Android USB APIs

Android 3.1 introduces powerful new APIs for integrating connected peripherals with applications running on the platform. The APIs are based on a USB (Universal Serial Bus) stack and services that are built into the platform, including support for both USB host and device interactions. Using the APIs, developers can create applications that are able to discover, communicate with, and manage a variety of device types connected over USB.

The stack and APIs distinguish two basic types of USB hardware, based on whether the Android-powered device is acting as host or the external hardware is acting as host:

    * A USB device is a piece of connected hardware that depends on the Android-powered device to serve as host. For example, most input devices, mice, and joysticks are USB devices, as are many cameras, hubs, and so on.
    * A USB accessory is a piece of connected hardware that has a USB host controller, provides power, and is designed to communicate with Android-powered devices over USB, A variety of peripherals can connect as accessories, from robotics controllers to musical equipment, exercise bicycles, and more.

For both types — USB devices and USB accessories — the platform's USB APIs support discovery by intent broadcast when attached or detached, as well as standard interfaces, endpoints, and transfer modes (control, bulk, and interrupt).

The USB APIs are available in the package android.hardware.usb. The central class is UsbManager, which provides helper methods for identifying and communicating with both USB devices and USB accessories. Applications can acquire an instance of UsbManager and then query for the list of attached devices or accessories and then communicate with or manage them. UsbManager also declares intent actions that the system broadcasts, to announce when a USB device or accessory is attached or detached.

http://developer.android.com

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