Techniques for facilitating communication between a portable media device and an accessory using multiple communication paths

A method for facilitating communication between a portable media device and an accessory, the portable media device supporting a plurality of control communication paths and a plurality of data communication paths to the accessory, the method comprising, by the portable media device:

• receiving, from the accessory via a first one of the control communication paths, a first command including a total number of control communication paths and a total number of data communication paths supported by the accessory;
• receiving, from the accessory via the first one of the control communication paths, one or more second commands enumerating the plurality of data communication paths;
• receiving, from the accessory, via the first one of the control communication paths a third command indicating an availability status of each data communication path;
• and
• sending, to the accessory, a fourth command indicating one or more of the data communication paths selected by the portable media device to be used for communicating data signals between the portable media device and the accessory.

An accessory comprising:

• a first accessory port configured to connect with a first media device port of a portable media device, wherein connection of the first accessory port with the first media device port provides a first control communication path and a first data communication path between the accessory and the portable media device;
• a second accessory port configured to connect with a second media device port of the portable media device, wherein connection of the second accessory port with the second media device port provides a second data communication path between the accessory and the portable media device;
• and
• a control component configured to, upon establishment of a connection between the first accessory port and the first media device port:
• send, to the portable media device via the first control communication path, one or more first commands enumerating the first and second data communication paths;
• send, to the portable media device via the first control communication path, one or more second commands including, for each of the first and second data communication paths
• an availability status for the path;
• and
• receive, from the portable media device via the first control communication path, a third command indicating one or more communication data paths selected by the portable media device to be used for communication between the portable media device and the accessory.

A portable media device comprising:

• a storage component for storing a plurality of media assets;
• a first media device port configured to connect with a first accessory port of an accessory, wherein connection of the first media device port with the first accessory port provides a first control communication path and a first data communication path between the portable media device and the accessory;
• a second media device port configured to connect with a second accessory port of the accessory, wherein connection of the second media device port with the second accessory port provides a second data communication path between the portable media device and the accessory;
• and
• a control component configured to:
• receive, from the accessory via the first control communication path, one or more first commands enumerating the first and second data communication paths;
• receive, from the accessory via the first control communication path, one or more second commands including, for each of the first and second data communication paths
• an availability status for the path;
• and
• send, to the accessory via the first control communication path, a third command indicating one or more communication data paths selected by the portable media device to be used for communication between the portable media device and the accessory.