Patent ID: 8806067

Claim:
An accessory comprising: a reversible plug connector configured to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations, the plug connector comprising: a plurality of contacts including a first plurality of external contacts disposed on a first surface of the plug connector and a second plurality of external contacts disposed on a second surface of the plug connector opposite the first surface, wherein the first plurality of contacts includes the same number of contacts as the second plurality of contacts and each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected to a contact in the second plurality of contacts, the first plurality of external contacts including a first data contact and a second data contact configured to enable communication between the accessory and a host device using a communication protocol and an ID contact configured to carry information that identifies the communication protocol associated with the first and second data contacts; an identification module storing information that identifies the communication protocol and configuration information for the plurality of contacts, wherein the identification module is configured to: receive a request from the host device over the ID contact to send the information that identifies the communication protocol; in response to the request, send, to the host device over the ID contact, the information that identifies the communication protocol and the configuration information for the plurality of contacts; and a power control module configured to control a power path between the accessory and the host device.