Techniques for configuring contacts of a connector

An electronic device comprising:

• a body;
• a reversible plug connector coupled to the body and configured to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations, the plug connector having a first plurality of contacts disposed on a first surface of the plug connector and a second plurality of contacts disposed on a second surface of the plug connector opposite the first surface, wherein the first plurality of contacts includes the same number of contacts as the second plurality of contacts and each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected to a contact in the second plurality of contacts, wherein each of the first and second pluralities of contacts includes first and second data contacts configured to enable communication with a host device and an ID contact configured to carry information that identifies a communication protocol associated with the first and second data contacts;
• and
• an identification device disposed in the plug connector and storing contact configuration information for the plurality of contacts and information specifying the communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts, the identification device configured to:
• receive a command from the host device over the ID contact, the command requesting information specifying the communication protocol;
• in response to the command, communicate, to the host device over the ID contact, the contact configuration information and the information specifying the communication protocol used by the first and the second data contacts;
• and
• a power control device configured to control a power path between the electronic device and the host device.

An electronic device comprising:

• a body;
• a plug connector coupled to the body, the plug connector having a plurality of contacts including first and second data contacts configured to enable communication with a host device using a first communication protocol, third and fourth data contacts configured to enable communication using a second communication protocol, and an ID contact configured to carry information that identifies the first communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts and the second communication protocol used by the third and fourth data contacts;
• and
• an identification device disposed in the plug connector and storing contact configuration information for the plurality of contacts and information specifying the communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts, the identification device configured to:
• receive a command from the host device over the ID contact, the command requesting information specifying the communication protocol;
• in response to the command, communicate, to the host device over the ID contact, the contact configuration information and the information specifying the communication protocol used by the first and the second data contacts;
• and
• a power control device configured to control a power path between the electronic device and the host device;
• wherein the identification device is further configured to switch the first communication protocol used for communication over the first and second data contacts during operation of the electronic device from the first communication protocol to the second communication protocol and send a message to the host device over the ID contact thereby causing the first and second data contacts to be switched from being operatively coupled to communication circuitry within the electronic device associated with the first communication protocol to being operatively coupled to communication circuitry within the electronic device associated with the second communication protocol.

A method for operating an accessory having a connector including a plurality of contacts including a first data contact, a second data contact, and an identification (ID) contact, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the accessory, over the ID contact, a first message from a host device coupled to the first connector, the first message requesting information from the accessory;
• and
• in response to the first message, sending, by the accessory, a second message to the host device over the ID contact, the second message including contact configuration information for one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts of the connector, the contact configuration information including information about a communication protocol used by the first and the second data contacts,
• wherein the plurality of contacts include a first plurality of contacts and a second plurality of contacts disposed below the first plurality of contacts and wherein the first plurality of contacts includes the same number of contacts as the second plurality of contacts and each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected to a contact in the second plurality of contacts, wherein the first plurality of contacts include eight contacts.