Patent ID: 8478913

Claim:
An adapter for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising: a first connector to mate with a plug connector on a first device; a second connector that is incompatible with the first connector, the second connector being configured to mate with a receptacle connector on a second device in either of two orientations rotated 180 degrees from each other, the second connector including a first set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a first row on a first side of the second connector and a second set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a second row on a second side of the second connector opposite the first side, the first set of contacts including first and second data contacts coupled to first and second data contacts, respectively, in the second set of contacts; and conversion circuitry configured to convert signals received from the first device to a format that can be transmitted to and processed by the second device and to convert signals received from the second device to a format that can be transmitted to and processed by the first device; identification circuitry configured to indicate a communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts to the second device; and authentication circuitry configured to implement a first level of authentication that authenticates the adapter to the second device and, if the first level of authentication is successful, implement a second level of authentication that authenticates the first device to the adapter.