory of said plurality of accessories; establishing a connection between said accessory interface and a portable electronic device, wherein said accessory interface is separate from said portable electronic device; communicating, via said accessory interface, a first set of messages between an application of said portable electronic device and a first accessory of said plurality of accessories, wherein said communicating said first set of messages further comprises determining that said first set of messages corresponds to said first accessory based on first information encoded in said first set of messages, wherein each message of said first set of messages communicated between said portable electronic device and said accessory interface is formatted in accordance with a data exchange pattern, and wherein each message of said first set of messages communicated between said accessory interface and said first accessory is formatted in accordance with said data exchange pattern; and communicating, via said accessory interface, a second set of messages between said application and a second accessory of said plurality of accessories, wherein said communicating said second set of messages further comprises determining that said second set of messages corresponds to said second accessory based on second information encoded in said second set of messages, wherein each message of said second set of messages communicated between said portable electronic device and said accessory interface is formatted in accordance with said data exchange pattern, and wherein each message of said second set of messages communicated between said accessory interface and said second accessory is formatted in accordance with said data exchange pattern.