Patent ID: 8504823

Claim:
A method of configuring a connector of a host device for connecting to a connector of an accessory device, comprising: at the host device, receiving accessory device information from the accessory device, wherein the accessory device is releasably attached to the host device; selecting, based in part on the received accessory device information, one or more functions to be enabled for connecting the host device to the accessory device, wherein the selecting one or more functions is further based in part on one or more host device licenses; configuring one or more pins of the host device connector, the configuring comprising enabling the one or more selected functions at the host device connector; instructing the accessory device to configure one or more pins of the accessory device connector to support the one or more selected functions; determining or receiving an indication that a host device license, of the one or more host device licenses, has been renewed or upgraded or that a new host device license is available; selecting one or more second functions to be enabled for connecting the host device to the accessory device based in part on the renewed, upgraded or new host device license; configuring one or more pins of the host device connector, the configuring comprising enabling the one or more second selected functions at the host device connector; and instructing the accessory device to configure one or more pins of the accessory device connector to support the one or more second selected functions.