Communicating arbitrary attributes using a predefined characteristic

A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to communicate input messages and output messages with another electronic device using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication protocol, the computer-program mechanism including:

• instructions for receiving the input messages using a predefined characteristic having a numerical identifier to convey input information associated with a set of input attribute types, wherein a given input message includes one or more input-command characters specifying a given input attribute type in the set of input attribute types and, when the given input message includes an input value in an input argument associated with the given input attribute type, the given input message includes an input delimiter between the one or more input-command characters and the input argument;
• and
• instructions for providing the output messages using the predefined characteristic to convey output information associated with a set of output attribute types, wherein a given output message includes one or more output-command characters specifying a given output attribute type in the set of output attribute types and, when the given output message includes an output value in an output argument associated with the given output attribute type, the given output message includes an output delimiter between the one or more output-command characters and the output argument.

An electronic-device-implemented method for communicating input messages and output messages with another electronic device using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication protocol, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving the input messages using a predefined characteristic having a numerical identifier to convey input information associated with a set of input attribute types, wherein a given input message includes one or more input-command characters specifying a given input attribute type in the set of input attribute types and, when the given input message includes an input value in an input argument associated with the given input attribute type, the given input message includes an input delimiter between the one or more input-command characters and the input argument;
• and
• using a control mechanism in the electronic device, providing the output messages using the predefined characteristic to convey output information associated with a set of output attribute types, wherein a given output message includes one or more output-command characters specifying a given output attribute type in the set of output attribute types and, when the given output message includes an output value in an output argument associated with the given output attribute type, the given output message includes an output delimiter between the one or more output-command characters and the output argument.