Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.

Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.

Abstract: This document describes, inter alia, techniques for configuring or setting up a wireless device. As an example of the features described herein, a first wireless device may be used to configure a second wireless device as follows: the first wireless device may detect that the second wireless device is available and is configurable; the first wireless device may connect to the second wireless device and transmit configuration information to the second wireless device, where the configuration information includes credentials that may be used to access a wireless network (e.g., a password to access a Wi-Fi network); the first wireless device and the second wireless device may then both connect to the wireless network, using the credentials; once both devices are connected to the wireless network, the first wireless device may verify that the second wireless device has been correctly configured.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that can receive power from an internal power source (such as a battery) and/or a second portable electronic device is described. In order to coordinate the power availability in these portable electronic devices, a power-management mechanism in the portable electronic device (which may be implemented in hardware and/or software) may determine a power state of an internal power source in the second portable electronic device, and may accordingly adjust a power consumption by circuits in the portable electronic device and/or the power received from the second portable electronic device. In this way, the power-management mechanism may approximately synchronize the power consumption in the portable electronic devices and/or the power states of the internal power sources in the portable electronic devices. This approximate synchronization may facilitate concurrent operation of the portable electronic devices.

Abstract: This document describes, inter alia, techniques for configuring or setting up a wireless device. As an example of the features described herein, a first wireless device may be used to configure a second wireless device as follows: the first wireless device may detect that the second wireless device is available and is configurable; the first wireless device may connect to the second wireless device and transmit configuration information to the second wireless device, where the configuration information includes credentials that may be used to access a wireless network (e.g., a password to access a Wi-Fi network); the first wireless device and the second wireless device may then both connect to the wireless network, using the credentials; once both devices are connected to the wireless network, the first wireless device may verify that the second wireless device has been correctly configured.

Abstract: An adapter can be used to connect a portable electronic device to an accessory in instances where the portable electronic device and the accessory have incompatible connectors. The adapter provides two connectors, one compatible with the portable electronic device and the other compatible with the accessory. The adapter has several modes of operation. The portable electronic device selects the appropriate mode of operation for the adapter once it receives information about the accessory connected to the adapter. The portable electronic device instructs the adapter to switch to the selected mode and in response the adapter configures its internal circuitry to enable the selected mode. The portable electronic device can then communicate with the accessory via the adapter. The presence of the adapter can be transparent to the accessory.

Abstract: Improved techniques and systems to facilitate gifting using items representative of credit, value and/or event admission in a client-server environment are disclosed. A networked device, such as a wireless electronic device, can act as a client. The client can be networked to a server for obtaining, virtualizing, storing, and/or accessing such items. Further, the client-server environment can provide for a user sharing and/or gifting such items with other users.

Abstract: An adapter can be used to connect a portable electronic device to an accessory in instances where the portable electronic device and the accessory have incompatible connectors. The adapter provides two connectors, one compatible with the portable electronic device and the other compatible with the accessory. The adapter has several modes of operation. The portable electronic device selects the appropriate mode of operation for the adapter once it receives information about the accessory connected to the adapter. The portable electronic device instructs the adapter to switch to the selected mode and in response the adapter configures its internal circuitry to enable the selected mode. The portable electronic device can then communicate with the accessory via the adapter. The presence of the adapter can be transparent to the accessory.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that can receive power from an internal power source (such as a battery) and/or a second portable electronic device is described. In order to coordinate the power availability in these portable electronic devices, a power-management mechanism in the portable electronic device (which may be implemented in hardware and/or software) may determine a power state of an internal power source in the second portable electronic device, and may accordingly adjust a power consumption by circuits in the portable electronic device and/or the power received from the second portable electronic device. In this way, the power-management mechanism may approximately synchronize the power consumption in the portable electronic devices and/or the power states of the internal power sources in the portable electronic devices. This approximate synchronization may facilitate concurrent operation of the portable electronic devices.