Accessory device operation with user mobile device over network connection

A method of operating a companion device that is in communication with an accessory device over a network connection, the method comprising:

• sending, by the companion device to the accessory device, an interface definition, wherein the interface definition comprises a display specification defining a display of data on the accessory device;
• receiving a generated display message over the network connection at a companion device daemon from an accessory device daemon installed at the accessory device, the generated display message identifying a display change to be displayed at a display of the accessory device for an application that is installed at the accessory device and that is identified by an application identifier;
• producing an updated display message with output of a companion application that receives the generated display message and that is installed at the companion device, in accordance with a framework stored at the companion device and accessed by the companion application, wherein the display message comprises one or more display values in accordance with the interface definition that defines a display of one or more elements on the accessory device;
• and
• sending the generated updated display message from the companion device daemon to the accessory device daemon over the network connection.

A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a computer system to perform an operation comprising:

• sending, by a companion device to an accessory device, an interface definition, wherein the interface definition comprises a display specification defining a display of data on the accessory device;
• receiving a generated display message over a network connection at a companion device daemon from an accessory device daemon installed at the accessory device, the generated display message identifying a display change to be displayed at a display of the accessory device for an application that is installed at the accessory device and that is identified by an application identifier;
• producing an updated display message with output of a companion application that receives the generated display message and that is installed at the companion device, in accordance with a framework stored at the companion device and accessed by the companion application, wherein the display message comprises one or more display values in accordance with the interface definition that defines a display of one or more elements on the accessory device;
• and
• sending the generated updated display message from the companion device daemon to the accessory device daemon over the network connection.

A device comprising:

• a memory;
• at least one network interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and the at least one network interface, wherein the processor performs a method comprising:
• sending, by a companion device to an accessory device, an interface definition, wherein the interface definition comprises a display specification defining a display of data on the accessory device;
• receiving a generated display message over a network connection at a companion device daemon from an accessory device daemon installed at the accessory device, the generated display message identifying a display change to be displayed at a display of the accessory device for an application that is installed at the accessory device and that is identified by an application identifier;
• producing an updated display message with output of a companion application that receives the generated display message and that is installed at the companion device, in accordance with a framework stored at the companion device and accessed by the companion application, wherein the display message comprises one or more display values in accordance with the interface definition that defines a display of one or more elements on the accessory device;
• and
• sending the generated updated display message from the companion device daemon to the accessory device daemon over the network connection.

An accessory device comprising:

• a memory;
• at least one network interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and the at least one network interface, wherein the processor performs a method comprising:
• receiving, by the accessory device from a companion device, an interface definition, wherein the interface definition comprises a display specification defining a display of data on the accessory device;
• installing the interface definition on the accessory device;
• detecting a display change to be displayed at a display of the accessory device;
• generating a display message at the accessory device for an application that is installed at the accessory device and that is identified by an application identifier, in response to the detected display change;
• sending the generated display message with the application identifier from an accessory device daemon to a companion device daemon over a network connection, in response to the detected display change;
• receiving an updated display message from the companion device daemon at the accessory device daemon;
• determining one or more display values from the updated display message for an application identified by the application identifier, wherein the one or more display values are in accordance with the interface definition that defines a display of one or more elements on the accessory device;
• and
• displaying the one or more display values at the display of the accessory device in accordance with the interface definition for the accessory device.

A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a computer system to perform an operation comprising:

• receiving, by an accessory device from a companion device, an interface definition, wherein the interface definition comprises a display specification defining a display of data on the accessory device;
• installing the interface definition on the accessory device;
• detecting a display change to be displayed at a display of the accessory device;
• generating a display message at the accessory device for an application that is installed at the accessory device and that is identified by an application identifier, in response to the detected display change;
• sending the generated display message with the application identifier from an accessory device daemon to a companion device daemon over a network connection, in response to the detected display change;
• receiving an updated display message from the companion device daemon at the accessory device daemon;
• determining one or more display values from the updated display message for an application identified by the application identifier, wherein the one or more display values are in accordance with the interface definition that defines a display of one or more elements on the accessory device;
• and
• displaying the one or more display values at the display of the accessory device in accordance with the interface definition for the accessory device.