Communication between an accessory and a media player using a protocol with multiple lingoes

A method of operating an accessory, the method comprising:

• establishing communication with a media player, wherein the accessory is configured to communicate with the media player using a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo including an identification command and at least one accessory lingo;
• sending the identification command of the general lingo to the media player, wherein the identification command identifies an accessory lingo of the media player accessory protocol as being supported by the accessory;
• and
• providing authentication information to the media player using one or more accessory-authentication commands of the general lingo.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium encoded with program instructions, which when executed by a processor in an accessory device cause the processor to execute a method comprising:

• establishing communication with a media player, wherein the accessory is configured to communicate with the media player using a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo including an identification command and at least one accessory lingo;
• sending the identification command of the general lingo to the media player, wherein the identification command identifies an accessory lingo of the media player accessory protocol as being supported by the accessory;
• and
• providing authentication information to the media player using one or more accessory-authentication commands of the general lingo.