Patent ID: 8763079

Claim:
A media player comprising: a processor; a user interface coupled to the processor; a storage device coupled to the processor; and a network interface configured to communicate with an accessory in conjunction with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to: receive authentication control information from the accessory; in response to receiving the authentication control information determine whether the accessory supports authentication based on the authentication control information, and if the accessory does not support authentication, then authorizing a restricted set of features, otherwise the processor is further configured to; send a request to the accessory requesting accessory authentication information; receive the accessory authentication information from the accessory; send an authentication request to the accessory, the authentication request including a random number; receive an authentication response from the accessory, the authentication response including an accessory digital signature and an accessory identifier; extract the accessory digital signature from the authentication response; obtain a public key associated with the accessory based on the accessory identifier; validate the accessory digital signature using the public key; and authenticate the accessory based on the validation.